Daily Report for 5/15/2025

Governor's Actions

No legislation is Signed by Governor Today

New Legislation Introduced

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HB 163CommitteeHilovskyThis Act provides a roadmap via an observational study on a small but representative group of diabetic or prediabetic patients to change standard healthcare from current reactive “sick care” to proactive “well care”. This will be accomplished by using a Delaware health system combined with a technology partner to regularly test, measure and manage, and incentivize diabetic or prediabetic patients and their providers to improve the health outcomes for Delawareans and drive down health care costs. The length of the observational study will be 3 years. During that time, data analysis will track results to determine if this Pilot Program shall be renewed and expanded. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE DIABETES WELLNESS PILOT PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO STUDY PREDIABETIC AND DIABETIC WELL CARE.
HB 152CommitteeGormanThis Act expands the criminal offense of impersonating a police officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, or fire officer to also prohibit impersonation of a federal officer. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform to the Legislative Drafting Manual and creates a definition of “law-enforcement official,” which includes all of the state officers already explicitly referenced in the statute, as well as federal officers. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION.
HB 166CommitteeJones GiltnerThis Act changes the term “child pornography” to “child sexual abuse material”. There has been a growing national movement to ensure the correct terminology is used when identifying victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Child sexual abuse material is the correct and widely accepted terminology for pornographic material depicting a child. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, child sexual abuse material is the preferred term because “it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.” In 2016, an international working group, comprising a collection of countries and international organizations working to combat child exploitation, formally recognized ‘child sexual abuse material’ as the preferred term. This proposed change is supported by the Office of the Child Advocate, Delaware State Police, and the Department of Justice, as well as national organizations like the National Center Against Sexual Exploitation. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL.
HB 167CommitteeGriffithThis Act expands the composition of the Family Justice Center Council by removing a single member that previously represented the health care community including both mental health providers and sexual assault nurse examiners, and instead adding one member representing the mental health care provider community, one member representing the sexual assault nurse examiner community, and one member representing system-based police or prosecution victim service specialists.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER COUNCIL.
HB 168CommitteeGriffithThis Act makes it a class G felony if a person breaches a no contact provision of the person's sentencing order, where the sentence was for 1 or more felonies. This Act also makes it a class A misdemeanor if a person breaches a no contact provision of the person's sentencing order, where the sentence was for 1 or more misdemeanors and no felonies. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NONCOMPLIANCE WITH SENTENCING.
HB 185CommitteeK. JohnsonThis Act allows an applicant who seeks to create affordable housing to apply for Site Readiness Funds so long as the applicant demonstrates that the affordable housing will increase economic development in the State. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE SITE READINESS FUND.
HB 171CommitteeHeffernanThis Act updates the Delaware Volunteerism Act to specify that high school students may complete their community service with local fire departments to obtain up to 1 elective credit. It also requires schools to notify students of the opportunity to earn elective credit through volunteer work at or before the time students select their classes. This Act also allows the Department of Education to promulgate regulations to implement the Delaware Volunteerism Act. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTIVE CREDIT FOR VOLUNTEERING WITH LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
HB 172CommitteeOsienskiThis bill makes a technical correction to the specific categories of persons required to obtain a fingerprint-based background check under this chapter in order to comply with the requirements of Public Law (Pub. L.) 92-544 for access to FBI criminal history record information.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE MARIJUANA CONTROL ACT.
HB 165CommitteeHarrisThis Act authorizes physician assistants, occupational therapists, and nurse practitioners to practice dry needling. This Act sets forth requirements and limitations pertaining to the practice of dry needling. Dry needling may not be performed without a physician referral, and physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and occupational therapists may not hold themselves out as acupuncturists unless they are licensed acupuncturists.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRY NEEDLING.
HS 1 for HB 70CommitteeHarrisSimilar to HB 70, HS 1 to HB 70 requires that all rental units constructed before January 1, 1978, are certified as lead free or lead safe by a specific deadline. HS1 to HB 70, however, differentiates between large property owners and small property owners, recognizing that smaller property owners may find lead certification to be prohibitively expensive and may need more time and assistance to comply with this Act. To that end, this Substitute bill defines large property owners as persons that own or control 20 or more rental units, while small property owners are defined as persons who control fewer than 20 rental units. In addition to different deadlines, small property owners may certify a multi-unit property by inspecting only 5 units of the property. While all owners may request a certificate deferral if lead inspectors or certified contractors are not available, only a small property owner may request a certificate deferral for economic reasons. As in HB 70, if the rental unit is uninhabitable, the landlord must provide alternative housing while the unit undergoes lead abatement or remediation. Recertification for lead safe units must occur prior to commencement of any rental agreement more than 4 years after the date the unit was last certified. Units must be recertified as lead free or lead safe if a lead-based paint hazard is discovered in the rental unit or if individuals residing in the unit develop elevated lead blood levels. Beginning July 1, 2028, every rental unit constructed prior to January 1, 1978, shall include a disclosure as to whether the rental unit has been certified as lead safe or lead free. To help small property owners obtain lead certification or remediate their units, this Act creates a Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Grant and Loan Program. Preference for grants must be given to families with young children, pregnant individuals, or tenants regularly visited by children under 6 years old. For landlords with 5 or few units, grants or loans may be issued for 100% of the costs incurred to obtain certification. For landlords with 6-19 units, 50% of the costs may be covered by the fund. A landlord may not raise the rent on a rental unit that benefits from a grant or loan under this program for 3 years. This Substitute bill further requires DHSS to provide an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the number and types of certifications issued under this Act, as well as any violations or civil penalties issued. Prior to filing a complaint for eviction, this Substitute bill requires the landlord to provide documentation that the property in question is in compliance with this Act. No documentation is required if a complaint is filed because the tenant refuses to provide reasonable access to the rental unit so that the landlord may comply with this chapter. As in HB 70, this Act also does the following: (1) Establishes a Lead-Based Paint Remediation Certification Committee to study the available workforce and available public funding to support the inspection and remediation efforts required by this Act along with the feasibility of meeting deadlines established under this Act. (2) Prohibits landlords from discriminating against individuals because they make a complaint or assist in an investigation or proceeding relating to a lead-based paint hazard in a rental unit or premises. (3) Prohibits landlords from discriminating against individuals residing in a unit who have elevated blood lead levels or children or pregnant individuals who may be affected by lead-based paint hazards. (4) Requires that contractors performing lead-based paint abatement or remediation under the Delaware State Lead-Based Paint Program provide for the safety of workers performing lead-based paint remediation work, including free blood testing for workers at least every 3 months. This Act take effect immediately and is to be implemented no later than 6 months after its enactment. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LEAD-BASED PAINT.
HB 169CommitteeMinor-BrownThis Act makes the following updates to the Behavioral Health Consortium: - Expands the charge of the Consortium to include all aspects of behavioral health care, in addition to substance use disorder. - Adds term limits for appointed members. - Modifies the membership to remove nonoperational organizations and include representation from the Maternal and Child Death Review Board and Delaware’s Veteran community. - Removes the Behavioral Health Commission’s approval authority over the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission’s granting and contracting processes. Additionally, this Act makes the following updates to the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission: - Revises the Commission’s organization to reflect one Chairperson. The Commission may elect a vice chair from among its members. - Updates authorities related to the distribution of the Prescription Opioid Settlement Fund and the Prescription Opioid Impact Fund. - Ensures any reports produced by the Commission are distributed to the Behavioral Health Consortium. This Act also makes minor technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM AND THE PRESCRIPTION OPIOID DISTRIBUTION COMMISSION.
HB 190CommitteeMinor-BrownThis Act creates a new Grant-in-Aid Subcommittee (“Subcommittee”) of the Joint Finance Committee and codifies requirements and procedures for organizations seeking a grant-in-aid from the General Assembly. The Subcommittee will be composed of 3 members of the Senate and 3 members of the House, with the Chair alternating between the chambers each year. The Subcommittee will annually review and analyze the applications of grant-in-aid applicants who have not previously received funding through grant-in-aid and make recommendations to the Joint Finance Committee regarding which applications to approve and at what funding level. The Subcommittee may also review any current grant-in-aid recipient for program efficacy and compliance with the conditions of prior grants and general grant-in-aid eligibility requirements. This Act takes effect January 1 following its enactment into law.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GRANTS-IN-AID.
SB 147CommitteePinkneyThis Act adopts the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DENTIST AND DENTAL HYGIENIST COMPACT.
SB 148CommitteeHansenThis Act designates the Blue Dasher as the official dragonfly for the State of Delaware.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF A STATE DRAGONFLY.
SB 151CommitteeMantzavinosThis Act updates and modernizes the Delaware Self-Service Storage Facilities Act. The Act clarifies that self-storage rental agreements may be delivered and accepted electronically. The bill borrows language from the Delaware Residential Landlord Tenant Act regarding the legal effect of unsigned rental agreements. The bill addresses vehicle storage at a self-service storage facility and clarifies the disposition of property following the termination or nonrenewal of the rental agreement by either the occupant or owner. Finally, the Act updates the requirements to allow advertisements be placed on websites that regularly advertise property for auction or sale, making Delaware law consistent with most jurisdictions, including Maryland and the District of Columbia.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SELF-SERVICE STORAGE FACILITIES.
SB 7CommitteePinkneyThis Act is based on Senate Substitute No. 3 for Senate Bill No. 4 of the 152nd General Assembly, which modernizes Delaware’s probation system, including by directing the courts, the Board of Parole, and the Bureau of Community Corrections to use the least restrictive probation and parole conditions and the most minimally intrusive reporting requirements necessary to achieve the goals of community supervision.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 AND TITLE 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCLUDING PROBATION.
SB 8CommitteePinkneyThis Act codifies the standard conditions of probation to be used by the courts and the Department of Correction.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROBATION AND SENTENCING PROCEDURES.
SB 152CommitteePinkneyThis Act adds that the Director or Deputy Director of the Division of Family Services may have a designee consent to voluntary admission and sign for admission to a psychiatric hospital for youth in DFS custody. This reflects best practices and matches the current process for surgical consents for youth in DFS custody, and under DFS policy, a designee may only act as a designee to take such action with the direct approval of the Director or Deputy Director. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VOLUNTARY ADMISSIONS.
SB 149CommitteeHuxtableThis Act creates a uniform framework under which a county or municipality may enact an ordinance that exempts Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties from property taxes and instead, require that a LIHTC property make an annual payment in lieu of taxes equal to 5% of the LIHTC’s annual net income as reported to the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA). Under this Act, a LIHTC property that is exempt from property taxes is also exempt from taxation by school districts. Allowing LIHTC properties to make a payment in lieu of taxes, acknowledges the public benefit of the affordable housing provided by LIHTC properties. The Internal Revenue Service LIHTC was created in 1986 by the federal government to encourage a private/public investment to preserve and construct new affordable rental housing. Alone and in combination with tax exempt private activity bonds, the LIHTC has been the most productive source of affordable housing financing in the nation’s history. DSHA receives an annual tax credit amount and awards credits annually through a competitive process. The awards are based on criteria outlined in DSHA’s Qualified Allocation Plan. The equity raised through the tax credit investment makes it possible for developers to attract the financing needed to create or restore low-income rental housing. A LIHTC project must comply with a number of requirements including the timeframe from the award to when the building is placed in service, tenant income restrictions, maximum rent levels, and percentage of low-income occupancy. All buildings financed with the LIHTC are subject to a land use covenant to enforce program compliance for the entirety of the affordability period.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 AND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROPERTIES.
SB 150CommitteeHuxtableThis Act creates the Affordable Rental Housing Program (ARHP) within the Housing Development Fund. The ARHP is modeled on the federal Section 515 program and provides loans to increase the supply of affordable housing for families with very low-, low-, and moderate-incomes, individuals who are elderly, and individuals with disabilities.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AN AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING PROGRAM WITHIN THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND.

Legislation Passed By Senate

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
SB 49 w/ HA 1PassedPettyjohnIn a state of emergency, getting information to the public as quickly as possible is vital to the safety of the community. This Act provides protections to those who provide these essential communication and broadcasting services by deeming them "first informers." Under this Act, first informers are exempt from driving restrictions that the Governor may impose during a state of emergency. This Act also reorganizes provisions of Chapter 31 of Title 20 for clarity and makes additional technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 AND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRIVING RESTRICTIONS DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
HB 41PassedCollinsThis Amendment to the Charter of the Town Of Millsboro, in Section 3, amends the process for the initiation of annexation proceedings by allowing a Petition to be reviewed by the Town Staff, to determine the Petition is complete and all required information is contained in the Petition, before being presented to the Town Council. The Town Council will also be included in appointing a Committee to investigate the possibility of annexation by Resolution, instead of solely being the function of the Mayor. It further amends Section 16 by requiring the President of the Town Council to appoint committees with the advice and consent of a majority of the Town Council members. It also clarifies that all members of the Town Council have the right to make recommendations regarding new committeesAN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF MILLSBORO RELATING TO ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY AND THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.
SB 66CommitteeSokolaBeginning in 2002, schools, school districts, and licensed child care providers have been required to keep binders of community notifications with information about registered sex offenders. This requirement was enacted based on recommendation from the Community Notification Task Force that schools have a role in community awareness. However, this requirement has created financial, administrative, and emotional burdens for staff who maintain the binders. The binders are rarely reviewed by the public and they do not necessarily provide up-to-date information or information on sex offenders in the immediate geographic area of the school, school district, or licensed child care provider. Additionally, in its March 31, 2002, report, the Community Notification School Task Force found that schools do not have the expertise to answer inevitable questions regarding the nature of particular offenses or the risk posed by particular offenders, and that it is not an appropriate role for educators to answer those questions. This Act eliminates the requirement that a school, school district, or licensed child care provider keep community notifications in a binder. Instead, schools, school district, or licensed child care providers are required to provide “school and child care notification” that includes all of the following information: 1. Notification that searchable records available to the public can be obtained at a police agency or the Delaware State Bureau of Identification (“SBI”). 2. Notification that the public can register for community notifications on the Delaware Sex Offender Central Registry website. 3. The URL for the Delaware Sex Offender Central Registry website. The school, school district, or licensed child care provider must provide the school and child care notification upon request from staff, faculty, or a parent or guardian of an enrolled child. Additionally, the school, school district, or licensed child care provider must post the school and child care notification on its website or, if it does not have website, the school, school district, or licensed child care provider must send the information to staff, faculty, and a legal parent or guardian of an enrolled child in writing at least annually. The Act also clarifies that sex offender registry information must be available on the Internet on the Delaware Sex Offender Central Registry website. Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”) guidelines require law enforcement to keep a registry of sex offenders and to provide public notification. Specifically, the guidelines require law enforcement to notify schools, but do not require schools to provide access to sex offender records. Instead, federal law enacted in 2006, 34 U.S.C. § 20920, requires states to provide public access to sex offender registry information on the Internet. The SBI maintains the Delaware Sex Offender Central Registry on its website, which allows the general public to find information about registered sex offenders by searching the offender’s information or by searching in a geographic radius. The website also allows the public to sign up for e-mail notifications regarding sex offenders who appear on the website. The website is updated every Friday. It is easily accessible to most of the public, including on computers at public libraries. Additionally, the public can request sex offender registry information in-person at a Delaware State Police troop. The public also can call the SBI for information. Certain municipal police agencies, such as the City of Dover Police Department and the Newark Delaware Police Department, also provide access to community notifications for offenders located in the municipality on the agency’s website. Law-enforcement agencies are better equipped than schools or licensed childcare providers to answer questions about the registry. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SEX OFFENDER COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION.
SB 82 w/ SA 1CommitteeLockmanThis Act changes the period of time for which relief may be granted under a lethal violence protective order from 1 year to 5 years. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LETHAL VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
SB 86 w/ SA 1CommitteeHuxtableCurrently, the Delaware Volunteer Fire Service Revolving Loan Fund may only obtain funding from the General Assembly through appropriation. This Act would allow for funding and donations to be made by any person, charitable organizations, and counties of the State. When a county contributes to the Fund, the Act requires the Fund ensure county specific contributions are spent on loans to fire companies within that county. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE REVOLVING LOAN FUND.
SB 93CommitteePooreThis Act updates the terminology used to describe or citations used to reference those who make financial or health-care decisions on behalf of a principal or individual, including when that principal or individual lacks capacity. This Act takes effect on September 30, 2025, to coincide with when the Delaware Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act of 2023 (DUHCDA 2023) takes effect. Section 1 of this Act amends § 3982 of Title 12 by: (1) Removing the phrase “durable power of attorney for health-care decisions” and instead citing to the definition of “advance health-care directive” under DUHCDA 2023. A durable power of attorney for health-care decisions, or other similar variations on that phrase, are synonyms for a power of attorney for health care. A power of attorney for health care is included in the definition of advance health-care directive under DUHCDA 2023. For shorthand, elsewhere in this Synopsis this change will be referred to as “citing to the DUHCDA 2023 to remove synonyms.” (2) Changing "surrogate" to "default surrogate" to align with the new definitions of "surrogate" and "default surrogate" under DUHCDA 2023. For shorthand, elsewhere in this Synopsis this change will be referred to as “aligning the term ‘surrogate’ with the DUHCDA 2023”. (3) Added reference to an agent under a durable power of attorney to § 3983(4)a. since it is in § 3983(4)b. and those paragraphs should mirror each other, as paragraph (4)a. handles a situation when there is no decision maker willing or able to serve and paragraph (4)b. addresses a situation where a decision maker is determined unsuitable. Section 2 of this Act amends § 3983 of Title 12 by aligning the term ‘surrogate’ with the DUHCDA 2023. Section 3 of this Act amends § 1121 of Title 16 by: (1) Completing the list of internal citations. (2) Repealing § 1121(b)(40) because § 1122 defines the decision makers to whom third-party decision making passes when an individual lacks capacity to make decisions. Additionally, § 1121 is where resident rights are listed, not the rights of third parties. Section 4 of this Act revises § 1122 of Title 16 by: (1) Revising the description of legal standards for when decision making authority passes to a third party under the processes listed, including deleting that a standard is when a resident is "unable to communicate with others" and adding a reference to federal law since a representative payee under § 205(j) of the Social Security Act is included in the list. (2) Citing to the DUHCDA 2023 to remove synonyms. (3) Aligning the term ‘surrogate’ with the DUHCDA 2023. Section 5 of this Act amends § 1145 of Title 16 by: (1) Citing to the DUHCDA 2023 to remove synonyms. (2) Aligning the term ‘surrogate’ with the DUHCDA 2023. Section 6 of this Act amends § 2503A of Title 16 by: (1) Citing to the DUHCDA 2023 to remove synonyms. (2) Aligning the term ‘surrogate’ with the DUHCDA 2023. Section 7 of this Act amends § 5530 of Title 16 by: (1) Citing to the DUHCDA 2023 to remove synonyms. (2) Repealing subsection (e) because it refers to a list of individuals that was removed by SB 309 (GA 152) in favor of citing directly to DUHCDA 2023. Section 8 of this Act amends § 5531 of Title 16 by citing to the DUHCDA 2023 to remove synonyms. Section 9 of this Act amends § 2718 of Title 21 by: (1) Correcting the word “advanced” to “advance” in “advance care directive”. (2) Listing the advance planning documents referenced in the citation to § 9706(h) of Title 16. Section 9706(h) allows the promulgation of regulations related to EMS provider compliance with identified advance planning documents. It is not the section that establishes or defines the advance planning documents. Section 10 of this Act amends § 3912 of Title 31 by changing the term “power of attorney” to “agent” because an agent is the actor whereas the power of attorney is the document or grant of authority to act as agent. Section 11 of this Act is an effective date. This Act takes effect on September 30, 2025. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 12, TITLE 16, TITLE 21, AND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THIRD-PARTY DECISION MAKING.
SB 99CommitteePooreThis Act creates a background special license plate for the William Penn High School to support scholarships and community events sponsored by the high school. A background special license plate supports a cause and is available for purchase by the public at large, including members of the organization. The numbers, letters, or both, assigned will be the same as the license plate assigned to the owner’s vehicle at the time of the application for the plate. This Act requires a greater-than-majority vote for passage because § 11 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths for the members elected to each house of the General Assembly when a new tax or license fee is imposed.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.
SB 111CommitteeHansenThis Act amends the Charter of the Town of Odessa to expressly authorize the Town to collect taxes and other charges owed to the Town using the provisions in Title 9 of the Delaware Code, Chapter 87, including the monition method of sale.AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF ODESSA.
SB 121CommitteeHuxtableThis Act makes amendments to the Charter of the Town of Dewey Beach. Section 1 strikes language regarding budget requirements and process in Section 8(c) of the charter in favor of language that is currently included in Section 22 of the charter, concerning the Town Budget. Section 2 of the Act provides that the Town Manager is responsible for parking administration, in addition to the other enumerated responsibilities of the Town Manager under the current charter. Section 3 of the Act provides that the Town Manager, with the concurrence of the Audit Committee, may terminate the contract of an independent audit firm's contract to perform audit services for the Town. Section 4 of the Act provides that any candidate for Chief of Police who is not certified by the Delaware Council on Police Training must complete the necessary training for certification within 1 year of the date of employment, as a condition of employment. Section 5 of the Act provides that the Beach Patrol Captain is required to serve under a contract of no more than 3 years. Section 6 of the Act strikes redundant language regarding the town's power to borrow money, in favor of language currently included in Section 26 of the charter, concerning Borrowing Money and Issuing Bonds. Section 7 of the Act amends Section 26 of the charter to provide that bonds or other forms of certificates of indebtedness issued by the Town are exempt from all state, county, or municipal taxes and that the Town's indebtedness, in the aggregate, may not exceed $3 million at any one time. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF DEWEY BEACH.
HCR 49PassedJones GiltnerThis Resolution recognizes the week of May 11 through May 17, 2025, as “National Hospital Week” in Delaware.RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF MAY 11 THROUGH MAY 17, 2025, AS "NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK" IN DELAWARE.
HCR 53PassedCarsonThis Concurrent Resolution recognizes May 17, 2025, as Armed Forces Day in Delaware.RECOGNIZING MAY 17, 2025, AS "ARMED FORCES DAY".
SA 1 to SB 82PassedLockmanThis Amendment allows a respondent to submit 1 written request per year during the effective period of the order for a hearing to terminate the order. 
HCR 54PassedRoss LevinThis Concurrent Resolution commends the 2025 Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year, Melissa Wilson, and all of the District/Charter Network Educational Support Professionals of the Year.COMMENDING MELISSA WILSON REPRESENTING THE SMYRNA SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR BEING SELECTED AS DELAWARE'S EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR FOR 2025 AND COMMENDING EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER NETWORK’S EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR.
SS 1 for SB 51CommitteeWilsonThis Act is a Substitute for and differs from Senate Bill No. 51 by removing the retroactive effective date. This Act amends the Charter of the City of Harrington to clarify the City’s taxing powers by adding a specific power for the City Council to impose and collect a lodging tax of no more than 3% of the rent, in addition to the amount imposed by the State under Chapter 61 of Title 30, for the occupancy of any room in a hotel, motel, or tourist home, as defined under § 6101 of Title 30 of the Delaware Code, located within the boundaries of the City. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article IX of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend a charter issued to a municipal corporation.AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HARRINGTON RELATING TO THE POWER TO IMPOSE AND COLLECT A LODGING TAX.
SA 1 to SB 86PassedHuxtableThis Amendment clarifies that corporations may also donate to the Delaware Volunteer Fire Service Revolving Loan Fund. The Amendment also clarifies that loan funds are received from a county, not by a county. The Amendment adds a section to provide 90 days for the effective date of the Act.  
SB 12 w/ SA 1CommitteeTownsendThis Legislation is the Delaware Pre-Authorization Reform Act of 2025. Section 1 of the Act applies to health Insurance Contracts regulated under Chapter 33 of Title 18. Section 1 provides that changes in utilization review terms for a health-care service, such as the clinical criteria used to conduct utilization reviews for a health-care service, will apply only upon re-authorization of the health-care service. Covered persons must be notified at least 6 months before any changes to utilization review terms, except in certain circumstances such as changes in clinical guideline status In addition, Section 1 sets qualifications for who may make determinations with regard to requests for pre- authorization of health-care services and appeals of adverse determinations; a timeline and required contents for the notification of an outcome of appeal of an adverse determination or a notification that additional information is necessary to make the determination of appeal; and requirements for any utilization review entity used to perform utilization review by an insurer, health-benefit plan, or health-service corporation. Section 1 also shortens the timelines for the determination of pre-authorization requests and notification to the health-care provider of the determination. For requests for pre-authorization of non-urgent health-care services not submitted electronically, the utilization review entity must notify the health-care provider within 5 business days of receipt of the request; for requests submitted electronically, notification must be given within 3 business days of receipt. For requests for pre-authorization for urgent health-care services submitted electronically, notification must be given within 24 hours of receipt. By January 1, 2027, insurers, health-benefit plans, health-service corporations, and utilization review entities must accept and respond to electronic pre-authorization requests through the same platform as the electronic request was submitted. In addition, Section 1 extends the time period that a pre-authorization is valid for from 60 days to 90 days. Finally, Section 1 provides that no more than 1 pre-authorization may be required for a single episode of care, and that if pre-authorization is granted as to a health-care service that is part of a group of services for which a bundled payment is charged, pre-authorization for the other health-care services included in the group is deemed to be approved as well. Section 2 of the Act applies to Group and Blanket Health Insurance under Chapter 35 of Title 18 and makes the same changes to pre-authorization standards and procedures that Section 1 of the Act makes to Health Insurance Contracts regulated under Chapter 33 of Title 18. Section 3 of the Act provides that the State Employee Benefits Committee established under § 9602 of the Title 29 of the Delaware Code must ensure that carriers administering plans for group health insurance comply with the requirements and provisions for pre-authorization set forth in Chapter 33, Subchapter II and Chapter 35, Subchapter V of Title 18. Section 4 of the Act provides that the Act will apply to health insurance policies, contracts, or certificates issued, modified, or renewed after December 31, 2026. Section 5 of the Act provides that the Department of Health and Social Services must, to the extent feasible, assure that contracts awarded to carriers providing health insurance relating to Medicaid assistance comply with the requirements and provisions for pre-authorization set forth in Chapter 33, Subchapter II and Chapter 35, Subchapter V of Title 18. Section 6 provides that this Act is known as the "Delaware Pre-Authorization Reform Act of 2025." AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE PRE AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2025.
SA 1 to SB 12PassedTownsendThis Amendment clarifies that a health-care provider may determine that a covered health-care service delivered on an expedited basis is an “urgent health-care service.” In addition, this Amendment provides that any compensation paid to a health-care provider or consulting healthcare provider for review of a clean pre-authorization request submitted by a health-care provider other than a physician, or of an appeal from an adverse determination of such a request, may not be contingent upon the outcome of the review.  

Legislation Passed By House of Representatives

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
SB 70 w/ SA 1PassedPooreThis Act allows licensed genetic counselors to order genetic tests.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GENETIC COUNSELORS.
HB 124CommitteeK. WilliamsThis Act increases the maximum amount of fees that the State Fire Marshal's Office can charge as follows: 1. The maximum fee for a license to service portable unit fire suppression applicance is changed from $50 to $100. 2. The maximum fee for all other permits, licenses, and certifications as required in the State Fire Prevention Regulations is changed from $25 to $100. These changes are being made to reflect the increasing cost of providing these services since the maximum fees were last set several decades ago. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 10 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to increase the effective rate of any tax levied or license fee imposed.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STATE FIRE MARSHAL FEES.
HB 127CommitteeKamela SmithThis Act restructures the Manufactured Homes Installation Board to reduce its size. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURED HOME INSTALLATION BOARD.
HB 129CommitteeRomerCurrently, if a child’s criminal case is transferred by the Family Court to Superior Court, or if a child files an application in Superior Court to have their criminal case transferred to Family Court and the Superior Court denies the application, there is no recourse for appeal until the child’s criminal case is finally adjudicated in Superior Court. In State v. Roberts, Del.Supr. 282 A.2nd 603 (1971) the Delaware Supreme Court stated its jurisdiction over such appeals by an accused, may only be by operation of law. This Act permits the child to enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere and appeal an amenability denial to the Delaware Supreme Court within 30 days of being sentenced by the Superior Court. This Act also prohibits any plea being conditioned on waiving this right of appeal. This Act also clarifies that the Superior Court will not retain jurisdiction over the child if the Supreme Court reverses the Superior Court’s Order. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform with H.B. 115 of the 151st General Assembly, which was enacted into law on November 8, 2021 and prohibited transfers to Superior Court for children under the age of 16 in all but the most serious offenses. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO APPEALS OF COURT DECISIONS ON MOTIONS TO TRANSFER.
SCR 73PassedBrownThis resolution designates May 2025 as “Haitian Heritage Month” and May 18, 2025, as "Haitian Flag Day" in the State of Delaware and encourages all Delawareans to honor Haitian and Haitian American culture. DESIGNATING MAY 2025 AS "HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
SCR 69PassedBrownThis Concurrent Resolution makes an addition to the membership of the Port of Wilmington Expansion Task Force ("Task Force"), which was created by Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 47 (153rd General Assembly), by adding New Castle County’s County Executive as a member of the Task Force.MAKING AMENDMENTS TO THE PORT OF WILMINGTON EXPANSION TASK FORCE ENABLING RESOLUTION.
SS 1 for SB 119SignedPettyjohnThere is a conflict in Delaware law related to determining whether the name of the husband who dies during the period between the creation of the embryo and placement of the embryo should or can be entered on the birth certificate as the father of the child conceived. Because of this conflict, this Act directs the State Registrar of Vital Statistics to immediately amend the birth certificate of the impacted individual, Levi Ryan Murray, to include the name of his father, Ryan Murray, on his birth certificate. This Act is necessary so that this child’s birth certificate can be completed while the General Assembly considers how to resolve this conflict in the law generally. The only difference between Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 119 and SB 119 is that SS 1 for SB 119 corrects a misspelling of “Murray”.AN ACT DIRECTING THE STATE REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS TO ISSUE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH THE NAME OF THE FATHER OF LEVI RYAN MURRAY.
SCR 77PassedHoffnerThis Concurrent Resolution proclaims May 15, 2025, as "Home Care Advocacy Day" in Delaware to recognize the dedication and hard work of caregivers, to emphasize the critical importance of access to quality home care services for Delaware’s aging residents to live independently and age with dignity, and to advocate for policies and resources that support the delivery of high-quality, person-centered care in the home setting.PROCLAIMING MAY 15, 2025, AS “HOME CARE ADVOCACY DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
SCR 74PassedPettyjohnThis Senate Concurrent Resolution designates the week of May 11-17, 2025, as "Charter Schools Week" in the State of Delaware and commends Delaware's public charter schools for their efforts in educating Delaware students.DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF MAY 11-17, 2025, AS "CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
SCR 76PassedParadeeThis resolution recognizes and commends the Theta Zeta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, for its years of exemplary service to the Dover community, with a focus on educational equity, health advocacy, civic engagement, and empowering women and children. The chapter’s work reflects the sorority’s historic legacy of scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood.RECOGNIZING THE THETA ZETA ZETA CHAPTER OF ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, FOR ITS OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT AND SERVICE TO THE DOVER COMMUNITY.

Senate Committee Assignments

Committee
Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology
Environment, Energy & Transportation
Executive
Health & Social Services
Housing & Land Use
Judiciary

House Committee Assignments

Committee
Administration
Appropriations
Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce
Education
Elections & Government Affairs
Health & Human Development
Housing
Judiciary
Transportation

Senate Committee Report

Committee
Education
Finance
Housing & Land Use

House Committee Report

Committee
Natural Resources & Energy

Senate Defeated Legislation

No Senate Defeated Legislation

House Defeated Legislation

No House Defeated Legislation

Nominations Enacted upon by the Senate

NomineeStatusCommission/BoardReappointment
Augusthy, SoniaConfirmedJudge of the Superior CourtNew
DelPesco, Susan C.ConfirmedMember, State Public Integrity CommissionNew
Ferrell, Emily A.CommitteeCommissioner, Court of Common PleasReappointment