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SB 300 DE
Passed Legislature

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11, TITLE 16, AND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DEADLY WEAPONS DEALERS.

DE · session 153 · Senate · bill

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Introduced May 8, 2026

Latest action (Jun 30, 2026) Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 7 NO

Summary

This act replaces Delaware's firearm dealer licensing system with stricter state-level requirements designed to reduce illegal firearm trafficking. Firearm dealers must obtain a state license under new requirements that include eligibility factors, enhanced security measures, background checks for employees and volunteers, training requirements, and regular inspections by the Delaware State Police. The act establishes flat licensing fees of $300 for initial licenses and $250 for renewals, with December 31 as the annual renewal deadline. Dealers must maintain detailed records and report firearm trace information to the General Assembly via the State Police every two years. The Delaware Department of Justice is given investigative authority alongside the State Police to enforce the new licensing requirements. Implementation begins July 1, 2028, with a phased approach allowing existing dealers time to comply with the new regulations.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill (from the OpenStates abstract — no full text available yet) — neutral, and may be imperfect.

Official abstract

This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 300. Like SB 300, this Act requires firearm dealers to obtain a state license to sell or transfer firearms under Chapter 9B instead of the license to sell deadly weapons under Chapter 9 of Title 24. Like SB 300, this Act does all of the following: -Establishes in statute factors that make a person ineligible to obtain a state license to sell or transfer firearms or to serve as a responsible person for a state license holder (licensee). -Heightens and adds more specific security requirements. -Heightens and centralizes recordkeeping and reporting requirements. -Requires background checks for contractors and volunteers with access to the licensee's firearms or performing certain tasks for a licensee. -Establishes training requirements. -Includes a recurring inspection by the DSP to ensure licensees are in compliance with State law. -Establishes civil penalties and possible license revocation in the event of violations. This Act differs from Senate Bill No. 300 as follows: -Changes the definition of firearm to reference 11 Del. C. § 222. -Removes the license fee ranges that are dependent on the number of firearms sold or transferred and instead sets flat and established license fees at $300 for an initial license and $250 to renew a state license. This Act makes corresponding changes throughout to account for the change in license fee structure. -Removes the licensee requirement to report firearm trace information to the Attorney General and the Attorney General’s publication of an annual report. Instead, firearm trace information will be provided as part of a licensee’s renewal application and will be provided to the General Assembly by the Delaware State Police (DSP). -Background checks are required once every 2 years, instead of annually. Relatedly, the background check obtained by a licensee or responsible person is valid for 2 years for purposes of applying for an initial license or a license renewal under this chapter. -Establishes December 31 of each year as the date that license renewal applications are due. Initial licenses that are granted after January 1 of each year may receive a prorated license fee. This Act makes corresponding changes throughout to account for the date change. -Changes the DSP report about licensee status from an annual report due by December 1 to a biennial report due on March 1. -Adds that the Delaware Department of Justice also has general investigative authority to investigate a breach of Chapter 9B. Under SB 300, only DSP had this authority. -Removes the requirement that a licensee maintain all security system recordings for at least 3 years. DSP shall promulgate regulations that establish how long a licensee shall maintain recordings. -The General Assembly shall expend any money collected in the Firearm Licensing Fund in furtherance of implementing this Act and Chapter 9 of Title 24. -Delays implementation and gradually phases in the requirements in this Act, beginning by July 1, 2028, with DSP notification to people with valid special licenses to sell deadly weapons under Chapter 9 of Title 24 about the changes in law and the potential that a license under this Act may be required. Changes made by this Act to Delaware’s licensing system are in recognition of a growing body of evidence that demonstrates that firearms dealers’ sales practices affect the probability of firearms entering the illegal market, and that policies designed to hold dealers accountable can curtail illegal use of firearms and the concomitant crimes. According to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Gun Violence Solutions, utilizing data from the Centers for Disease Control, firearms are used in 78% of homicides that occur in Delaware. In addition to loss of life, firearm violence has an economic impact, costing Delawareans $1.3 billion per year, which amounts to $1,236 per resident. An article in the Journal of Urban Health found that in-state trafficking was 64 percent lower in places with strong firearm dealer regulations and oversight. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health, examining 20 years of data, found that state licensing requirements and laws requiring or allowing inspections or audits of firearm dealers were independently associated with significantly lower firearm homicide rates. The ATF has oversight over firearms dealers, but its efforts are insufficient. Though the ATF aims to inspect firearm dealers at least every three years, at the rate inspections are performed, a dealer can expect inspection only once every 9 years. ATF data reveals that, when they occur, dealer inspections generally yield a large number of violations. In sum, the frequency of violations and the rarity of inspections allow the possibility that dealers are violating law each year without any corrective action by the ATF. According to data compiled by Brady United, there is State-specific evidence to suggest Delaware’s firearm licensing system would benefit from reform to protect the health and safety of our residents. According to 2017 through 2021 ATF data, 6,626 firearms were recovered in Delaware by law enforcement, after either having been used in a crime, found at a crime scene, or where the purchase or possession of the firearm was itself illegal (“crime guns”). Half of these crime guns were recovered by law enforcement within 3 years of retail purchase, which is indicative of potential firearm trafficking. The data also raises concerns about potential straw purchasing in our State, as there was a mismatch in the identity of the firearm purchaser and firearm possessor during a criminal offense in 72% of the traceable cases. Furthermore, 67% of the firearms recovered by law enforcement in this State were sourced from in-State firearm dealers. Delaware is also a significant supplier of crime guns to other states, most significantly Maryland (12.2% of the crime guns recovered come from Delaware dealers) and Pennsylvania (8.9% if the crime guns recovered come from Delaware dealers).

Sponsors (9)

Action history (46)
  1. May 8, 2026 Adopted in lieu of the original bill SB 300, and Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate · upper
  2. May 13, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 4 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits · upper
  3. May 13, 2026 Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate · upper
  4. May 20, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits · upper
  5. May 21, 2026 Amendment SA 1 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  6. May 21, 2026 Amendment SA 1 to SS 1 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT · upper
  7. May 21, 2026 Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 6 NO 1 ABSENT · upper
  8. Jun 4, 2026 Assigned to Administration Committee in House · lower
  9. Jun 10, 2026 Amendment HA 1 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  10. Jun 10, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 3 On Its Merits · lower
  11. Jun 11, 2026 Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House · lower
  12. Jun 16, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 3 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits · lower
  13. Jun 16, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 3 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits · lower
  14. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 2 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  15. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 3 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  16. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 4 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  17. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 5 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  18. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 6 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  19. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 7 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  20. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 8 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  21. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 9 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  22. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 10 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  23. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 11 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  24. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 12 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  25. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 13 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  26. Jun 18, 2026 Amendment HA 14 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  27. Jun 24, 2026 Amendment HA 15 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  28. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 1 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  29. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 2 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  30. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 3 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  31. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 4 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  32. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 5 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  33. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 6 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  34. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 7 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  35. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 8 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  36. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 9 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  37. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 10 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  38. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 11 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  39. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 12 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  40. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 13 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  41. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 14 to SS 1 - Stricken in House · lower
  42. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 15 to SS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote · lower
  43. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 16 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
  44. Jun 25, 2026 Amendment HA 16 to SS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote · lower
  45. Jun 25, 2026 Passed By House. Votes: 27 YES 11 NO 1 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT · lower
  46. Jun 30, 2026 Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 7 NO · upper

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