| HB 141 w/ HA 1 | Committee | K. Williams | This Act directs the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) to develop a Firearm Responsibilities Notice for distribution to gun purchasers to ensure dissemination of important information relating to safe and lawful handling of firearms. It mandates that licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers cannot sell, transfer, or deliver a firearm to another person without requiring the buyer to review and sign a Firearm Responsibilities Notice. Licensed dealers that provide background checks to facilitate a sale between unlicensed persons are also responsible for providing a copy of the Firearm Responsibilities Notice to the prospective buyer and retaining a copy of the Firearm Responsibilities Notice signed by the prospective buyer. The purpose of the Firearm Responsibilities Notice is to deter straw purchases and other illegal transfer of firearms, to ensure awareness of Delaware’s gun safety laws, and to increase the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. The Firearm Responsibilities Notice is also intended to prevent accidental shootings by providing information on gun safety and available gun safety courses. It is also designed to reduce suicides by providing the national suicide prevention hotline number.
This bill requires licensed firearm dealers to securely maintain a record of all signed Firearm Responsibilities Notices. This bill tasks the Department with creating the Firearm Responsibilities Notice, in consultation with the Department of Justice and other stakeholders, posting the Firearm Responsibilities Notice to its website, and providing (free of charge) the Firearm Responsibilities Notice to licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, and licensed dealers in the State.
All licensed deadly weapons dealers in this State are mandated to keep and securely store signed Firearm Responsibilities Notices for at least 3 years as part of the records required to be kept and maintained in the place of business at all times.
A violation of provisions of Title 24 relating to records or background checks for sales between unlicensed persons is already a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum fine of $250 or $500 and 6 months imprisonment. This law will expand the scope of those misdemeanors, thus requiring a 2/3 vote.
The bill is effective 180 days after enactment. The DSHS is required to conduct outreach to licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, and licensed dealers in Delaware prior to the effective date to make them aware of the new requirements imposed by this Act and provide access to the Firearm Responsibilities Notice as developed by the Department. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 11 AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FIREARMS. |
| SB 226 w/ SA 1 | Signed | Pinkney | This Act provides that health care facilities must permit patients who have been issued and possess a valid registry identification card for the medical use of marijuana and have a terminal illness to use medical marijuana on the health care facilities’ premises, subject to certain restrictions. However, a health care facility may prohibit or suspend such use of medical marijuana under some circumstances, such as if the facility's medical professionals determine that use of medical marijuana may have an adverse impact on the medical care and treatment of the patient or is otherwise contraindicated, or if a federal regulatory agency, the United States Department of Justice, or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services initiates an enforcement action against a health care facility based on the use of medical marijuana on the facility's premises or issues a rule or guidance prohibiting the use of medical marijuana at health care facilities.
In addition, the Act provides that a person is not subject to civil or criminal liability or professional discipline for complying with the Act, except in cases of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.
This Act is modeled on a 2021 California law known as "Ryan's Law." | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA. |
| HA 1 to HB 141 | Passed | K. Williams | This Amendment to House Bill No. 141 makes the following changes:
Rather than requiring a buyer or individual to sign a copy of the Firearm Responsibilities Notice to be retained by a dealer, the Act will instead require signing and retention of a form acknowledging receipt of the Firearm Responsibilities Notice.
The amendment also requires that a proposed version of the Firearm Responsibilities Notice be published in the Register of Regulations along with a means for submission of public comment.
The effective date is changed to be the date on which a notice is published in the Register of Regulations that the final form of the Firearm Responsiblities Notice is ready.
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security is required to publish an acknowledgement form for use along with the Firearm Responsibilities Notice that contains the statement: “I understand that by signing this form I may be exposing myself to criminal liability.”
This amendment also makes technical corrections. | |
| SCR 165 | Passed | Lockman | This resolution recognizes April 11 through 17, 2026, as “Week of the Young Child” in Delaware. | RECOGNIZING APRIL 11 THROUGH 17, 2026, AS "WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD" IN DELAWARE. |
| SCR 168 | Passed | Pettyjohn | This Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizes April 2026 as “Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month” in the State of Delaware. | RECOGNIZING APRIL 2026 AS “LIMB LOSS AND LIMB DIFFERENCE AWARENESS MONTH” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. |
| SCR 169 | Passed | Buckson | This Senate Concurrent Resolution designates April 2026 as the "Month of the Military Child" in the State of Delaware and encourages the Governor to illuminate key landmarks in purple during the month of April in honor of Delaware’s military-connected children.
| DESIGNATING APRIL 2026 AS THE "MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. |
| HA 1 to HS 2 for HB 94 | Passed | Harris | This House Amendment to House Substitute No. 2 for House Bill No. 94 simplifies the definition of “law-enforcement agency” by referencing “law-enforcement officer” a term that is defined in the general definitions section of Title 11. | |
