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SB141 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Walsh
Last action
2026-05-13
Official status
House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce 5/13/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on the exact limit of twelve spirits auctions per year, which was mentioned in the candidate explanation. The bill text mentions a general limitation but does not specify this particular detail.

Delaware Bill Allowing Spirits Auctions

This bill allows auction houses with proper licenses to hold auctions for rare and collectible spirits, provided that the spirits cannot be sold in stores or other licensed facilities.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows auction houses with proper licenses to hold auctions for rare and collectible spirits.
  • Requires that any spirits sold at these auctions must not be available for sale in stores or other licensed facilities.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Auction houses with licenses from Delaware
  • People who buy and sell rare and collectible spirits

Terms To Know

spirits auction
An event where rare or collectible alcoholic spirits are sold to the highest bidder.
Commissioner
The person in charge of issuing licenses for alcohol-related businesses in Delaware.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is not clear how many auction houses will apply for this new type of license.
  • The bill does not specify what happens if the spirits are sold to someone who then tries to sell them elsewhere.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SA 1

1 • Walsh

Passed

Plain English: Passed 1 by Walsh

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-13 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House

  2. 2026-05-12 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment SA 1 to SB 141 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

  3. 2026-05-12 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  4. 2026-05-05 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

  5. 2026-05-05 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment SA 1 to SB 141 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  6. 2025-05-13 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee in Senate

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.
This bill allows auction houses that are licensed by the Delaware Office of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner to auction spirits, so long as the spirits being auctioned are not made available for sale in any licensed facility or store.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Walsh & Rep. Bush

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 141

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

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

Section 1. Amend § 512D, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 512D. Wine

auctions.

and spirits auctions.

(a) Subject to the provisions, restrictions and prohibitions of this title, the Commissioner may grant a wine auction license,

a spirits auction license, or a wine and spirits auction license

to each qualified

applicant therefor.

applicant.

No person shall operate a wine auction

or spirits auction

unless licensed to do so by the Commissioner. For purposes of this

section,

section:

(1)

a

A

“wine auction” shall mean a person, partnership or corporation that sells rare or fine wines on

consignment from the owners of said wines

or obtained from private collections

at public auction to those persons who are of legal age to purchase such items. A nonprofit organization may apply for a “wine auction-gathering license” for a specific date upon application to the Commissioner as a fund raiser for their organization.

(2) A “spirits auction” shall mean a person, partnership or corporation that sells rare or collectable spirits

obtained from private collections at public auction to those persons who are of legal age to purchase such items.

(b) Said wine auction license holder

or spirits auction license holder

must have an office situated within the State, however said auctions may take place at any location within the State subject to the rules and regulations of the Commissioner which shall have the force of law. A nonprofit organization does not need to maintain an office within the State.

(c) No more than 12

wine

auctions may be conducted within a calendar

year.

year and no more than 12 spirits auctions may be conducted within a calendar year.

(d) The wine auction

or spirits auction

license holder shall have the responsibility for collecting and remitting the applicable excise taxes and gross receipt taxes due for all products auctioned. Provided further, that any products purchased at auction shall not be stocked as inventory or made available for further retail sale in any facility or store licensed under this title.

SYNOPSIS

This bill allows auction houses that are licensed by the Delaware Office of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner to auction spirits, so long as the spirits being auctioned are not made available for sale in any licensed facility or store.

Author: Senator Walsh