SB 255 Delaware Senate · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TINTING OF MOTOR VEHICLE WINDSHIELD, WINDOWS, OR SIDE WINGS.

Summary
Currently, window tint or other material placed on the front side windows of a motor vehicle must have a visible light transmission of 70% or greater unless the vehicle’s owner has a statement signed by a licensed practitioner of medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine or optometry verifying that tinted windows are medically necessary. Currently, there is not a visible light transmission requirement for the side windows behind the driver or the rear window. This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 255. Like Senate Bill No. 255, this Act does all of the following: (1) Changes the visible light transmission requirement for window tint or other material placed on the front side windows. (2) Clarifies that there is not a visible light transmission requirement for the side windows behind the driver or the rear window. (3) Clarifies the exception for vehicles operated by a law-enforcement officer by exempting these vehicles from this law. This Act differs from Senate Bill No. 255 by changing the visible requirement for window tint or other material placed on the front side windows, and side wings, from 35% or great to 50% or greater.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
Jul 2026
Signed into Law
Aug 2026
Introduced May 7, 2026 Signed Aug 17, 2026
Floor votes · Senate May 21, 2026 · House Jul 1, 2026

How they voted

200
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 21
May 21, 2026
D Democratic15
15 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican6
5 Yea 1
83% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
5
Committee
2
Aug 17, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
Jul 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 2 NO 1 ABSENT
lower
Jun 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 7 On Its Merits
lower
Jun 4, 2026
Introduced
Assigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House
lower
May 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
upper
May 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
upper
May 7, 2026
Introduced
Adopted in lieu of the original bill SB 255, and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
upper
8 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors