AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ANIMAL FIGHTING.
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SB 198 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ANIMAL FIGHTING.
Last action — Signed by Governor
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 04, 2024. Enacted.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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15 sponsors
15 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (9 D · 3 R) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
This Act revises existing animal cruelty laws to include people who knowingly possess, own, buy, sell, transfer, or manufacture animal fighting paraphernalia with the intent to engage in or otherwise promote or facilitate such fighting as guilty of a class E felony. This Act defines “animal fighting paraphernalia” and creates a list of considerations a court may use when assessing whether an item or object qualifies as animal fighting paraphernalia.
Bill Text
- Bill Text View text Current pdf
AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.
This bill amends existing animal cruelty laws to include penalties for possession and trade of animal fighting paraphernalia.
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11 Del. C. § 1326
or a person who knowingly possesses, owns, buys, sells, transfers, or manufactures animal fighting paraphernalia with the intent to engage in or otherwise promote or facilitate such fighting
Adds new provisions making possession and trade of animal fighting paraphernalia a class E felony.
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11 Del. C. § 1326
“Animal fighting paraphernalia” means equipment, products, implements, and materials of any kind that are used, intended for use, or designed for use in the training, preparation, conditioning, or furtherance of animal fighting.
Defines what constitutes animal fighting paraphernalia.
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11 Del. C. § 1326
In determining whether an object is animal fighting paraphernalia, the court may consider: (1) Any prior convictions under federal or state law relating to animal fighting. (2) The proximity of the object in time and space to the direct violation of this section. (3) Direct or circumstantial evidence of the intent of the accused to deliver the object to persons whom he or she knows or should reasonably know intends to use the object to facilitate a violation of this section. (4) Oral or written instructions provided with or in the vicinity of the object concerning its use. (5) Descriptive materials accompanying the object which explain or depict its use. (6) All other relevant factors.
Establishes criteria for the court to assess whether an item qualifies as animal fighting paraphernalia.
Action History
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Signed by Governor
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Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES
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Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 7 On Its Merits
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Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
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Passed By Senate. Votes: 17 YES 1 NO 2 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT
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Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
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Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
Sponsors
- Bryan Townsend · Primary
- Cyndie Romer · Primary
- Bryant L. Richardson · Primary
- David L. Wilson · Primary
- Laura V. Sturgeon · Primary
- Kendra Johnson · Primary
- Russell Huxtable · Primary
- David P. Sokola · Primary
- Brian Pettyjohn · Primary
- Nicole Poore · Primary
- John "Jack" Walsh · Primary
- Stephanie L. Hansen · Primary
- Stell Parker Selby · Primary
- Valerie Longhurst · Primary
- Peter C. Schwartzkopf · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →15 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 47 not signed on · 1 voted No
Sponsors (15)
- Bryan Townsend Democratic
- Cyndie Romer Democratic
- Bryant L. Richardson Republican
- David L. Wilson Republican
- Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic
- Kendra Johnson Democratic
- Russell Huxtable Democratic
- David P. Sokola Democratic
- Brian Pettyjohn Republican
- Nicole Poore Democratic
- John "Jack" Walsh Democratic
- Stephanie L. Hansen Democratic
- Stell Parker Selby
- Valerie Longhurst
- Peter C. Schwartzkopf
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (47)
47 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 47 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (41)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Republican | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 17 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 81% | 5% | 0% | 14% |
How each member voted (21)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Evans Gay | — | Yea |
| Sarah McBride | — | Yea |
| Bryan Townsend | Democratic | Yea |
| Darius J. Brown | Democratic | Nay |
| David P. Sokola | Democratic | Yea |
| John "Jack" Walsh | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyra L. Hoffner | Democratic | Yea |
| Laura V. Sturgeon | Democratic | Yea |
| Marie Pinkney | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Nicole Poore | Democratic | Yea |
| Russell Huxtable | Democratic | Yea |
| S. Elizabeth Lockman | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Spiros Mantzavinos | Democratic | Yea |
| Stephanie L. Hansen | Democratic | Yea |
| Trey Paradee | Democratic | Yea |
| Brian Pettyjohn | Republican | Not Voting |
| Bryant L. Richardson | Republican | Yea |
| Dave G. Lawson | Republican | Yea |
| David L. Wilson | Republican | Yea |
| Eric Buckson | Republican | Yea |
| Gerald W. Hocker | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 198 do?
- This Act revises existing animal cruelty laws to include people who knowingly possess, own, buy, sell, transfer, or manufacture animal fighting paraphernalia with the intent to engage in or otherwise promote or facilitate such fighting as guilty of a class E felony. This Act defines “animal fighting paraphernalia” and creates a list of considerations a court may use when assessing whether an item or object qualifies as animal fighting paraphernalia.
- Who sponsors SB 198?
- SB 198 is sponsored by Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Cyndie Romer (Democratic), Bryant L. Richardson (Republican), David L. Wilson (Republican), Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic), Kendra Johnson (Democratic), Russell Huxtable (Democratic), David P. Sokola (Democratic), Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Nicole Poore (Democratic), John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Stell Parker Selby, Valerie Longhurst, and Peter C. Schwartzkopf.
- What is the current status of SB 198?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 04, 2024. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 198?
- Track SB 198 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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