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HB154 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GUN SAFETY EQUIPMENT.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GUN SAFETY EQUIPMENT.

Firearms Healthcare
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Gorman
Last action
2025-08-20
Official status
Lieu/Substituted 5/14/25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact nature of the information pamphlets required is specified in the bill text, which was not fully captured in the candidate explanation.

Immunity for Nonprofits Distributing Secure Gun Storage Devices

This law provides immunity to nonprofit organizations when they distribute new and unopened secure gun storage devices along with a pamphlet on gun safety.

What This Bill Does

  • Gives nonprofits immunity if they distribute secure gun storage or safety devices in their original packaging without opening them.
  • Requires nonprofits to provide an information pamphlet about gun safety developed by a local or national organization or hospital when giving out these devices.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Nonprofit organizations that distribute new and unopened secure gun storage and safety devices
  • Individuals who receive new and unopened safe gun storage devices from nonprofits

Terms To Know

secure gun storage or safety device
A tool like a cable lock, trigger lock, or gun safe that helps keep guns secure.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if the devices are opened before distribution.
  • It is unclear how this will affect existing laws about liability for manufacturers and retailers.

Bill History

  1. 2025-08-20 Delaware General Assembly

    HS 1 for HB 154 - Signed by Governor

  2. 2025-06-25 Delaware General Assembly

    HS 1 for HB 154 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO

  3. 2025-06-18 Delaware General Assembly

    HS 1 for HB 154 - Reported Out of Committee (Corrections & Public Safety) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits

  4. 2025-05-20 Delaware General Assembly

    Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 154

  5. 2025-05-20 Delaware General Assembly

    HS 1 for HB 154 - - Defeated By House. Votes: 15 YES 20 NO 3 NOT VOTING 3 ABSENT

  6. 2025-05-20 Delaware General Assembly

    HS 1 for HB 154 - Passed By House. Votes: 31 YES 7 NO 3 ABSENT

  7. 2025-05-20 Delaware General Assembly

    HS 1 for HB 154 - Assigned to Corrections & Public Safety Committee in Senate

  8. 2025-05-14 Delaware General Assembly

    Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 154

  9. 2025-05-07 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 1 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits

  10. 2025-05-01 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GUN SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
This Act provides immunity to nonprofit organizations who distribute new secure gun storage and safety devices to individuals so long as the devices are distributed in their original packaging and are unopened. The nonprofit must provide gun safety pamphlets with the distribution of gun storage and safety devices. This Act does not limit any liability on the part of the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of the secure gun storage or safety device.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Gorman & Rep. Griffith & Rep. Bush & Rep. Romer & Sen. Lockman

Reps. Burns, Snyder-Hall; Sen. Sokola

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 154

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GUN SAFETY EQUIPMENT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 68, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Subchapter VIII. Immunity for Distribution of Secure Gun Storage or Safety Devices

§ 6860. Definition.

For purposes of this subchapter, “secure gun storage or safety device” means as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(34). A “secure gun storage or safety device” includes cable locks, trigger locks, or gun safes.

§ 6861. Distribution of secure gun storage or safety devices.

(a) A nonprofit organization that distributes new secure gun storage or safety devices free of charge to an individual is not liable for civil damages arising out of any injury to person or property proximately caused by an alleged defect in the design, manufacturing, maintenance, or operation of the secure gun storage or safety device.

(b) Subsection (a) of this section only applies where the nonprofit organization does all of the following:

(1) The secure gun storage or safety device vice is distributed by the nonprofit organization in its original packaging and unopened.

(2) The secure gun storage or safety device is distributed with an information pamphlet about gun safety developed by a local or national gun safety organization or hospital.

(c) Nothing in this section is intended to limit any liability on the part of a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of the secure gun storage or safety device.

SYNOPSIS

This Act provides immunity to nonprofit organizations who distribute new secure gun storage and safety devices to individuals so long as the devices are distributed in their original packaging and are unopened. The nonprofit must provide gun safety pamphlets with the distribution of gun storage and safety devices. This Act does not limit any liability on the part of the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of the secure gun storage or safety device.