House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 20, 2026·18m·▶ Watch / Listen

The House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee advanced two bills: SB 188, clarifying that law enforcement agencies are exempt from permit-to-purchase firearm requirements when buying weapons for official use, and HB 266, allowing large municipalities with populations over 30,000 to permit rental electric scooter programs by ordinance.

Key Actions

·SB 188 – Law Enforcement Agency Firearm Purchase ExemptionPassed

+ 1 more action

Controversies

Active duty law enforcement officer permit-to-purchase exemption under SB 188

Representative Mars raised concern that while the bill addressed agency purchases, the reference to 'qualified retired law enforcement officer' in the last line suggested a disconnect in how retired versus active duty officers are treated, noting he knows 'a couple officers that have had to go get permits.' Sergeant Ripple maintained the bill's sole intent was agency purchasing, not individual officer permitting. Kara Wilson countered that active duty officer exemption is already covered in current law under 'C6 of current law,' though Representative Mars retained residual concern for future examination.

+ 1 more controversy

Notable Quotes

“Under the current regulation, law enforcement officers or agencies are also subject to the permitting process, which was clearly an oversight in drafting and adoption. This bill makes necessary corrections to that process so as to not impede law enforcement in their official duties.”
Tracy Murphy, Executive Director, Coalition for a Safer Delaware — Murphy testified in support of SB 188, explaining why the Coalition for a Safer Delaware — a group that supported the original permit-to-purchase law — backed the exemption for law enforcement agency purchases.

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Votes

Motion to release SB 188Passed

Yes (7)Representative Cook, Representative Mars, Representative Ortega, Vice Chair Zinski, Representative Romer, Representative Vanderwei, Representative Neal

Absent (1)Representative Wilson Anton

Motion to release HB 266Passed

Yes (7)Representative Cook, Representative Ortega, Vice Chair Brzezinski, Representative Romer, Representative Vanderway, Representative Wilson Anton, Representative Neal

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TranscriptPreview

Committee, thank you for everybody for being here. Hope everybody had a good rest, good year, good holiday yesterday. MLK I'm just going to put it on record. Let me get started before I get started. Members, please be aware that there are microphones at your desk that will pick up conversations easily. These mics are connected to the live stream so the the policy may watch the proceedings. The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee is now called to order. In accordance to House rules, members of the public are able to participate either in person or virtually through Zoom webinar. The public can participate virtually by registering through the meeting link posted on the General assembly website. Instructions for providing public comment are available on the website under the Committee's meeting notice and will be also shared during the public commitment portion of the hearing. Written commitment comments I'm saying commitments comments are to be substituted to are to be submitted to house committee comment Delaware.gov and any comments received within the 24 hours of the hearing will be included in the public record. Members of the public physically present for the meeting may sign up on…

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