Delaware legislation · 153rd General Assembly
Delaware HB131: Retail Pet Stores/Prohibit Selling Dogs or Cats
Status: Signed into law, July 23, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6 AND 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PET STORES AND ANIMAL WELFARE.
What the bill says
An act to amend titles 6 and 16 of the delaware code relating to pet stores and animal welfare.
From the introduced text, May 1, 2025:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6 AND 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PET STORES AND ANIMAL WELFARE. Section 1. Amend Subtitle II, Title 6 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: Chapter 40A. RETAIL PET STORES § 4001A. Definitions. For purposes of this chapter: (1) "Animal rescue" means a nonprofit organization that is tax exempt under the United States Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) as amended, whose mission and practice is the rescue and placement of animals into permanent homes. An "animal rescue" does not include an organization that obtains animals from breeders or brokers for compensation. (2) "Animal shelter" means a public or private facility which includes a physical structure that provides temporary or permanent shelter to stray, abandoned, abused, or owner-surrendered animals and is operated, owned, or maintained by an incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, or other nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing for and promoting the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals. "Animal shelter" does not mean individuals providing temporary foster care to animals in their home or animal rescue groups sheltering animals on an individual's private property. (3) "Breeder" means any person who breeds and raises dogs or cats to sell, exchange, or otherwise transfer to …
Sponsors
- Kimberly Williams (D, 19) · primary sponsor
- DeShanna Neal (D, 13)
- John Walsh (D, 9)
- Eric Morrison (D, 27)
- Rebecca Snyder-Hall (D, 14)
- Melanie Ross Levin (D, 10)
- Larry Lambert (D, 7)
- Mara Gorman (D, 23)
- Nnamdi Chukwuocha (D, 1)
- Alonna Berry (D, 20)
- Krista Griffith (D, 12)
- Daniel Cruce (D, 1)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES
- : Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO
- : Amendment SA 1 to HB 131 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 5 NO 1 ABSENT
- : Amendment SA 1 to HB 131 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- : Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
- : Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate
- : Passed By House. Votes: 33 YES 4 NO 1 NOT VOTING 3 ABSENT
- : Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 6 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits
- : Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House
Votes
- Passed (SM) (June 18, 2026): 41 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Passed (SM) (June 16, 2026): 15 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Passed (SM) (June 16, 2026): 15 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Passed (SM) (January 20, 2026): 33 yea, 4 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB131?
- HB131 is a bill in the Delaware Legislature (153rd General Assembly): Retail Pet Stores/Prohibit Selling Dogs or Cats.
- What does HB131 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend titles 6 and 16 of the delaware code relating to pet stores and animal welfare.
- What is the status of HB131?
- Signed into law as of July 23, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (July 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB131?
- Kimberly Williams (D, 19), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB131?
- On the Delaware Legislature website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142170
Source: official Delaware record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.