Delaware Overview – 2024 Session
DELAWARE
Legislative Overview – 2023-24 Session
(Adjourned on June 30, 2024)
13 pet related items were proposed during the 2023-24 legislative session, 5 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| SB 129 | Animal Shelter Standards/Best Practices: Amends Title 16 (Health & Safety), Part II (Regulatory Provisions Concerning Public Health), Chapter 30F (Animal Welfare), Subchapter 1 (Shelter Operation) of Delaware Code to update existing statute concerning animal shelter standards and treatment of animals in shelters to reflect best practices, which are currently already being followed by most shelters. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 8/17/23) |
| SB 219 | Service Animal Misrepresentation: Amends Title 6 (Commerce & Trade), Chapter 45 (Equal Accommodations) and Title 25 (Property), Chapter 55 (Tenant Obligations & Landlord Remedies) of Delaware Code to create penalties for misrepresentation of a service animal under the Delaware Equal Accommodations Law and misrepresentation of an assistance animal under the Delaware Fair Housing Act. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| REG 2022-001 | Disease Spread/Departmental Authority: Proposed rulemaking amends Title 3 (Agriculture) of Delaware Administrative Code by adding a new Chapter 102 (Secretarial Powers) to provide clear detail regarding the authority of the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Agriculture to prevent the spread of contagious or infectious diseases. | PENDING ADOPTION |
| REG 2023-001 | Invasive Species Designation/Departmental Authority: DE Dept. of Agriculture rulemaking amends Title 3 (Agriculture), Chapter 906 (Possession, Sale or Exhibition of Live Wild Mammals or Hybrids of Wild Mammals or Live Reptiles not Native to or Generally Found in the State of Delaware) of DE Administrative Code to: 1) Provide for the authority of the Department and the State Veterinarian to determine an animal species to be invasive; 2) To declare potbellied pigs and feral swine as invasive animal species in the State of Delaware; and 3) Provide for a permit system for invasive and exotic animals. | ADOPTED (EFFECTIVE ON 6/11/23) |
| REG 2023-002 | Animal Shelter Standards/Best Practices: Rulemaking amends Title 16 (Department of Health & Social Services), Division of Public Health, Office of Animal Welfare, Section 4501 (Regulations for Animals Held in Shelter) of DE Administrative Code to: (1) Reflect current best practices in animal sheltering; (2) Add edits required to mirror recent changes in Delaware Code. | ADOPTED (EFFECTIVE ON 1/11/24) |
View ALL Delaware legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.
View ALL local ordinances tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2024 session.
View ALL federal and state issues tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.