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SB118 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 472, VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS FOR TORTIOUS INJURIES, INCLUDING DEATH, TO LAWFULLY OWNED PETS.

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 472, VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS FOR TORTIOUS INJURIES, INCLUDING DEATH, TO LAWFULLY OWNED PETS.

Healthcare
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Pettyjohn
Last action
2025-08-20
Official status
Signed 8/20/25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about enforcement or penalties, nor does it clarify the impact on insurance policies related to pets.

Act to Protect Pet Owners' Rights

This law allows pet owners to claim damages for veterinary bills if their pets are injured by someone else's negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions without a time limit.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows pet owners to pursue compensatory damages without limitation for veterinary bills incurred due to the injury of their pets caused by another person’s negligence, reckless, or intentional acts.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Pet owners who need to pay for medical care when their pets get injured due to another person's fault.

Terms To Know

Compensatory damages
Money paid by a court to someone who has been harmed, to cover the costs of that harm.
Sunset provision
A clause in a law that sets an expiration date for certain legal rights or provisions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if pet owners do not act within the time frame before the original sunset provision was removed.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect insurance policies related to pets.
  • There are no details on enforcement or penalties for non-compliance with this law.

Bill History

  1. 2025-08-20 Delaware General Assembly

    Signed by Governor

  2. 2025-06-30 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 3 ABSENT 1 VACANT

  3. 2025-06-24 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 10 On Its Merits

  4. 2025-06-11 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

  5. 2025-06-10 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 18 YES 3 ABSENT

  6. 2025-05-14 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits

  7. 2025-05-01 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 472, VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS FOR TORTIOUS INJURIES, INCLUDING DEATH, TO LAWFULLY OWNED PETS.
In the 151st General Assembly, SS1 to SB 258 was passed, which permitted pet owners to pursue compensatory damages without limitation for veterinary bills incurred to care for a pet that was injured by the negligence, reckless, or intentional acts of another individual or that individual's pet. This act removes a sunset provision that would have these changes expire on October 14, 2025.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Pettyjohn & Rep. D. Short

Sens. Hansen, Hocker; Rep. K. Williams

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 118

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 472, VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS FOR TORTIOUS INJURIES, INCLUDING DEATH, TO LAWFULLY OWNED PETS.

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

Section 1. Amend Chapter 472, Volume 83 of the Laws of Delaware by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Section 3. This Act expires 3 years after its enactment into law; unless otherwise provided by a subsequent act of the General Assembly.

SYNOPSIS

In the 151st General Assembly, SS1 to SB 258 was passed, which permitted pet owners to pursue compensatory damages without limitation for veterinary bills incurred to care for a pet that was injured by the negligence, reckless, or intentional acts of another individual or that individual's pet. This act removes a sunset provision that would have these changes expire on October 14, 2025.

Author: Senator Pettyjohn