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Delaware · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) · Bill

HB 278: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REGULATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS CONCERNING GAME AND FISH.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 278 is a bill introduced in the Delaware House on January 27, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REGULATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS CONCERNING GAME AND FISH. Primary sponsor: Jeff Spiegelman (Republican), Bill Carson (Democratic), Gerald Hocker (Republican), Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Nicole Poore (Democratic), Dave Wilson (Republican). It lists 4 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (June 10, 2026): Signed by Governor.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

This Act makes multiple changes to Title 7 of the Delaware Code. First it increases recreational hunting opportunities and clarifies that Sunday hunting is permitted for all game animals and game birds that the Department has established hunting seasons for, while allowing private landowners and public agencies discretion when and where Sunday hunting is permitted without being overly burdensome. This Act amends and simplifies the caliber of handgun ammunition permitted for deer hunting as well as updates the use of other hunting implements consistent with new and improved technology. This Act removes European and snowshoe hares as game animals and includes skunks and weasels as such.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4 · Republican 6

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Jeff SpiegelmanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse11
Bill CarsonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse28
Gerald HockerPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate20
Brian PettyjohnPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate19
Nicole PoorePrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate12
Dave WilsonPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate18
Eric BucksonCo-sponsorRepublicanSenate16
Kerri HarrisCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse32
Kyra HoffnerCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate14
Dave LawsonCo-sponsorRepublicanSenate15

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Signed by Governor
  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENT
  3. Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 8 On Its Merits
  4. Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
  5. Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 1 NO 2 ABSENT
  6. Amendment HA 2 to HB 278 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
  7. Amendment HA 1 to HB 278 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
  8. Amendment HA 2 to HB 278 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  9. Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 6 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits
  10. Amendment HA 1 to HB 278 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  11. Introduced and Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source