Daily Report for 8/26/2025

Governor's Actions

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HB 26SignedK. WilliamsThis Act makes it unlawful to possess, operate any motor vehicle with, purchase, install, manufacture, sell, offer to sell, or otherwise distribute a number plate flipping device. A “number plate flipping device” means a manual, electric, or mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle that does either of the following: a. Switch between two or more number plates for the purpose of allowing a motor vehicle operator to change the number plate displayed on the operator's vehicle; or b. Hide a number plate from view by turning the number plate so that the number plate registration number is not visible. The penalty for violation of this statute is for the first offense, a fine not less than $50 nor more than $200, imprisonment not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days, or both. For each subsequent like offense, such person shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $300, be imprisoned not less than 90 days nor more than 6 months, or both. The Act also makes technical changes to existing code language to conform to the Legislative Drafting Manual. A reference to farm vehicles being exempt from registration is removed, because that exemption was removed from the Code in 2014. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 28 of Article IV of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to create a new crime within the jurisdiction of the Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, or Justice of the Peace Court. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NUMBER PLATES.
SB 38 w/ SA 1SignedLawsonThis Act provides financial support to owners who adopt a horse that retired from serving with the Department of Correction, State or Capitol police, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, or the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The owners of these retired-law enforcement horses may be reimbursed up to $3,000 annually for veterinary care expenses and farrier services paid by the owner for the care of the retired law-enforcement horse. The Department that the retired law-enforcement horse assisted shall issue veterinary care and farrier services reimbursements and promulgate regulations to create a reimbursement process for retired law-enforcement horses. This Act also makes structural changes to incorporate the support for retired law-enforcement animals into a single subchapter. This Act changes subchapter VII of Title 16 from the Retired Law-Enforcement Canine Act into the Retired Law-Enforcement Animals Act. This Act moves all the definitions into their own section, and adds and modifies definitions, as needed, to account for the addition of horses. This Act is effective immediately and shall be implemented 6 months after enactment. This Act does not apply to law-enforcement horses that retire before the implementation date of this Act. This Act also makes 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 RETIRED LAW-ENFORCEMENT ANIMALS.
HB 4SignedSpiegelmanThis Act amends Chapters 1, 5, 7, and 17 of Title 7 of the Delaware Code to be consistent with the recent legislative change of the definition of a firearm in Title 11. This Act is needed to address public safety and enforcement concerns. Archery equipment and air guns are no longer classified as firearms and the proposed amendments would continue to make certain actions and activities with these “projectile weapons” prohibited, such as having these weapons loaded or discharged from a vehicle, road, or within a designated safety zone. The Act recognizes that there are certain actions and activities with “projectile weapons,” that should continue to be prohibited even though they are no longer classified as “firearms.” This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 28 of Article IV of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to expand the scope of an existing crime within the jurisdiction of the Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, or Justice of the Peace Court. Section 1309 of Title 7 of the Delaware Code provides that the Justice of the Peace Court has jurisdiction of the offenses being amended by this Act.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO WEAPONS.
SB 52SignedBucksonCurrent law allows pensioners to be employed in a Governor-appointed position or as a temporary, casual, seasonal, or substitute employee, including as a substitute teacher, but only after a 6-month separation of service period if the pensioner is under age 65 and limits annual earnings by temporary, casual, seasonal, or substitute employees to $50,000 before an individual’s earnings affect the amount of the individual’s pension. To alleviate staffing shortages in schools and state agencies with 24-hour shifts, this Act removes the earnings limit beginning calendar year 2025, lowers the age when the separation of service period applies to individuals who are under 59 ½ years old, and reduces the required separation of service period to 3 months. This Act also clarifies that the pensioners may be employed as substitute teachers by charter schools under the same requirements as school districts. To comply with federal law, this Act makes the bona fide 3-month separation period applicable to all pensioners employed under § 5502(a) of Title 29. 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 EMPLOYMENT OF STATE PENSIONERS.
HJR 2 w/ HA 1SignedNealThis House Joint Resolution directs the Department of Health and Social Services (“DHSS”) to explore participating in the federal Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). The RMP is an option that states may incorporate into their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure that SNAP recipients who are senior citizens, disabled, or unhoused, or other eligible family members of those participants, may use their SNAP benefits to buy hot foods or hot prepared meals. These populations may otherwise experience barriers that prevent them having the opportunity to access a nutritious and sustaining meal. This Joint Resolution also requires DHSS to provide a report to the General Assembly as to its findings. DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO EXPLORE PARTICIPATING IN THE FEDERAL RESTAURANT MEALS PROGRAM.
HB 68SignedK. JohnsonThis Act provides that March 9 will be known as 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day and will be commemorated in this State by appropriate ceremonies to honor the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion members. In commemorating such a day, citizens are encouraged to write and mail letters to family, friends, military personnel, and veterans to recognize postal employees and the important service these employees provide in connecting us to each other. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 1 OF THE DELAWARE CODE TO MAKE MARCH 9TH THE 6888TH CENTRAL POSTAL DIRECTORY BATTALION DAY.
HB 54 w/ HA 1SignedMorrisonThis Act establishes the Office of Suicide Prevention to address suicide prevention and to do the following: (1) Serve in coordination with the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families as a place to reach all suicide prevention resources in the State. (2) Assist the suicide prevention coalition in its mission. (3) Provide suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention vision and guidance to stakeholders throughout the State. (4) Work with community level prevention organizations to promote best practices in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. (5) Oversee suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention funding application processes and seek grant funds to further suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. (6) Prepare an annual report for the General Assembly and Governor that outlines the work of the Office and progress made towards suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, beginning on October 15, 2026. (7) Create the State’s Suicide Prevention Plan, with approval of the suicide prevention coalition, and update it no fewer than every three years. The Act provides that the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health will choose a Director to carry out the Office’s duties. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION.
HB 36SignedMorrisonThis Act aligns Delaware’s non-discrimination laws. Delaware has several broad laws that prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, employment, and insurance but also has many narrow non-discrimination laws that apply to a specific entity, or type of entity, even though a broad law also prohibits discrimination by that entity. This Act aligns the narrower non-discrimination laws with the applicable broad non-discrimination law by also prohibiting discrimination on any other basis protected under the applicable broad law. Adding the reference to the chapter for the applicable broad law includes all protected classes, definitions, and actions that are currently protected under the broad law or that are added to the broad law in the future. This Act does not make any substantive changes to current non-discrimination laws but is necessary because most of the narrow laws do not contain all of the same protected classes as the broad law that also applies or do not include the definitions of classes that are also in the broad law. These inconsistencies could lead to a misunderstanding by someone reading only an incomplete narrow law, and eventually litigation, about what constitutes illegal discrimination by an entity covered by both the narrow and broad laws. For example: • The non-discrimination provision for the Board of Podiatry under § 506(c) of Title 24 does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of the following classes, for which discrimination is prohibited under Chapter 45 of Title 6: age, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. • Only 4 of the 42 chapters in Title 24 establishing professional licensing boards contain a non-discrimination provision, but this does not mean that the other 38 licensing boards are free to discriminate. Aligning these 4 non-discrimination provisions with Chapter 45 of Title 6 clarifies that Chapter 45 of Title 6 also applies to the 38 professional boards that do not have specific non-discrimination provisions. • For merit system state employees, § 5953 of Title 29 only prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and housing status but in addition to these classes, § 711 of Title 19 prohibits any employer in this State, including the State, from discriminating in employment based on age, marital status, color, national origin, or disability. • Most of the narrower non-discrimination laws do not include all of the definitions in the applicable broad law. Adding the reference to the applicable broad law incorporates those definitions into the narrower law. For example: 1. All of Delaware’s non-discrimination laws prohibit discrimination based on race and all of the broad non-discrimination laws define “race” as including traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyle. However, very few of the narrower non-discrimination laws include this definition of “race”. 2. Several narrow non-discrimination laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity but do not include or specifically reference the definitions of “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” in the applicable broad non-discrimination law. Specifically, this Act revises the following narrow non-discrimination laws to align with the applicable broad non-discrimination law, as follows: To align with the Delaware Equal Accommodations Law, Chapter 45 of Title 6, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, age, marital status, creed, religion, color, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin by establishments that offer goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to the general public, including government agencies: • Transportation networks, § 1917 of Title 2. • Parkland owned by civic associations, § 8110 of Title 9. • Jury service, § 4502 of Title 10. • Private business and trade schools, § 8516 of Title 14. • Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, § 1204 of Title 20. • Board of Podiatry, § 506 of Title 24. • Board of Chiropractic, § 706 of Title 24. • The Board of Medical Licensure & Discipline, § 1713 of Title 24. • Board of Funeral Services, § 3102 of Title 24. To align with the Delaware Fair Housing Act, Chapter 46 of Title 6, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, marital status, familial status, source of income, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or housing status in housing offered for sale, rent, or exchange: • Section 4601 of Title 6, because gender identity is missing from the list of classes protected in the purpose section of Chapter 46 even though gender identity is protected under all of the substantive provisions under that chapter. • Recording of deeds, § 9605 of Title 9. • Residential Landlord-Tenant Code, § 5116 of Title 25. To align with Chapter 46 of Title 6, Subsections (a), (b), and (d) are revised to use the term "familial status" because "familial status" is defined in the Delaware Fair Housing Act to mean a household with children. • The definition of “comparable housing” in § 7102 of Title 25 for the conversion of manufactured home communities. To align with the unlawful employment practices in employment under Chapter 7 of Title 19, which prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, marital status, genetic information, color, age, religion, sex including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, housing status, disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, or a reproductive health decision: • New Castle County government, § 1183 of Title 9. • Training and apprenticeship programs, § 204 of Title 19. • Merit System of Personnel Administration, § 5953 of Title 29. • Large public works contracts, § 6962 of Title 29. This Act also clarifies that the definition of “place of public accommodation” in § 4502(19) of Title 6 includes entities and services licensed or regulated under Title 5, Banking. This Act does not make any changes to Title 18 for insurance. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 2, TITLE 6, TITLE 9, TITLE 10, TITLE 14, TITLE 19, TITLE 20, TITLE 24, TITLE 25, AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.
SB 70 w/ SA 1SignedPooreThis Act allows licensed genetic counselors to order genetic tests.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GENETIC COUNSELORS.
SB 73SignedBrownThis bill clarifies that only law enforcement officers may petition for emergency relief in the Justice of the Peace Court pursuant to Title 10, Section 7703. The statute is currently ambiguous with regard to who may file pursuant to Section 7703. Section 7701(4) defines a "Petitioner" as a law enforcement officer or any person who would be qualified to file a Petition for Protection from Abuse. Section 7702(a) provides that "a petitioner may request relief under section 7703 (Emergency hearings) or Section 7704 (Nonemergency hearings)." However, Section 7703 only addresses the process a law enforcement officer must follow to procure a Lethal Violence Protective Order ("LVPO") and fails to mention any other class of petitioner. At the time of the passage of the LVPO statute, there was specific discussion and intention to prevent individuals from filing for emergencies in the Justice of the Peace Court for the same reason that citizen warrants are no longer accepted in that Court. This conclusion is borne out by the fact that Section 7703 does not prescribe any procedure or burden of proof an individual would need to meet to prevail in an emergency petition for a LVPO. As with Weapons Relinquishment Orders governed by Section 1448C of Title 11, this proposed bill requires requests for emergency relief to come through a law enforcement agency rather than directly from an individual member of the public. The bill removes the confusion that exists with the current wording of the statute.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LETHAL VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
HB 74SignedBushThis Act provides that privilege between a policyholder or claimant and an insurance company is not waived simply because information is submitted by companies to the Insurance Commissioner, whether or not the information is redacted.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO INSURANCE EXAMINATIONS.
HB 81SignedGrayThis bill removes outdated references to permits. It further empowers the Council to designate those jurisdictions outside of the United States that will be recognized for certain types of applications based upon comity. The bill alters the section regarding discipline for examination violations because the examination is now administered in a computerized format. The bill modifies the process for the reporting of case decision recommendations to the Council by its subordinate committees and clarifies that the Council may seek injunctive relief to enforce its cease-and-desist orders.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS.
SJR 4SignedHoffnerThis Joint Resolution directs the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to obtain an architectural report of Kingston-upon Hull to consider estimated costs to either restore or stabilize the property. The resolution further directs the report consider future use of the property and recommend a course of action for the property.DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO COMMISSION AN ARCHITECTURAL STUDY OF KINGSTON-UPON HULL.
HB 103SignedBushSection 1 of this Act amends§ 3301(d) of Title 12 by adding to the definition of “fiduciary” enforcers of purpose trusts under § 3556 of Title 12 that are acting in a fiduciary capacity, by adding to the definition of "nonfiduciary" enforcers of purpose trusts under § 3556 of Title 12 that are not acting in a fiduciary capacity, and by clarifying that others that are not acting in a fiduciary capacity are also nonfiduciaries. Section 2 of this Act amends § 3315(b) of Title 12 so that the statute now states expressly the practical effect of a discretionary interest in a trust merely being an expectancy, which is that a beneficiary of such an interest cannot compel a distribution from the trust. The statute continues to provide, however, that the standard of review under § 3315(a) of Title 12 applies in a suit by a beneficiary for abuse of discretion. Section 2 of this Act also deletes in 2 instances the use of the word “trustee” as being redundant because “fiduciary,” as defined in § 3301 of Title 12, already includes a trustee. Section 3 of this Act amends § 3326 of Title 12 to state expressly within the statute that a modification of a trust by consent while the trustor is living (under§ 3342 of Title 12) may be used to effectuate the resignation of a trustee or other officeholder. Section 3 of this Act also amends § 3326 to state expressly within the statute that a nonjudicial settlement agreement (under§ 3338 of Title 12) may be used to effectuate the resignation of a trustee or other officeholder where the trust’s governing instrument is silent concerning both resignation and the appointment of successor trustees or other officeholders. It is intended that these express statements in § 3326 of Title 12 will reduce the need to resort to a court petition to effectuate the resignation and resulting appointment. Section 4 of this Act amends § 3556 of Title 12 so that the statute: (1) Expressly states that a person is not deemed to be a beneficiary of a purpose trust solely by virtue of receiving disbursements from the purpose trust. (2) Defines the term “enforcer” and permits the governing instrument of a purpose trust to grant the enforcer or some other person exclusive standing to enforce the terms of a purpose trust. (3) Provides that an enforcer will serve as a fiduciary of the purpose trust unless the governing instrument provides otherwise. (4) States that a person that accepts an appointment as enforcer submits to personal jurisdiction in Delaware. (5) If there are no identifiable beneficiaries of the purpose trust, authorizes the enforcer to act as an “interested person” in the context of a nonjudicial settlement agreement under§ 3338 of Title 12 or a nonjudicial modification under§ 3342 of Title 12. The changes in Section 4 of this Act were made to update Delaware law consistent with modern purpose trust statutes in other jurisdictions. Section 5 of this Act amends § 3580 of Title 12 to add to the definition of “trustee” for purposes of Subchapter VII of Chapter 35 of Title 12 by expressly including enforcers of purpose trusts under§ 3556 of Title 12. Section 6 of this Act amends § 1513 of Title 13 to address an ambiguity inherent in the situation where one spouse makes a gift in trust for the other spouse. This Section clarifies that in such circumstance, the donee’s interest in the trust is not marital property unless the trust agreement provides otherwise. Section 7 of this Act provides an effective date.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 12 AND TITLE 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DECEDENTS’ ESTATES AND FIDUCIARY RELATIONS.
SB 82 w/ SA 1SignedLockmanThis 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.
HB 114 w/ HA 1SignedRomerThis bill allows for the limited use of low-speed motorized scooters in Delaware. High speed scooters will remain banned. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MOTORIZED SCOOTERS.
HB 120SignedMichael SmithThis bill names the hill west of Mill Creek situated on New Castle County parcel number 0803100018 where the Spring Grove Mill House sits as “General Washington’s Hill of Deception”. This is the site of one of the most impactful combat event that occurred on Delaware soil during the Revolutionary War.AN ACT TO NAME THE HILL ON THE WEST BANK OF MILL CREEK LOCATED ON NEW CASTLE PARCEL NUMBER 0803100018 AS “GENERAL WASHINGTON’S HILL OF DECEPTION”.
HB 118SignedRomerThis Act would allow for Exceptional Care for Children (ECC) to continue receiving an exemption from the nursing facility quality assessment. It is intended to be a technical clean-up bill to continue ECC's exemption once the Bridge Unit is open. The Bridge Unit will allow ECC to help a small number of individuals, who turn 21 while in ECC's care, transition from a pediatric setting to an adult setting. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NURSING FACILITY QUALITY ASSESSMENTS.
HB 123 w/ HA 1SignedChukwuochaThis Act creates the crime of “discharging a firearm at a dwelling, place of worship, vehicle, or place of business.” The offense is a class E felony. The offense contains a provision that provides that a person may not be convicted of both a violation of this section and reckless endangering 1st or 2nd with regard to the same conduct. It also exempts a shooting range from the businesses covered by the statute.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM.
SB 112SignedLawsonThis Act renames the Delaware State Police Training Academy as the "Colonel James L. Ford, Jr. State Police Training Academy" in honor of Colonel Ford’s lifelong dedication to public service. It acknowledges his distinguished career with the Delaware State Police, where he held various leadership roles, ultimately serving as Superintendent. The Act also recognizes his significant contributions to law enforcement training, education, and public safety, as well as his service as Cabinet Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.AN ACT TO RENAME THE DELAWARE STATE POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY IN HONOR OF COLONEL JAMES L. FORD, JR.
HB 129SignedRomerCurrently, 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.
SB 118SignedPettyjohnIn the 151st General Assembly, SS1 to SB 258 was passed, which permitted pet owners to pursue compensatory damages without limitation for veterinary bills incurred to care for a pet that was injured by the negligence, reckless, or intentional acts of another individual or that individual's pet. This act removes a sunset provision that would have these changes expire on October 14, 2025. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 472, VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS FOR TORTIOUS INJURIES, INCLUDING DEATH, TO LAWFULLY OWNED PETS.
SB 123 w/ SA 1SignedMantzavinosThis Act clarifies the intestacy rights of child and parent by cross-referencing related provisions of Title 12 and Title 13 and adds a time limit for a child born of a deceased parent to be considered a child of that parent.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 12 AND TITLE 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE INHERITANCE RIGHTS OF ISSUE AND POSTHUMOUS CHILDREN
HS 1 for HB 130SignedOsienskiThis Act addresses information and access rights relating to bargaining units, which are defined under existing law as groups of public employees designated by the Public Employment Relations Board as appropriate for representation by an employee organization for purposes of collective bargaining. Section 1 of the Act amends the Public School Employment Relations Act in Title 14 of the Delaware Code. It provides that a public employer must provide an exclusive bargaining representative with certain contact information of bargaining unit employees, (i) within 14 calendar days of their hiring and (ii) in January and October of each year, starting in January 2026. In addition, a public employer must allow an exclusive representative to communicate with bargaining unit members using their employer-issued email addresses regarding collective bargaining, the administration of collective bargaining agreements, the investigation of grievances, workplace-related complaints and issues, and internal matters involving the exclusive representative's governance or business. Section 2 of the Act makes these same amendments to the Public Employment Relations Act in Title 19 of the Delaware Code.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 14 AND 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BARGAINING UNITS.
SB 125SignedPooreThis Act updates the Board of Dietetics/Nutrition enabling act, requiring applicants to obtain a minimum of a master’s degree to obtain a license. This change would make Delaware consistent with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency of the American Dietetic Association. Beginning on January 1, 2024, CDR required a minimum of a master’s degree in order to become registered. Under the current law, holders of a CDR registration are considered to automatically meet the qualifications for licensure in Delaware, and applicants who are certified by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists must also acquire a minimum of a master’s degree. This Act ensures Delaware is consistent with the current national standards for licensure and registration as a Dietitian or Nutritionist. Finally, the Act eliminates an outdated application provision. 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 PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS.
SS 1 for SB 109SignedPinkneyThis Act enters Delaware into the Social Work Licensure Compact. This will allow social workers to obtain a multistate license among the member states. Delaware will join the Compact Commission that is comprised of membership of all states that have enacted the Compact. Enough states have enacted the Compact that the Commission has been created and the applications for licensure could start in late 2025. Currently, at least 24 states have joined the Compact, while another 18 have pending legislation to enact the Compact, including Maryland and Pennsylvania. This Substitute changes the Chapter and Section numbers to place the Chapter in a more appropriate place in the code, and it corrects internal references to the new section numbers. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO A SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE COMPACT.
SS 1 for SB 17SignedTownsendSenate Concurrent Resolution No. 99 (152nd General Assembly) created the Victims’ Bill of Rights Committee (VBR Committee) to perform a comprehensive review of the Victims’ Bill of Rights (VBR) and make recommendations to clarify the VBR, strengthen protections for victims, and ensure that state agencies have the necessary mechanisms, administration, and funding to successfully implement the VBR. To facilitate in-depth review and discussion, the VBR formed the following 4 subgroups: The Victim Safety Subgroup, The Rights of Special Victims Subgroup, The Victims’ Rights to Information and Notification Procedures Subgroup, and the Victims’ Compensation and Administration Subgroup. Like Senate Bill No. 17, Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 17 revises the Victims’ Bill of Rights and the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program based on the recommendations in the February 27, 2024, Victims’ Bill of Rights Committee Final Report. Senate Substitute No. 1 to SB 17 differs from SB 17 as follows: 1. Revises the definition of "individual with a cognitive disability" to reference the definition of “cognitive disability” in the Criminal Code, consistent with the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. 2. Requires that the summary of the victims’ rights be printed on the last page of the victim’s copy of the initial incident report instead of on the back. 3. Revises the language regarding the rights of victims and witnesses in regard to immigration status. 4. Requires that the notice published in the Register of Regulations under Section 14, that funds have been appropriated to implement the provisions under § 9414(a)(4) of Title 11, be provided by the Executive Director of the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System. Section 1 revises Chapter 94 of Title 11 (“this chapter”), the Victims’ Bill of Rights, by making technical changes for clarity and by adding substantive policy provisions that either codify existing practices or create new rights and responsibilities as follows: Substantive changes that establish the following new rights or responsibilities: 1. To extend these rights to more victims, adds additional offenses to the definition of "crime" for this chapter and includes any offense that is the basis for abuse, domestic violence, or a sexual violence protective order. 2. Adds a complaint process that a victim or witness can use if a law-enforcement agency fails to comply with this chapter. 3. Adds the victim’s or witness’s school to the personal information that must be kept confidential. 4. Provides victims the right to have a victim advocate present, if available, at all proceedings related to the crime. 5. Requires that victim services professionals inform a victim if the victim services professional is required to share information disclosed by the victim that is relevant to the investigation and to whom that information must be disclosed. 6. Provides a right to review portions of recordings derived from body-worn cameras that includes statements made by the victim. 7. Provides a right to make a statement that is separate from the victim-impact statement under the pre-sentence report process. 8. Updates the manner in which victims receive notifications under this chapter by allowing law-enforcement agencies to send notifications electronically and requiring DELJIS to create the mechanism by which law-enforcement agencies can send these notifications by email. Victims will be able to indicate and change their preferred method of contact by law-enforcement agencies, including a preference not to be contacted, and law-enforcement agencies must use the victim’s preferred method of contact when possible. 9. Requires that the Department of Justice create a website where the rights of victims and witnesses under this chapter are explained in a user-friendly manner, in English and in Spanish, and in a format that is as accessible as possible for individuals with disabilities. This website must include information about rights victims or witnesses have under other sections of the Code. 10. Strengthens the annual report requirements for law-enforcement agencies regarding compliance with this chapter by adding specific information that must be included in each report. The individual law-enforcement agency reports must be compiled by the Criminal Justice Council (CJC) into 1 final report and posted on the CJC webpage. 11. Extends to witnesses the current requirement that the court to provide a waiting area for victims that is separate and secure from the defendant, the defendant’s relatives, and defense witnesses. 12. Provides witnesses with the same right to the prompt return of property from law-enforcement that currently exists for victims. 13. Consistent with the notice requirements to victims of an application for parole, requires that notice to be provided to victims of crimes under this chapter when an application is filed for a pardon, including for an adjudication not terminated in favor of the child, or when an application for discretionary expungement of an adjudication not terminated in favor of the child is filed. Substantive changes that codify existing practices: 1. Updates the definition of “law-enforcement agencies” to include police, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Correction, including probation and parole. 2. Expands the definition of “representative of the victim” to include members of the victim’s family if the victim is deceased and the parent, guardian, or custodian of a victim who is unable to meaningfully participate in proceedings. It also clarifies the representative of the victim if the victim or the deceased victim’s sibling is in the custody of the Department of ‘Services for Children, Youth, and their Families. 3. Revises and expands the definition of victim services to include the broad array of assistance that is available to victims of crime. 4. States that the remedy for a victim or witness if a law-enforcement agency fails to comply with this chapter is to file a writ of mandamus under § 564 of Title 10. 5. Provides victims and witnesses the right to express safety concerns while attending proceedings at court and to request reasonable measures to ensure their safety, including modifications to standard practices, policies, and procedures. 6. Provides the right for immigrant victims and witnesses not to be detained by law enforcement or turned over to federal immigration authorities unless there is a judicial warrant. 7. Requires that the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System (DELJIS) provide a summary of a crime victim’s rights and information about victim services that is printed on the last page of the victim’s copy of the initial incident report. 8. Repeals the applicability of this chapter to qualifying neighborhood or homeowners’ associations. 9. Requires the Board of Pardons to provide notice of all applications for a pardon to the Superior Court and the Department of Justice. Technical changes: 1. Reorganizes existing provisions so that rights of all victims are in subchapter I. by transferring the rights of victims with cognitive disabilities from subchapter II. 2. Reorganizes existing provisions so that rights of all witnesses are in subchapter II. by transferring the rights of witnesses from subchapter I and correspondingly redesignates subchapter II as the Rights of Witnesses to Crime. The rights provided to victims and witnesses with cognitive disabilities are incorporated in the applicable subchapter. 3. When possible, instead of listing each specific offense included in the definition of “crime”, offenses are included in this definition by subchapter or subpart. 4. Transfers rights applicable to all crime victims under § 9404 through § 9408 of Title 11 to § 9403 of Title 11. 5. Repeals unnecessary definitions and language that repeats rights provided in another section of this chapter or elsewhere in the Code. Sections 2 through 4 revise Chapter 90 of Title 11, the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program, as follows: • Section 2 revises § 9002 of Title 11 to combine funeral and burial expenses into 1 category of pecuniary loss to simplify approval of payments for these expenses. • Section 3 makes corresponding changes to the job title of the victim services personnel who are members of the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program Advisory Council under § 9003 of Title 11 and adds standard language regarding the conduct of meetings by public bodies, including requirements for quorum and when a member designates another individual to attend a meeting. • Section 4 repeals the requirement that unencumbered balances in excess of $6,000,000 in the Victims’ Compensation Fund at the end of each fiscal year be deposited in the General Fund. Section 5 through Section 12 make the following corresponding technical changes to other Code sections to align with Chapter 94 of Title 11: • Section 5 revises § 3512 of Title 11 to contain the exceptions in current § 9407 of Title 11 and reference the definition of “member of the victim’s family” in § 9401 of Title 11. • Section 6 revises § 4331 of Title 11 so it is consistent with the victim’s right to make a statement under § 9406(8)b. of Title 11. Section 6 also repeals the reference to § 4209A of Title 11 that the Revisors have noted in the Code as “[repealed]” because the version of § 4209A that was in the Code when this sentence was enacted in 1991 was repealed in 1989 but this corresponding reference was not repealed. • Sections 7 and 8 revise § 4347 and § 4361 of Title 11 so that the Board of Parole and the Board of Pardons must send notice to victims and witnesses in the manner and under the procedures established in § 9414 of Title 11. • Sections 9 and 10 revise § 1018 of Title 10 and § 4374 of Title 11 so that victims are contacted about petitions for discretionary expungement under the procedures established in § 9414 of Title 11. • Section 11 requires that the regulations adopted by the Police Offer Standards and Training Commission under § 8404 of Title 11 include the victim’s right to review portions of recordings derived from body-worn cameras that include statements made by the victim. • Section 12 increases notice to employers about the current law prohibiting an employer from discharging or disciplining a victim or representative of a victim because the individual participated in the preparation for or attended proceedings by adding a reference to § 9409(a) of Title 11 to § 711(i) of Title 19, which lists unlawful employment practices. Section 13 provides a delayed implementation date to provide the Department of Justice time to create the informational websites for victims and witnesses required under § 9414(c) and (d) of Title 11. Section 14 makes the requirement under § 9414(a)(4) of Title 11 that DELJIS create the mechanism by which law-enforcement agencies can send notifications by email contingent upon an appropriation of the funds necessary to fulfill this requirement and then provides 18 months to implement this requirement. In addition to the recommendations in the Victims’ Bill of Rights Committee Final Report, this Act also revises the membership of the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program Advisory Council, based on suggestions that arose after the conclusion of the VBR Committee’s work, by adding the Child Advocate and an additional member from the mental health profession. This Act also makes additional technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10, TITLE 11, AND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CRIME VICTIMS AND WITNESSES.
HB 156SignedBurnsThis Act updates Chapter 10A of Title 16, the Healthcare-Associated Infections Disclosure Act, to ensure consistency with correct terminology, such as psychiatric changes to behavioral health facilities and to adherence to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) requirements. This Act also makes 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 HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT.
HB 157SignedBurnsThis Act repeals the Hearing Aid Loan Bank Program, as the program is no longer operational. The Program was created pursuant to Volume 74, Chapter 109 of the Laws of Delaware (2003), for the purpose of lending hearing aids on a temporary basis to children under 3 years old. Loans were initially for 6 months with possible 3-month extensions granted by the Program Manager. The need for the Hearing Aid Loan Bank Program has steadily decreased over time and the Program is now obsolete. As a result, the Division of Public Health no longer stocks the Hearing Aid Loan Bank. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE HEARING AID LOAN BANK PROGRAM.
HB 158 w/ HA 1SignedBurnsThe Public Health Emergency Planning Commission was established in 2002 and directed to deliver to the Governor a plan for responding to a public health emergency that addressed at least 21 specific provisions. Since then, that single plan has evolved into an overarching Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Plan, which is a strategic plan that provides a broad context for the execution of public health emergency response and recovery. There are over 70 additional “plans” or annexes that provide additional procedural guidance that have been developed by DHSS in partnership with other state agencies and external stakeholders such as hospitals. The Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Plan will still be updated every 2 years by DHSS and other state agency and private partners. The Public Health Emergency Planning Commission will be renamed the Public Health Emergency Planning Council. It will review the Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Plan every 2 years. It will also continue in its advisory capacity to the Governor whenever a public health emergency is declared. It must meet within 30 days of the declaration of a state of emergency due to a public health emergency, and at least every 30 days until the public health emergency is lifted. In the absence of a public health emergency the Council must meet at least once a year. This Act also makes technical corrections to existing statutory language.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EMERGENCY PLANNING.
SB 131SignedPinkneyThis Act expands the definition of the “practice of dental hygiene” under Title 24 (Professions and Occupations) to include the administration of local anesthesia under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist and directs the State Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene (“Board”) to establish the necessary requirements and standards. Currently, Delaware is the only state in the nation that does not allow dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia. Delaware also suffers from a shortage of dental care providers, leaving many Delawareans unable to access timely, quality, affordable dental care. Administering local anesthesia is a task that properly trained dental hygienists can do safely, as shown by the experiences of every other state. Expanding dental hygienists’ scope of practice to allow them to administer local anesthesia under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist will enable them to provide a broader range of services to patients and take some of the burden off the state’s limited supply of dentists. Section 4 of this Act requires the Board to adopt regulations setting the requirements and standards to allow dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia under direct supervision of a licensed dentist no later than January 1, 2026. Section 5 of this Act provides that Sections 1 through 3 of this Act are effective on either January 1, 2026, or when the State Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene publishes final regulations implementing the Act, whichever is earlier. 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 ALLOWING DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO ADMINISTER LOCAL ANESTHESIA.
SB 133SignedHoffnerThis Act is a result of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee's review of the Delaware Cemetery Board. Based on the Committee's recommendation, this Act changes the Office of Auditor of Account's obligation to audit the Distressed Cemetery Fund from annually to at least once every 5 years. This Act also updates the name of the Office of Auditor of Accounts. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DISTRESSED CEMETERY FUND.
HB 148SignedMinor-BrownThis Act updates the Board of Nursing’s enabling act to allow the Board to issue confidential letters of concern to licensees who have acted in manner warranting concern but have not violated the Board’s statute or regulations. The purpose of the letter of concern is to encourage the licensee to improve such practice. The bill further allows the Board to require any licensee who receives 3 or more letters of concern to appear before the Board for a hearing to assess the licensee’s competency, at which time the letters of concern would no longer be confidential.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NURSING.
SB 139SignedPinkneyThis Act provides protections and rights to victims of sexual assault by doing all of the following: • Codifying the core sections of Delaware's Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) testing policy, adopted in May 2022. • Enacts the recommendations of the Victims' Bill of Rights Committee (VBR Committee), established under SCR 99, (152nd General Assembly) providing rights to victims regarding information about the location, status, and preservation of biological evidence. These protections and rights for victims of sexual assault are in addition to existing requirements for DNA analysis performed by the Division of Forensic Science (DFS) laboratory under Chapter 47 of Title 29 and the Victims’ Bill of Rights under Chapter 94 of Title 11. Section 1 revises the definitions in Chapter 47 of Title 29 by transferring definitions from § 4713 of Title 29, updating existing definitions, and creating new defined terms that reflect current practices. Section 2 updates existing requirements under § 4713 of Title 29 that apply when the DFS laboratory receives, analyzes, and classifies biological samples and obtains DNA results, by doing all of the following: • Adding the names of the state and federal DNA databases. • Referencing current law-enforcement procedures, including the names of Delaware’s criminal justice case management systems. • Requiring the Department of Justice, or a law-enforcement agency authorized by the Department of Justice, to inform DFS if the investigation has determined that no crime occurred in the case connected to a biological sample that has been submitted. This enables DFS to comply with NDIS policies and procedures related to when DNA results can be included in the National DNA Index System. • Adding the VBR Committee’s recommendations preventing the destruction of biological samples from unsolved sexual assault cases based on the victim’s age at the time of the alleged offense. For adults, these biological samples may not be destroyed until 20 years after the collection of the evidence and if the victim was under 18 years of age, until the victim is 40 years old. • Adding references to the new SAK-specific provisions under § 4713A of Title 29 and § 9403B of Title 11. Section 3 adds additional requirements that apply when the DFS laboratory conducts DNA analysis of SAKs, codifying Section 5 and Section 7 of the existing SAK testing policy. Section 4 adds definitions related to biological evidence to Chapter 94 of Title 11 for the Victims’ Bill of Rights. Section 5 adds the following to the Victims’ Bill of Rights: • Requirements that apply to investigating law-enforcement agencies, codifying provisions in Section 3 and Section 4 of the existing SAK testing policy. • The VBR Committee’s recommendations regarding victims’ rights to information about the location, status, and preservation of biological evidence, such as learning the status and results of DNA testing. Victims of unsolved sexual assault cases have the right to notice before biological evidence is destroyed, to request that this evidence be preserved, and to designate another person to receive information about the status of biological evidence on their behalf. Section 6 updates how victims receive notifications from law-enforcement agencies that are required under the Victims’ Bill of Rights, to allow for implementation of the victims’ rights to information about biological evidence. All of the following changes were recommended by the VBR Committee and are identical to the language in Senate Bill No. 17 (153rd): • Allowing law-enforcement agencies to send notifications electronically. • Providing that victims are responsible for providing a law-enforcement agency with changes to the victim’s contact information. • Allowing a victim to indicate and change their preferred method of contact by law-enforcement agencies, including a preference not to be contacted, and law-enforcement agencies must use the victim’s preferred method of contact when possible. Sections 7 through 9 revise the definitions of “DNA” and “DNA profile” in Part II of Title 11 for criminal procedure so they align with the definitions in Chapter 47 of Title 29. 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 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.
HB 161SignedOrtegaThis Act clarifies the requirements regarding obtaining a permit to operate a funeral establishment. Technical corrections are also made to existing statutory language to conform with the requirements of the Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FUNERAL ESTABLISHMENT PERMITS.
HB 37SignedMorrisonThe Delaware Equal Accommodations Law, Chapter 45 of Title 6, prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation on the basis of race, age, marital status, creed, religion, color, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. This Act ensures that all government services, including those provided directly by government entities and those that are government-funded or supervised, are subject to the same non-discrimination requirements as private businesses by revising the definition of “place of public accommodation”. This Act also creates a definition of “person” that is consistent with similar definitions in the Code. Sections 2 through 4 of this Act provide enactment instructions because House Bill No. 36 (153rd General Assembly) also revises § 4502(19) of Title 6. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.
HS 1 for HB 154SignedGormanThis Act provides immunity to nonprofit organizations who distribute new secure gun storage and safety devices to individuals so long as the devices are distributed in their original packaging and are unopened. The nonprofit must provide gun safety pamphlets with the distribution of gun storage and safety devices. This Act does not limit any liability on the part of the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of the secure gun storage or safety device. HS 1 to HB 154 clarifies that this Act applies to tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and law enforcement agencies. It also makes 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 GUN SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
SB 12 w/ SA 1SignedTownsendThis 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.
SS 1 for SJR 7 w/ HA 1SignedSeigfriedThis is a Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution No. 7. Like Senate Joint Resolution No. 7, this Substitute directs the State Employees Benefits Committee (SEBC) to utilize specific strategies and policies when interacting and contracting with Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) in order to achieve lower cost pharmaceutical drug benefit plans for the State. This Substitute differs from Senate Joint Resolution No. 7 by clarifying that the SEBC has a duty to consider all of the following strategies and policies when negotiating for pharmaceuticals: 1. Drug cost transparency. 2. Formation of an independent Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. 3. Any other supply chain tactics such as a reverse auction or transparency committee. 4. Compacts with other states to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers. 5. Paying no higher price for all drugs negotiated by Medicare. 6. Requiring PBMs disclose administrative expenses for all pharmaceutical drugs. 7. Requiring PBMs bid based on lowest pricing sources, not average wholesale price. 8. Requiring the SEBC be provided all agreements between PBMs and pharmaceutical companies when those agreements are for drugs contracted for on behalf of the SEBC. 9. Performing audits when the SEBC believes it should be entitled to information to achieve transparency or clarity. This Substitute differs from Senate Joint Resolution No. 7 by directing the SEBC to prepare a report by August 1, 2026, to summarize any difficulties in implementing any of these policies and to submit the report to the Governor; the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, for distribution to all members of the General Assembly; the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Legislative Services; and the Public Archives.DIRECTING THE STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COMMITTEE AND THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO ENGAGE WITH INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS AND OTHER SUPPLY CHAIN TACTICS FOR COST CONTAINMENT OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES’ INSURANCE PROGRAMS.
SB 170SignedMantzavinosThis Act amends the provisions of Title 29 of the Delaware Code § 7915 relating to the Council for Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities. This Act adds a Conflict of Interest Policy to § 7915 to ensure compliance with the Older Americans Act Final Rule and must be enacted into law by October 1, 2025.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE COUNCIL FOR SERVICES FOR AGING AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.
SB 174 w/ SA 1 + HA 2SignedPooreThis Act establishes an animal abuse offender list which will be maintained by the Office of Animal Welfare. The list will be available to the public on the Office of Animal Welfare’s website. The list will contain information regarding adult individuals who are convicted of an animal abuse offense to assist the public and animal agencies in identifying individuals who present a risk to animal welfare. This Act prohibits animal shelters from approving pet adoptions to individuals who are on the animal abuse offender list. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AN ANIMAL ABUSE OFFENDER LIST.
SJR 8SignedHuxtableThis Joint Resolution directs the Delaware State Housing Authority to create a pilot program for the purpose of providing technical assistance related to zoning ordinance reform to local governments in Delaware. The goal of this pilot program is to help participating local governments identify and implement zoning practices that increase the supply of affordable housing and support goals such as equitable development and economic growth throughout this State. By giving local governments the technical assistance needed to modernize zoning ordinances, this pilot program will help Delaware close its affordable housing gap while allowing local governments the flexibility to adapt best practices to meet their jurisdictional needs. If successful, this pilot program will establish model policies for local government zoning ordinance reforms that can be expanded across this State. DIRECTING THE DELAWARE STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO CREATE A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ZONING REFORM TO PARTICIPATING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
HB 220SignedHeffernanThis Act requires a peace officer to consider issuing a juvenile civil citation to a qualified juvenile offender who would otherwise be charged only with specified offenses, and requires that if the peace officer decides not to issue a civil citation and instead charges the juvenile with a crime, the peace officer must document the reason in DELJIS. This Act also requires each law enforcement agency to submit an annual report to the Police Officer Standards and Training Commission about its use of juvenile civil citations. Finally, this Act requires that training on the Juvenile Civil Citation Program be included as part of a police officer’s mandatory training every 2 years.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 AND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE JUVENILE CIVIL CITATION PROGRAM.
HJR 4 w/ HA 1SignedHilovskyThis Joint Resolution establishes the Driving Under the Influence Prevention Task Force, established for the goal of deterring drivers in Delaware from Driving Under the Influence. By January 1, 2026, the Task Force is to identify the number of convictions under the Driving Under the Influence Statute in the Code, as opposed to arrests, the reason for the lack of convictions of the arrested persons, and what reforms to Delaware laws and regulations could further help deter instances of Driving Under the Influence, and further topics aimed towards deterring drivers in Delaware from Driving Under the Influence.ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO REDUCE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IN DELAWARE.
HS 1 for HB 169SignedMinor-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. This Substitute differs from the original House Bill No. 169 in that it incorporates the conforming changes in House Amendment No. 1 to House Bill No. 169 directly into the body of the bill.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM AND THE PRESCRIPTION OPIOID DISTRIBUTION COMMISSION.
SS 2 for SB 155SignedMantzavinosThis Act makes several changes to the Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission ("Commission"): - Modernizes the Commission name to the "Delaware Residents’ Protection Commission." The Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee, during its review of the Commission from 2020-2022, recommended the Commission change its name to something shorter that is easier to remember. - Better delineates the Commission's duties. - Adds provisions to streamline the Commission's operations, including removal of a member who consistently misses meetings and approving Commission action on the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a meeting. - Gives the Commission the authority to seek grants to support the Commission's operations. - Allows for the establishment of subcommittees to more effectively and efficiently meet the needs of the Commission - Clarifies the Commission’s responsibility to advocate for residents of monitored facilities, work with other agencies and groups to promote systemic reform, and act as an informational resource for the public. - Authorizes the Commission to hold a virtual meeting with a physical location open to the public if a Commission staff member is present at the anchor location. This Act has an effective date of 90 days after the date of enactment into law, to provide the Commission with time to transition from the existing membership to the membership that this Act establishes. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. Like Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 155, Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 155 differs from Senate Bill No. 155 by doing the following: - Changes the term "long-term care facility" to "monitored facility." - Removes language relating to Administrative Office of the Courts. - Adds 2 members to the Commission: the President of LeadingAge New Jersey/Delaware and the Director of State Governor Affairs, Delaware, of the Alzheimer's Association, Delaware Valley Chapter. - Makes a technical change to the provision relating to virtual meetings. In addition, Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 155 differs from Senate Bill No. 155 as follows: - Maintains the Gubernatorial appointments as they exist in current law. - Amends a Commission duty so that, under this Act, the Commission provides education and recommends policies aimed at improving the quality of care, quality of life, and safety of residents of monitored facilities.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE NURSING HOME RESIDENTS QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMISSION.
HS 1 for HB 173SignedMinor-BrownThis Act requires health care employers to implement a smoke evacuation system for surgical procedures that generate surgical smoke. This Substitute for House Bill No. 173 clarifies that the Division of Health Care Quality is responsible for enforcement of this chapter.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SURGICAL SMOKE.

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