New Delaware laws taking effect July 1, 2026

13 laws take effect July 1, 2026.

Of the 569 bills enacted since 2025, 559 have an effective date and 10 don't yet (listed below). A law here takes effect that day by its main provisions; parts of a staggered act may take effect on other dates.

Updated Oct 31, 2026 at 11:20 a.m. EDT.

Government (6)

HB 472 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
Town of Cheswold/Territorial Limits/Nobles Pond
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: See Section 3 of final/engrossed bill: "This Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.".
How effective dates are worked out
HS 1 for HB 143 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
Uniform Accountancy Act/Updates
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: See Section 5 of bill: "This Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.".
How effective dates are worked out
HS 1 for HB 370 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
Codify DEFAC/DE Code
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: See Section 2 of final/engrossed bill: "This Act takes effect July 1, 2026, or upon enactment, whichever occurs later.".
How effective dates are worked out
HS 1 for HB 407 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
HSCA/DNREC/Updates
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: See Section 7 of final/engrossed bill: "This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.".
How effective dates are worked out
SB 75 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
Marijuana Establishments/Restrictions/County/Limit
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: Since it does not specify a different effective date, this Act is effective on being signed by the Governor or enacted in another way..
How effective dates are worked out
SS 1 for SB 342 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
Delaware Motion Picture and Television Development Commission/Updates
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: Since it does not specify a different effective date, this Act is effective on being signed by the Governor or enacted in another way..
How effective dates are worked out

Education (3)

HB 256 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
Public School ID Cards/Hotline Numbers
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: See Section 5 of bill: "This Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.".
How effective dates are worked out
HB 443 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
DOE/Mentors/Background Checks
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: See line 35 of bill: "This Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.".
How effective dates are worked out
SB 102 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
Board of Electrical Examiners/Licensed Apprentice
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: See Section 2 of final/engrossed bill: "This Act shall be effective July 1, 2026.".
How effective dates are worked out

Healthcare (2)

HB 17 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
Certificate of Public Review/Repeal/Maj. Equipment
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: See Section 3 of final/engrossed bill: "This Act is effective July 1, 2026.".
How effective dates are worked out
SB 296 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
Delaware Health Fund/Attorney General/Enforce Tobacco Agreement
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: Since it does not specify a different effective date, this Act is effective on being signed by the Governor or enacted in another way..
How effective dates are worked out

Crime (1)

HS 1 for HB 47 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
Background Checks/Private Schools/Youth Camps
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: From Section 3 of final/engrossed bill: "This Act takes effect on July 1, 2026...".
How effective dates are worked out

Taxes (1)

HB 364 · 2025 Regular SessionPublished
DE Entertainment Production Tax Credit/Create
How we got this date
Published by the legislature: See Section 2 of final/engrossed bill: "This Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.".
How effective dates are worked out

Enacted, but not yet dated (10)

These laws' texts tie their dates to something outside the legislative record (Contingent), or not enough is recorded yet to give one (Unresolved). They may take effect July 1, 2026 too; the record doesn't say.

Show all 10

HB 141ContingentFirearms Responsibilities Notice/DSHS Publication in the Register of Regulations of a notice from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security that a final version of the Firearm Responsibilities Notice has been promulgated
HB 165ContingentDry Needling/Requirements and LimitationsTakes effect on the earlier of the listed events (list not included in the passage)
HB 37UnresolvedPlace of Public Accommodation/Revise Definitiontwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
HB 423ContingentDeferred Comp/Auto Enrollment/State EmployeesTakes effect 10 days after publication in the Register of Regulations of a notice from the State Treasurer that OMB has certified that necessary payroll upgrades have been completed.
HB 452ContingentDIAA/Background ChecksEarlier of July 1, 2027 or the date of notice in the Register of Regulations that implementing regulations have been promulgated
SB 131ContingentBoard of Dentistry/Local Anesthesia/Dental Hygenists/AllowEarlier of January 1, 2026, or when the State Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene publishes final regulations implementing the Act
SB 200ContingentFY 2026 Bond and Capital Improvements Acttakes effect in accordance with the provisions of state law
SB 335ContingentFiscal Year 2027 Appropriations Act19 months after enactment of a constitutional amendment permitting preventive detention
SB 9ContingentState Nontidal Wetlands Program/InstituteImplemented on publication in the Register of Regulations of a notice by the Secretary of DNREC that final regulations to implement the Act have been adopted
SS 1 for SB 13ContingentCharity Care Requirement/Certain HospitalsEarlier of notice by the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board in the Register of Regulations that final implementing regulations have been adopted, or July 1, 2027