Delaware allows 16- and 17-year-olds to hunt and target practice without adult supervision under specific conditions

Original title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO OFFENSES INVOLVING DEADLY WEAPONS AND DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS.

Last action · August 17, 2026: Signed by GovernorSponsors: Jeff Spiegelman and 10 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Does

This law permits 16- and 17-year-olds to engage in target practice with a BB gun, projectile weapon, or firearm without adult supervision if they have parental permission and have completed a . Additionally, teens of these ages may hunt unsupervised while possessing a valid Delaware hunting license.

Why it matters

Changes unsupervised firearm handling and hunting rules for 16- and 17-year-olds who meet training and licensing criteria.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

16- or 17-year-olds

Minors aged 16 or 17 gain the legal ability to target practice and hunt without direct supervision of an adult age 21 or older under specified conditions.

Directly affected

Parents or guardians

Parents or guardians must grant permission for 16- or 17-year-olds to engage in unsupervised target practice.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a 16-year-old target practice alone under this law?

Yes, provided they have parental or guardian permission and have completed a .

What is required for a 17-year-old to hunt without adult supervision?

They must be in possession of a valid Delaware hunting license.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

9 actions

Aug 17, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Signed by Governor
Jul 1, 2026SenateFloor
Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 6 NO 1 ABSENT
Jul 1, 2026Senate
Suspension of Rules in Senate
Jun 24, 2026SenateCommittee
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
Jun 23, 2026SenateIntroduced
Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
Jun 23, 2026HouseFloor
Passed By House. Votes: 28 YES 9 NO 2 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT

Show 3 earlier actions

Jun 23, 2026HouseCommittee
Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
Jun 23, 2026HouseCommittee
Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
Jun 19, 2026HouseIntroduced
was introduced and adopted in lieu of HB 427

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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