HB61 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRUGS USED IN GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED EXECUTIONS.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Lynn
Last action: 2025-03-06
Official status: House Judiciary 3/6/25
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact enforcement mechanisms are not detailed in the provided sources.

Law About Drugs for Executions

This law makes it illegal for Delaware-based companies to sell drugs that are used in government-sanctioned executions and imposes penalties on those who do.

What This Bill Does

Makes it against the rules for a company based in Delaware to sell, distribute, or dispense any drug if they know or should know it will be used in an execution.
Says that the highest-ranking officer of such a company can face criminal charges and civil penalties up to $50,000 if their company breaks this rule.
If the company is a corporation, its right to exist as a business in Delaware could be taken away.

Who It Names or Affects

Companies based in Delaware
Highest-ranking officers of companies that sell drugs

Terms To Know

Officer: The highest-ranking person who leads a company and is responsible for its actions.
Organization: A business or group, but not an individual person.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens to companies that are not based in Delaware.
Does not explain how the law will be enforced or who will check if companies follow it.
The bill has passed both chambers of the legislature but its final status is pending executive action.

Bill History

2025-03-06 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 DRUGS USED IN GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED EXECUTIONS.
This Act creates civil and criminal liability for a corporation or other business organized under the laws of this State that sells, distributes, or dispenses a drug that is used as part of a government-sanctioned execution.

Under this Act, the highest-ranking officer of the organization that sells, distribute, or dispenses a drug that the officer knows or should know will be used in any capacity in a government-sanctioned execution is guilty of a class A felony and is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000. If the organization is a corporation, its corporate charter will also be revoked.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Lynn

Reps. K. Johnson, Lambert, Phillips

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 61

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRUGS USED IN GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED EXECUTIONS.

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

Section 1. Amend Subchapter III, Chapter 47, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 4740C. Prohibition on the sale of drugs for use in government-sanctioned executions; pentobarbital.

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Officer” means the highest-ranking director, partner, or other leader of an organization who has authority over and responsibility for the organization’s sale or distribution of drugs.

(2) “Organization” means any entity listed in the definition of “person” under § 302 of Title 1, other than an individual.

(b) An organization organized under the laws of this State may not sell, distribute, or dispense a drug if the organization’s officer knows or should know that the drug will be used in any capacity in a government-sanctioned execution.

(c) A person that sells, distributes, or dispenses a drug containing any quantity of pentobarbital must require the purchaser to sign an attestation that the drug will not be used, or sold to another individual to use, in the government-sanctioned execution of an individual.

(d) An officer of an organization is civilly and criminally liable for a violation of this section if the officer knew or should have known that an agent or employee of the organization was selling, distributing, or dispensing drugs in violation of this section.

(e) A person that violates this section is guilty of a class A felony and is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000.

(f) If the person that violates this section is a corporation organized under the laws of this State, the charter of the corporation will be revoked on a finding of criminal or civil liability for the violation.

SYNOPSIS

This Act creates civil and criminal liability for a corporation or other business organized under the laws of this State that sells, distributes, or dispenses a drug that is used as part of a government-sanctioned execution.

Under this Act, the highest-ranking officer of the organization that sells, distribute, or dispenses a drug that the officer knows or should know will be used in any capacity in a government-sanctioned execution is guilty of a class A felony and is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000. If the organization is a corporation, its corporate charter will also be revoked.