HB415 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VETERINARIANS AND MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Griffith
Last action: 2026-05-12
Official status: House Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) 5/12/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact disciplinary sanctions that will be imposed for violations.

Law to Require Veterinarians to Report Animal Abuse

This law requires veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse and neglect, complete training every two years, and attest to completing the training when applying for or renewing their license.

What This Bill Does

Requires veterinarians to report any suspected animal cruelty to the Office of Animal Welfare or another authority.
Veterinarians must complete mandatory reporting training every two years.
Before getting a new license, veterinarians have to attest that they completed the required training.

Who It Names or Affects

Veterinarians in Delaware
Animals suspected of being abused or neglected

Terms To Know

Mandatory Reporting Requirement: A rule that requires certain people to report suspected abuse or neglect.
Biennially: Every two years.

Limits and Unknowns

The law only applies to veterinarians in Delaware.
It is not clear what the consequences will be if a veterinarian does not follow these rules.
This bill has passed both chambers of the Delaware General Assembly but needs further action before becoming law.

Bill History

2026-05-12 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VETERINARIANS AND MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
This Act requires that all veterinarians report any suspected abuse or neglect of an animal to the Office of Animal Welfare or the appropriate reporting authority. Veterinarians must complete mandatory reporting training biennially and attest that they have completed such training in any application for licensure or licensure renewal. The Board of Veterinary Medicine may impose disciplinary sanctions for violations of this Act.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Griffith & Rep. K. Williams & Rep. Phillips & Sen. Poore & Sen. Hansen & Sen. Walsh

Reps. Ortega, Snyder-Hall; Sen. Hoffner

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 415

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VETERINARIANS AND MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

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

Section 1. Amend Subchapter III, Chapter 30F, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 3037F. Mandatory reporting requirement.

(a) For purposes of this section, “veterinarian” means as defined under § 3302 of Title 24.

(b) A veterinarian who suspects animal cruelty must report the suspected animal cruelty to the Office of Animal Welfare, or the appropriate reporting authority, for investigation.

(c) A veterinarian who in good faith reports suspected animal cruelty is immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise exist as a result of making the report. The immunity provided by this subsection extends to the individual’s participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the good faith report of suspected animal cruelty. A veterinarian who in good faith reports suspected animal cruelty may not be subject to professional discipline by the Board of Veterinary Medicine for making the reports.

(d) A veterinarian must complete biennial training on the requirements of this section, which must include the signs and symptoms of suspected animal cruelty. Prior to the issuance or renewal of a license, the veterinarian must attest to the Board of Veterinary Medicine that the veterinarian has completed mandatory reporting training under this section.

(e) The Board of Veterinary Medicine may impose any disciplinary sanction under § 3317 of Title 24 for a violation of this section.

Section 2. Amend § 3306, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 3306. Board of Veterinary Medicine — Powers and duties.

(a) The Board of Veterinary Medicine shall have authority to:

(6) Establish by rule and regulation continuing education standards required for license

renewal;

renewal, which must include training on mandatory reporting requirements under § 3037F of Title 16.

Section 3. Amend § 3309, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 3309. Issuance of license; renewal; inactive status; reinstatement.

(d) Each licensure application and licensure renewal application under this chapter must include an attestation that the applicant has completed the biennial mandatory reporting training requirement under § 3037F of Title 16.

Section 4. This Act applies to all licenses issued or renewed after December 31, 2026.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires that all veterinarians report any suspected abuse or neglect of an animal to the Office of Animal Welfare or the appropriate reporting authority. Veterinarians must complete mandatory reporting training biennially and attest that they have completed such training in any application for licensure or licensure renewal. The Board of Veterinary Medicine may impose disciplinary sanctions for violations of this Act.