Delaware House Bill 195
Session 153
An Act To Amend Title 4 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Bartending.
Became Law
Signed by Governor on Jun 10, 2026
First Action
Jun 5, 2025
Latest Action
Jun 10, 2026
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
195
State
Delaware
Session
153
Motion Text
SM
House Roll Call Votes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Other
Yes
Other
Yes
Yes
Other
Yes
Summary
This Act changes the age at which a person can bartend from 21 years old to 18 years old, and requires that a bartender who is 18, 19, or 20 years old be directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old. This Act also increases the frequency of statutorily mandated alcoholic beverage server training from every 4 years to every 2 years.
To ensure that 18–20-year-olds are protected from sexually oriented content by virtue of being permitted to bartend, this Act prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering into or working in any capacity in a tavern or taproom that offers sexually oriented entertainment. This includes taverns and taprooms that are licensed as adult entertainment establishments under Chapter 16 of Title 24, taverns and taprooms that offer sexually explicit performances as defined in § 787 of Title 11, and tavern and taprooms that are advertised as “strip clubs,” “adult entertainment clubs,” “gentlemen’s clubs,” or that offer performances or services of a sexually oriented nature.
Currently, Delaware is in the minority of states when it comes to requiring bartenders to be 21 years old. By reducing the legal bartending age to 18, this Act will help Delaware’s food service industry remain competitive with the many other states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in which 18–20-year-olds can bartend.
Sort by most recent
06/10/2026
Office of the Governor
Signed by Governor
05/12/2026
House
Passed By House. Votes: 32 YES 6 NO 1 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT
05/06/2026
Senate
Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 5 NO 2 NOT VOTING
05/06/2026
Senate
Amendment SA 1 to HB 195 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
04/22/2026
Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
04/21/2026
House
Amendment SA 1 to HB 195 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
03/12/2026
Senate
Assigned to Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee in Senate
03/12/2026
House
Passed By House. Votes: 31 YES 5 NO 5 ABSENT
01/20/2026
House
Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce) in House with 6 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
06/05/2025
House
Introduced and Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House
Sources
Open States
Record Created
Jun 5, 2025 4:23:54 PM
Record Updated
Jun 17, 2026 1:18:11 AM