Bill Commons

DE HB 63

enacted

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Delaware · 2025-2026 Regular Session (153rd General Assembly) · lower

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Quick answers

Did DE HB 63 pass?

Yes. DE HB 63 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-09-24): Signed by Governor

What is DE HB 63 about?

Delaware's current fireworks laws have led to confusion among consumers and noncompliance, with individuals frequently using fireworks outside of legally permitted days. Many consumers are unaware they are breaking the law, while those who knowingly violate it face fines too low to serve as a deterrent. This results in ongoing nuisances for neighbors, increased risks of bodily harm, and heightened dangers of fires and property damage. Additionally, out-of-state retailers advertise illegal fireworks in Delaware without consequence, further misleading consumers. The absence of a registration process for fireworks retailers limits the State Fire Marshal’s ability to oversee the sale and distribution of these potentially hazardous products. This bill strengthens enforcement by increasing fines, regulating sales through a permit system, ensuring consumer awareness through required safety information, and generating revenue for the Fire Marshal’s office to improve oversight and public education. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 11 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to impose or levy a tax or license fee.

Who sponsors DE HB 63?

John "Jack" Walsh, David P. Sokola, Kerri Evelyn Harris and 8 others are the primary sponsors of DE HB 63.

Description

Delaware's current fireworks laws have led to confusion among consumers and noncompliance, with individuals frequently using fireworks outside of legally permitted days. Many consumers are unaware they are breaking the law, while those who knowingly violate it face fines too low to serve as a deterrent. This results in ongoing nuisances for neighbors, increased risks of bodily harm, and heightened dangers of fires and property damage. Additionally, out-of-state retailers advertise illegal fireworks in Delaware without consequence, further misleading consumers. The absence of a registration process for fireworks retailers limits the State Fire Marshal’s ability to oversee the sale and distribution of these potentially hazardous products. This bill strengthens enforcement by increasing fines, regulating sales through a permit system, ensuring consumer awareness through required safety information, and generating revenue for the Fire Marshal’s office to improve oversight and public education. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 11 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to impose or levy a tax or license fee.

Introduced
2025-03-06
Latest action
2026-09-24 — Signed by Governor
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • John "Jack" Walshprimary
  • David P. Sokolaprimary
  • Kerri Evelyn Harrisprimary
  • Darius J. Brownprimary
  • Brian Pettyjohnprimary
  • Cyndie Romerprimary
  • Mara Gormanprimary
  • Bryant L. Richardsonprimary
  • Bryan Townsendprimary
  • Edward S. Osienskiprimary
  • Madinah Wilson-Antonprimary

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-09-24

    Signed by Governor

    executive-signature

  2. 2026-06-23

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 NO

    passage

  3. 2026-04-22

    Reported Out of Committee (Corrections & Public Safety) in Senate with 5 On Its Merits

    committee-passage

  4. 2026-03-17

    Assigned to Corrections & Public Safety Committee in Senate

    introduction,referral-committee

  5. 2026-03-17

    Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 1 NO 2 ABSENT

    passage

  6. 2026-03-17

    Amendment HA 1 to HB 63 - Passed In House by Voice Vote

    amendment-passage

  7. 2025-06-11

    Amendment HA 1 to HB 63 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

    amendment-introduction

  8. 2025-03-25

    Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 3 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  9. 2025-03-06

    Introduced and Assigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House

    introduction,referral-committee

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • 3/5

    2026-03-17 · pass · 38-1

    Member-level votes (41)
    • Alonna Berry: yes
    • Stephanie T. Bolden: yes
    • Frank Burns: yes
    • William Bush: yes
    • William J. Carson: yes
    • Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha: yes
    • Richard G. Collins: yes
    • Franklin D. Cooke: yes
    • Daniel B. Short: yes
    • Timothy D. Dukes: yes
    • Mara Gorman: yes
    • Ronald E. Gray: no
    • Krista Griffith: yes
    • Kerri Evelyn Harris: yes
    • Debra Heffernan: yes
    • Kevin S Hensley: yes
    • Jeff Hilovsky: other
    • Valerie Jones Giltner: yes
    • Kendra Johnson: yes
    • Kimberly Williams: yes
    • Kamela T Smith: yes
    • Larry Lambert: yes
    • Sean M. Lynn: yes
    • Michael F. Smith: yes
    • Melissa Minor-Brown: yes
    • Shannon Morris: yes
    • Eric Morrison: yes
    • DeShanna U Neal: yes
    • Josue O Ortega: yes
    • Edward S. Osienski: yes
    • Sophie Phillips: yes
    • Charles S Postles Jr.: yes
    • Cyndie Romer: yes
    • Melanie Ross Levin: yes
    • Sherae'a Moore: other
    • Bryan W. Shupe: yes
    • Claire Snyder-Hall: yes
    • Jeffrey N. Spiegelman: yes
    • Jesse R. Vanderwende: yes
    • Madinah Wilson-Anton: yes
    • Lyndon D. Yearick: yes

  • 3/5

    2026-06-23 · pass · 19-2

    Member-level votes (21)
    • Darius J. Brown: yes
    • Eric Buckson: yes
    • Daniel Cruce: yes
    • Stephanie L. Hansen: yes
    • Gerald W. Hocker: yes
    • Kyra L. Hoffner: yes
    • Russell Huxtable: yes
    • Dave G. Lawson: no
    • S. Elizabeth Lockman: yes
    • Spiros Mantzavinos: yes
    • Trey Paradee: yes
    • Brian Pettyjohn: yes
    • Marie Pinkney: yes
    • Nicole Poore: yes
    • Bryant L. Richardson: no
    • Ray Seigfried: yes
    • David P. Sokola: yes
    • Laura V. Sturgeon: yes
    • Bryan Townsend: yes
    • John "Jack" Walsh: yes
    • David L. Wilson: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141899

Attribution

Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-10-01T23:04:44.345163Z

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