Delaware Bills

passed both · Delaware · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 3: AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO VOTING.

This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 3. This Act differs from Senate Bill No. 3. in that it incorporates technical corrections made to the Delaware Constitution by House Bill No. 10 (153rd General Assembly). Like Senate Bill No. 3, this Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment to eliminate the limitations on when an individual may vote absentee and provide an absolute right to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse. This Act is in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Albence v. Higgins, 2022 Del. LEXIS 377 (Del. 2022). Although Section 1 of this Act creates an absolute right to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse, a qualified voter who desires to cast an absentee ballot must request an absentee ballot from the Department of Elections for each election cycle, unless the qualified voter is granted permanent absentee status. This State’s current absentee voting law authorizes permanent absentee status for various reasons (see § 5503(k) of Title 15 of the Delaware Code) and this Act adopts those reasons. For each election in which a qualified voter votes by absentee ballot under a permanent absentee status, the qualified voter must take an oath or affirmation that the qualified voter remains eligible for permanent absentee status. Section 2 of this Act requires all absentee ballots to include an oath or affirmation that the qualified voter’s vote is free from improper influence. This oath or affirmation is in lieu of the oath or affirmation otherwise required under Section 3 of Article V of the Delaware Constitution. Amending the Delaware Constitution requires not only the passing of the changes in this Act, but also passage of the same changes after the next general election by the next General Assembly. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 2: AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO VOTING.

This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 2. This Act differs from Senate Bill No. 2 in that it incorporates technical corrections made to the Delaware Constitution by House Bill No. 10 (153rd General Assembly). Like Senate Bill No. 2, this Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment to specifically authorize early, in-person voting for the general election, a primary election, and a special election filling a vacancy in the General Assembly. Specifically, this Act provides that early, in-person voting is to occur on 10 calendar days before the date of the general election, primary election, and special election, including the Saturday and Sunday immediately before the election. Amending the Delaware Constitution requires not only the passing of the changes in this Act, but also passage of the same changes after the next general election by the next General Assembly. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 238: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 AND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

Section 1 of this Act prohibits Department of Finance employees from disclosing any information about the citizenship or immigration status of any person that is contained in a tax return, tax document, or Department of Finance document, without Attorney General approval or court order associated with a felony criminal investigation or as otherwise provided by law. It also makes such disclosure a misdemeanor. Section 2 of this Act prohibits the Department of Labor employees from disclosing information about the citizenship or immigration status of any person that is contained in or attached to any Department of Labor document or database without Attorney General approval or court order associated with a felony criminal investigation or as otherwise provided by law. It also makes such disclosure a misdemeanor.

Topics ✓ Immigration

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 274: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE CHILD AND DEPENDENT CARE EXPENSE TAX CREDIT.

Like House Bill No. 274, House Substitute for House Bill No. 274 increases the state child and dependent care expense tax credit from the current 50% match to a full 100% match with the federal child and dependent care expense tax credit. The substitute is different from House Bill No. 274 in that it makes this increase applicable to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Delaware · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO UNIFORM HEALTH DATA.

This Act updates Delaware’s Uniform Health Data laws. This Act corrects the form number of UB-82 to UB-04. This Act provides that emergency department data is included in the data that the Hospital Discharge Technical Advisory Committee studies. Finally, this Act makes technical corrections to conform to the requirements of the Legislative Drafting Manual.

failed · Delaware · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 239: AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9 OF ARTICLE II OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE RULES OF PROCEEDINGS.

HB 239 is a proposed constitutional amendment to Delaware's Constitution that would change the voting requirement for suspending legislative rules. Specifically, it would require a three-fifths vote (instead of a simple majority) in the Delaware General Assembly to suspend the rules governing legislative proceedings. This change directly affects how state legislators can modify procedural rules during committee or floor debates. The bill, introduced on December 18, 2025, is currently under review by the House Administration Committee and has not yet been enacted.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 186: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BUSINESS TAX CREDITS AND DEDUCTIONS FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION.

The purpose of this bill is to incentivize the construction and operation of a limited number of high-efficiency Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) electrical generation facilities, with an output of between 100 MW and 500 MW, by creating an Electricity Production Tax Credit (EPTC) and bonus credits. These credits would offset state corporate tax liability while facilitating the increased availability of clean, cost-effective, high-efficiency, and energy production. CCGT power plants are proven technology that can provide significant dispatchable power production to meet Delaware’s growing need for dependable energy, while promoting grid stability that will enable the integration of renewable energy generation. Having the CCGT facilities built within Delaware will improve the energy security of our citizens while reducing power transmission charges and energy loss. The value of the Electricity Production Tax Credit (EPTC) can be increased via bonus credits if the CCGT power-generating facility is built on a brownfield or the current or former site of a power plant. Additional bonus credits can be earned if the plant’s operation exceeds certain high-efficiency thresholds and if it incorporates carbon-capture technology into the design. The value of the credits realized by the facility operator would result from the quantity of electricity delivered. Most CCGT plants operate at a capacity factor of 50% to 85%. A 500 MW power plant, operating within these margins, would be expected to produce somewhere between 2.2 million and 3.7 million MWh per year. At a maximum annual 65% production capacity, a 500 MW plant could serve the needs of approximately 210,000 homes. The total value of the credits for each eligible facility receiving the tax credits established under this bill is limited to $15 million annually. The number of facilities eligible for the tax credits established under this bill will be no more than three statewide.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 318: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HEALTH PLANNING AND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND THE DELAWARE HEALTH RESOURCES BOARD.

This Act terminates the Delaware Health Resources Board by deleting in its entirety Chapter 93 of Title 16. This Board does have a responsibility to require certain persons to perform and accept certain charity care under § 9311. This responsibility is transferred to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.

signed · Delaware · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 210: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.

This bill amends the definition of “Community-owned energy generating facility” in Title 26 of the Delaware Code, § 1001(5) by adding the requirement that the point of interconnection be located in the service area of a utility under the regulation of the Public Service Commission.

signed · Delaware · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 191: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE INSTITUTE FOR DENTAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH.

This Act updates the language establishing the board of directors for the Delaware Institute for Dental Education and Research. This Act adjusts the composition of the voting and non-voting members of the board, the term limits of any board members, and procedures for how the Chair and Vice Chair are selected. The Act clarifies that any member of the board must complete a training on diversity. Any consultant from a university asked to assist the board with its official business does not vote. The Act makes minor changes pertaining to the purpose and duties of the board.

signed · Delaware · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 230: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SUBPOENA POWER.

This Act is a substitute bill for Senate Bill No. 230 and differs from Senate Bill No. 230 by removing the language related to Section 284 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. This Act defines, for purposes of this section, “county authority” as the Chief Financial Officer of the Office of Finance, the Director of the Department of Finance of Kent County, and the Finance Director of Sussex County. This Act expressly authorizes the county authority to compel the production of testimony and documentary evidence whenever a county relies upon, or defends its reliance upon, the income approach or cost comparison approaches to assess the fair market value of real property. This Act permits the enforcement of subpoenas by order of the Superior Court and permits use of the court’s contempt powers.

failed · Delaware · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 73: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE SENIOR PROPERTY TAX CREDIT.

HB 73 increases Delaware's maximum annual property tax credit for seniors from $500 to $1,000. This change directly benefits eligible Delaware seniors who pay property taxes by allowing them to receive up to $1,000 in tax relief each year. The bill amends specific sections of Delaware Code (Titles 14 and 29) to adjust the credit cap without altering eligibility requirements. This policy change provides greater financial relief for seniors with property tax burdens.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results