Delaware bills · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)
Delaware SB 38
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RETIRED LAW-ENFORCEMENT ANIMALS.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Lyndon D. Yearick (Republican)
- Bryan W. Shupe (Republican)
- Daniel B. Short (Republican)
- David L. Wilson (Republican)
- John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic)
- Bryan Townsend (Democratic)
- Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic)
- David P. Sokola (Democratic)
- Ray Seigfried (Democratic)
- Bryant L. Richardson (Republican)
- Nicole Poore (Democratic)
- Marie Pinkney (Democratic)
- Brian Pettyjohn (Republican)
- Trey Paradee (Democratic)
- Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic)
- Josue O Ortega (Democratic)
- Russell Huxtable (Democratic)
- Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic)
- Stell Parker Selby
- Melanie Ross Levin (Democratic)
- Sarah McBride
- Franklin D. Cooke (Democratic)
- Darius J. Brown (Democratic)
- William J. Carson (Democratic)
- Dave G. Lawson (Republican)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Delaware legislature· synopsis
This Act provides financial support to owners who adopt a horse that retired from serving with the Department of Correction, State or Capitol police, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, or the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The owners of these retired-law enforcement horses may be reimbursed up to $3,000 annually for veterinary care expenses and farrier services paid by the owner for the care of the retired law-enforcement horse. The Department that the retired law-enforcement horse assisted shall issue veterinary care and farrier services reimbursements and promulgate regulations to create a reimbursement process for retired law-enforcement horses.
This Act also makes structural changes to incorporate the support for retired law-enforcement animals into a single subchapter. This Act changes subchapter VII of Title 16 from the Retired Law-Enforcement Canine Act into the Retired Law-Enforcement Animals Act. This Act moves all the definitions into their own section, and adds and modifies definitions, as needed, to account for the addition of horses.
This Act is effective immediately and shall be implemented 6 months after enactment. This Act does not apply to law-enforcement horses that retire before the implementation date of this Act.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2025 House | SM | pass | Set your home in Delaware to see |
| Mar 25, 2025 Senate | SM | pass | Set your home in Delaware to see |
Actions
- Aug 20, 2025
Signed by Governor - Jun 12, 2025 · House
Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT - Apr 9, 2025 · House
Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 8 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits - Mar 26, 2025 · House
Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House - Mar 25, 2025 · Senate
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES - Mar 25, 2025 · Senate
Amendment SA 1 to SB 38 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES - Mar 19, 2025 · Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 6 On Its Merits - Jan 28, 2025 · Senate
Amendment SA 1 to SB 38 - Introduced and Placed With Bill - Jan 10, 2025 · Senate
Introduced and Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate