Delaware legislation · 153rd General Assembly
Delaware HB134: Animal Cruelty/Upgrades to Felony
Status: Signed into law, July 23, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY.
What the bill says
An act to amend title 11 of the delaware code relating to animal cruelty.
From the introduced text, May 6, 2025:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY. Section 1. Amend § 1325, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as class A misdemeanor; class F felony. (b) A person is guilty of cruelty to animals when the person intentionally or or (2) Subjects any animal in the person's custody to cruel neglect; or (3) Kills or injures any animal belonging to another person without legal privilege or consent of the owner; or (4) Cruelly or unnecessarily kills or injures any animal. This section does not apply to the killing of any animal normally or commonly raised as food for human consumption, provided that such killing is not cruel. A person acts unnecessarily if the act is not required to terminate an animal's suffering, to protect the life or property of the actor or another person or if other means of disposing of an animal exist which would not impair the health or well-being of that animal; or, (5) Captures, detains, transports, removes or delivers any animal known to be a pet or owned or unowned companion animal, or any other animal of scientific, environmental, economic or cultural value, under false pretenses to any public or private animal shelter, veterinary clinic …
Sponsors
- Jeffrey Spiegelman (R, 11) · primary sponsor
- Kimberly Williams (D, 19)
- Kyra Hoffner (D, 14)
- William Paradee (D, 17)
- Brian Pettyjohn (R, 19)
- Frank Burns (D, 21)
- Jeff Hilovsky (R, 4)
- Josue Ortega (D, 3)
- Daniel Short (R, 39)
- Rebecca Snyder-Hall (D, 14)
- Mara Gorman (D, 23)
- Daniel Cruce (D, 1)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
- : Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
- : Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
- : Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES
- : Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 7 On Its Merits
- : Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
Votes
- Passed (SM) (July 1, 2026): 20 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Passed (SM) (June 18, 2026): 41 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB134?
- HB134 is a bill in the Delaware Legislature (153rd General Assembly): Animal Cruelty/Upgrades to Felony.
- What does HB134 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend title 11 of the delaware code relating to animal cruelty.
- What is the status of HB134?
- Signed into law as of July 23, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (July 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB134?
- Jeffrey Spiegelman (R, 11), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB134?
- On the Delaware Legislature website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142193
Source: official Delaware record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.