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HB 23 Delaware House · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 AND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

Summary
This Act makes the following changes to human trafficking law: (1) It adds “patronizing a victim of sexual servitude” and “ trafficking of persons for use of body parts” to the offenses that may serve as a predicate for forfeiture of property under the trafficking statute. (2) It removes an obsolete reference to charging a minor with delinquency for engaging in prostitution. The Criminal Code was revised in 2019 to define prostitution as a crime that may be committed only by a person who is 18 years of age or older. (3) It adds conduct constituting a human trafficking offense to the list of conduct that constitutes “abuse” for purposes of obtaining a protective order in Family Court.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds offenses for trafficking-related property forfeiture, strengthening legal tools against human trafficking, aligns with criminal justice reform.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Dec 19, 2024 Signed May 7, 2025
Floor votes · House Mar 13, 2025

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
5
Committee
2
May 7, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENT
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed By House. Votes: 35 YES 6 ABSENT
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 3 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits
lower
Dec 19, 2024
Introduced
Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
lower
18 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Bill Bush
Bill Bush
DDemocratic
DE
29
P
Photo of Brian Pettyjohn
Brian Pettyjohn
RRepublican
DE
19
P
Photo of Bryant Richardson
Bryant Richardson
RRepublican
DE
21
P
Photo of Claire Snyder-Hall
Claire Snyder-Hall
DDemocratic
DE
14
P
Photo of Cyndie Romer
Cyndie Romer
DDemocratic
DE
25
P
Photo of Danny Short
Danny Short
RRepublican
DE
39
P
Photo of Dave Lawson
Dave Lawson
RRepublican
DE
15
P
Photo of Dave Sokola
Dave Sokola
DDemocratic
DE
8
P
Photo of Dave Wilson
Dave Wilson
RRepublican
DE
18
P
Photo of Frank Cooke
Frank Cooke
DDemocratic
DE
16
P
Photo of Jack Walsh
Jack Walsh
DDemocratic
DE
9
P
Photo of Kim Williams
Kim Williams
DDemocratic
DE
19
P
Photo of Laura Sturgeon
Laura Sturgeon
DDemocratic
DE
4
P
Photo of Mara Gorman
Mara Gorman
DDemocratic
DE
23
P
Photo of Melanie Ross Levin
Melanie Ross Levin
DDemocratic
DE
10
P
Photo of Mike Smith
Mike Smith
RRepublican
DE
22
P
Photo of Nicole Poore
Nicole Poore
DDemocratic
DE
12
P
Photo of Russ Huxtable
Russ Huxtable
DDemocratic
DE
6