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Bill

SB 174

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AN ANIMAL ABUSE OFFENDER LIST.

153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Introduced by Russ Huxtable and 5 co-sponsors

Delaware establishes a public animal abuse offender registry requiring convicted abusers to register, enabling animal welfare agencies and the public to track individuals with documented cruelty histories.

Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · SB 174

Legislative bill overview

SB 174 creates a statewide animal abuse offender registry in Delaware, requiring individuals convicted of certain animal cruelty offenses to register and have their information maintained in a public database. The bill amends Title 11 (criminal law) and Title 16 (animal welfare statutes) to establish registration requirements, offender classifications, and registry management procedures.

Why is this important

Animal abuse registries aim to protect animals by identifying and tracking individuals with histories of cruelty, similar to sex offender registries. This allows animal shelters, veterinarians, and the public to exercise caution in animal ownership decisions and may serve as a deterrent for repeat offenses. The registry creates a tool for law enforcement and animal welfare agencies to monitor individuals with documented patterns of abuse.

Potential points of contention

  • Registry scope and fairness concerns: Questions exist about which offenses trigger registration, whether juveniles are included, and if lifetime registration is proportionate to offenses, particularly for lesser animal cruelty convictions
  • Constitutional challenges: Potential due process and privacy objections regarding public registration of criminal history and collateral consequences beyond sentencing
  • Enforcement and funding: Unclear who administers the registry, verifies registrant compliance, and funds ongoing operations—critical for registry effectiveness
  • Recidivism data: Limited empirical evidence that animal abuse registries actually reduce reoffending compared to traditional sentencing and monitoring

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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