SB 233 Delaware Senate · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE REMOVAL OF ICE AND SNOW FROM VEHICLES.

Summary

This Act requires that accumulated snow and ice be removed from surfaces of a vehicle before it is operated and imposes a civil penalty for a violation. This Act also creates a civil penalty for each instance where snow or ice dislodges from a moving vehicle and causes property damage or physical injury but this penalty is not an exclusive remedy for property damage or physical injury.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

Jun 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Last action Jun 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SA 1 to SB 233 → Bill Text · 5 edits

MODERATE

The final bill text removes the farm tractor and farm vehicle exemptions that were added in Senate Amendment 1, making those vehicles subject to the ice and snow removal requirement. It also adds a continuous-operation exception, a tiered penalty structure for dislodged ice or snow causing damage or injury, a no-points clarification, and explicit authority for police to make administrative stops.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded by removing the farm tractor and farm vehicle exemptions present in SA 1, bringing those vehicles under the ice and snow removal requirement (still exempt only on roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less).

SCOPE

The exemptions for farm tractors (as defined in Section 101 of Title 21) and farm vehicles registered as exempt from inspection under Section 2113 were removed. These vehicles are now subject to the ice and snow removal requirement, except on roadways with a speed limit of 25 mph or less.

ELIGIBILITY

A new exception (section c) allows drivers to not remove ice and snow that accumulates during continuous operation of the vehicle, except on the windshield.

ENFORCEMENT

New penalty tiers for when dislodged ice or snow causes property damage or physical injury: $200 to $1,000 for non-commercial vehicles and $500 to $1,500 for commercial vehicles (operator, owner, lessee, or bailee).

A police officer is now explicitly authorized to make an administrative stop based on reasonable and articulable suspicion of a violation.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that no motor vehicle points may be assessed and no entry may be made on a person's driving record for failing to comply with this section.

Floor votes · Senate May 12, 2026 · House Jun 30, 2026

How they voted

21–0

Passed

Total votes 21

May 12, 2026

D Democratic15

15 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican6

6 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed By House. Votes: 35 YES 6 NO

lower

Jun 30, 2026

Amended

Amendment HA 1 to SB 233 - Defeated By House. Votes: 19 YES 22 NO

lower

Jun 30, 2026

Introduced

Amendment HA 1 to SB 233 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

upper

May 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 6 On Its Merits

lower

May 13, 2026

Introduced

Assigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House

lower

May 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

upper

May 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amendment SA 1 to SB 233 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

upper

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 4 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Introduced

Amendment SA 1 to SB 233 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate

upper

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors