Delaware legislation · 153rd General Assembly
Delaware HB427: Hunters/Aged 16 to 17/Updates
Status: Signed into law, August 17, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO OFFENSES INVOLVING DEADLY WEAPONS AND DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS.
What the bill says
An act to amend title 11 of the delaware code relating to offenses involving deadly weapons and dangerous instruments.
From the introduced text, May 19, 2026:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO OFFENSES INVOLVING DEADLY WEAPONS AND DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS. Section 1. Amend § 1445, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as provided, the 16 to 17 year old has completed a Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course pursuant to § 501 and 506 of Title 7 and has been issued and is digitally or physically in possession of a valid Delaware Hunting License issued by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. SYNOPSIS Hunting and those permitted to hunt in Delaware are strictly regulated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (the "Department"). Federal and Delaware law and Department regulations specifically regulate and strictly limit the dates, times, locations, methods, and types of firearms or projectile weapons permitted to be used to hunt in Delaware. Every individual age 16 to 17 is required to take a Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course administered by the Department prior to the issuance of a Delaware Hunting License. A Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course teaches young hunters safety, ethics, firearm types, safe gun handling, marksmanship techniques, specialty hunting techniques, wildlife management, wildlife identification, survival, and compliance with hunting laws and regulation. This bill …
Sponsors
- Jeffrey Spiegelman (R, 11) · primary sponsor
- William Carson (D, 28)
- Brian Pettyjohn (R, 19)
- Kerri Harris (D, 32)
- Kevin Hensley (R, 9)
- Shannon Morris (R, 30)
- Daniel Short (R, 39)
- Lyndon Yearick (R, 34)
- Bryan Shupe (R, 36)
- Eric Buckson (R, 16)
- David Wilson (R, 18)
Latest actions
- : HS 1 for HB 427 - Signed by Governor
- : HS 1 for HB 427 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 6 NO 1 ABSENT
- : HS 1 for HB 427 - Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
- : HS 1 for HB 427 - Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
- : HS 1 for HB 427 - Passed By House. Votes: 28 YES 9 NO 2 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT
- : HS 1 for HB 427 - - Passed In House by Voice Vote
- : HS 1 for HB 427 - - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- : Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 427
- : Amendment HA 1 to HB 427 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- : Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 2 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable
Votes
- Passed (SM) (July 1, 2026): 14 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Passed (SM) (June 23, 2026): 28 yea, 9 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB427?
- HB427 is a bill in the Delaware Legislature (153rd General Assembly): Hunters/Aged 16 to 17/Updates.
- What does HB427 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend title 11 of the delaware code relating to offenses involving deadly weapons and dangerous instruments.
- What is the status of HB427?
- Signed into law as of August 17, 2026. Latest action: HS 1 for HB 427 - Signed by Governor (August 17, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB427?
- Jeffrey Spiegelman (R, 11), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB427?
- On the Delaware Legislature website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143339
Source: official Delaware record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.