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: 2026-07-01
Official status: Lieu/Substituted 6/11/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers but reached final enrollment; however, no effective date is listed in the provided metadata, though Section 4 specifies applicability to licenses after December 31, 2026.

Delaware Veterinarian Reporting Law

This law requires veterinarians in Delaware to report suspected animal cruelty, complete training every two years on the signs and symptoms of abuse, and confirm they finished this training when applying for or renewing their license.

What This Bill Does

Requires veterinarians who suspect animal cruelty to report it to the Office of Animal Welfare or another appropriate authority.
Mandates that veterinarians complete biennial (every two years) training on reporting requirements, including signs and symptoms of suspected animal cruelty.
Protects veterinarians from civil or criminal lawsuits and professional discipline if they make a good faith report about suspected abuse.
Allows the Board of Veterinary Medicine to punish veterinarians who fail to follow these rules.
Requires applicants for new licenses or license renewals to state that they have completed the required training.

Who It Names or Affects

Veterinarians licensed in Delaware
The Office of Animal Welfare and other reporting authorities
The Board of Veterinary Medicine

Terms To Know

Biennially: Happening once every two years.
Attestation: A formal statement confirming that something is true, such as finishing a training course.
Immunity from liability: Legal protection that stops someone from being sued or punished for making a report in good faith.

Limits and Unknowns

The law only applies to licenses issued or renewed after December 31, 2026.
The text does not list the specific details of what must be included in the training course beyond signs and symptoms of cruelty.

Bill History

2026-07-01 Delaware General Assembly
HS 1 for HB 415 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
2026-06-24 Delaware General Assembly
HS 1 for HB 415 - Reported Out of Committee (Legislative Oversight & Sunset) in Senate with 3 Favorable
2026-06-18 Delaware General Assembly
HS 1 for HB 415 - Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES
2026-06-18 Delaware General Assembly
HS 1 for HB 415 - Assigned to Legislative Oversight & Sunset Committee in Senate
2026-06-16 Delaware General Assembly
HS 1 for HB 415 - Reported Out of Committee (Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)) in House with 2 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
2026-06-16 Delaware General Assembly
HS 1 for HB 415 - Reported Out of Committee (Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)) in House with 2 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
2026-06-11 Delaware General Assembly
Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 415
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.