HB 265 Delaware House · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSE REPORTING AND IMMUNITY FOR CERTAIN CRIMES.

Summary

This Act provides limited immunity from prosecution for persons who seek to report a sexual offense. Under this Act a person who is a victim or witness or otherwise seeks law enforcement assistance in relation to a sexual offense may not be charged, arrested, or prosecuted, or issued a civil citation for low-level crimes relating to drug or alcohol use or possession. This Act also provides that a person’s probation or pretrial release status may not be revoked or changed based on an incident for which the person would receive the limited immunity from prosecution provided under this statute.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 8, 2026 Signed Jun 24, 2026

Floor votes · Senate Jun 18, 2026 · House Mar 19, 2026

How they voted

20–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 21

Jun 18, 2026

D Democratic15

15 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican6

5 Yea 1

83% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 24, 2026

Signed into law

Signed by Governor

executive

Jun 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

upper

May 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Introduced

Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 4 ABSENT

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 7 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits

lower

Jan 8, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

lower

17 primary · 0 co-sponsors