Delaware requires gun buyers to sign Firearm Responsibilities Notice and mandates dealers retain records

Original title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 11 AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Last action · July 23, 2026: Signed by GovernorSponsors: Kim Williams and 13 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Does

Gun buyers in Delaware must now review and sign a Firearm Responsibilities Notice before purchasing or receiving a firearm from a licensed dealer, manufacturer, or importer. Licensed dealers facilitating private sales must also provide the notice, secure a signed copy, and retain it for at least three years. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Why it matters

Licensed firearm dealers face new recordkeeping obligations and potential misdemeanor penalties for failing to collect and store signed safety notices, while gun purchasers must complete the acknowledgment before completing a transaction.

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

licensed firearm dealers

Must provide the Firearm Responsibilities Notice to buyers, secure their signatures, and retain records for at least three years.

Directly affected

firearm purchasers

Must review and sign the Firearm Responsibilities Notice before completing a firearm purchase or transfer.

Directly affected

Department of Safety and Homeland Security

Must develop the notice, post it online, provide free copies to dealers, and conduct pre-implementation outreach.

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

What information does the Firearm Responsibilities Notice contain?

The notice provides information on safe and lawful firearm handling, Delaware's gun safety laws, reporting lost or stolen firearms, available gun safety courses, and the national suicide prevention hotline number.

How long must firearm dealers keep the signed notices?

Licensed deadly weapons dealers must securely store signed Firearm Responsibilities Notices for at least 3 years in their place of business.

Who pays for copies of the notice provided to dealers?

The Department of Safety and Homeland Security provides the notices free of charge to licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

10 actions

Jul 23, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Signed by Governor
Jun 24, 2026SenateFloor
Passed By Senate. Votes: 17 YES 4 NO
Jun 18, 2026SenateCommittee
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
Apr 16, 2026SenateIntroduced
Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
Apr 16, 2026HouseFloor
Passed By House. Votes: 36 YES 4 NO 1 NOT VOTING
Apr 16, 2026HouseCommittee
Amendment HA 1 to HB 141 - Passed In House by Voice Vote

Show 4 earlier actions

Mar 10, 2026HouseCommittee
Amendment HA 1 to HB 141 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 8 On Its Merits
Jun 11, 2025House
Not Worked in Committee
May 7, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

Version history

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