HB 195 Delaware House · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BARTENDING.

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.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Jun 5, 2025 Signed Jun 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SA 1 to HB 195 Bill Text · 7 edits
MODERATE
The bill evolved from a narrow Senate Amendment (which only prohibited secondary school students under 19 from preparing alcoholic liquor) into a comprehensive overhaul of Delaware's bartending laws. The final version lowers the minimum bartending age from 21 to 18, requires direct supervision for 18-20 year old bartenders, prohibits under-21s from working in sexually oriented entertainment venues, and doubles the frequency of mandatory server training from every 4 years to every 2 years.
SCOPE

The bill changed from a single-sentence amendment (SA 1) targeting only secondary school students into a full legislative act amending multiple sections of Title 4, covering age requirements across restaurants, taverns, taprooms, catering, bowling alleys, and delivery services.

Prohibits anyone under 21 from entering or working in any capacity in a tavern or taproom that offers sexually oriented entertainment, including adult entertainment establishments, venues with sexually explicit performances, and those advertised as strip clubs, adult entertainment clubs, or gentlemen's clubs.

ELIGIBILITY

Lowers the minimum age for sale and service of alcoholic liquor from 21 to 18. Persons 18-20 may sell and serve but must be directly supervised by someone 21 or older working behind the bar with them.

Allows persons 14 or older to work in clubs with authorized dining facilities, hotels, racetracks, and restaurants (but not in sale or service of alcohol). Allows persons 16 or older in catering businesses and bowling alleys (but not in sale or service).

Allows persons 18 or older to enter a tavern or taproom to pick up a food order for delivery through a third-party delivery service.

REQUIREMENT

Persons 18-20 who prepare alcoholic liquor must be directly supervised by a person 21 or older who is working behind the bar with them. This applies across restaurants, taverns, taprooms, catering, and bowling alleys.

TIMELINE

Reduces the required renewal training period for responsible alcoholic beverage server certification from every 4 years to every 2 years, effectively doubling the frequency of mandatory training.

Floor votes · House Mar 12, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
7
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Jun 10, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
May 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed By House. Votes: 32 YES 6 NO 1 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT
lower
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 5 NO 2 NOT VOTING
upper
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amendment SA 1 to HB 195 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
upper
Apr 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
upper
Apr 21, 2026
Introduced
Amendment SA 1 to HB 195 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Introduced
Assigned to Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee in Senate
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed By House. Votes: 31 YES 5 NO 5 ABSENT
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce) in House with 6 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
lower
Jun 5, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House
lower
5 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors