Delaware Bills

signed · Delaware · House May 27, 2025

HB 177: AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 459, VOLUME 84 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE, AND CHAPTER 1, VOLUME 85 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE, RELATING TO THE REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAMES.

This Act delays the effective date of changes made to the trade name registration process made by Senate Bill No. 291 of the 152nd General Assembly and House Bill No. 40 of the 153rd General Assembly. The Act also directs the Department of Revenue to conduct outreach to affected agencies and customers regarding the pending changes.

signed · Delaware · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 157: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROVIDING FOR AN ADDITIONAL FAMILY COURT JUDGE IN SUSSEX COUNTY.

This Act increases the total number of Family Court judges from 17 to 18 to provide for 1 additional judge in Sussex County, which was funded in the fiscal year 2025 budget signed by the Governor on June 30, 2024.

signed · Delaware · Senate May 22, 2025

SJR 2: REQUIRING THE DIVISION OF MEDICAID AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRESENT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITH A REPORT AND PLAN TO PROVIDE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER SERVICES.

This resolution requires the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance to present a report to the Delaware General Assembly, by January 1, 2026, for the provision of insurance coverage for Community Health Worker services by Medicaid providers, which must include a draft State plan amendment or waiver, as appropriate, to the Governor and all members of the General Assembly, with copies to the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, and the Delaware Public Archives.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Delaware · House May 22, 2025

HB 9: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GOVERNMENTAL COMPENSATION POLICY.

Section 4 of this Act requires a paid elected official or paid appointed official of this State or any political subdivision of this State (“official”) who is also employed by a state agency or a political subdivision of this State to disclose the dual employment to the Public Integrity Commission (“Commission”). This disclosure will assist the Commission and the State Auditor in evaluating if the official is receiving dual public compensation for coincident hours of work and requires the Commission to report to the official’s employer of any finding of dual compensation. Sections 1 through 3 of this Act make technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual, including by creating definitions to ensure consistent usage of terms and by redrafting existing law to use active voice to ensure clarity of duties and obligations of officials and state agencies or political subdivisions of this State that employ officials. Section 5 of this Act makes clear that an individual serving as an official on the effective date of this Act must disclose any dual employment within 15 days after the enactment of this Act. Section 6 of this Act provides that this Act takes effect 1 year after the Act’s enactment into law.

signed · Delaware · House May 22, 2025

HB 62: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 22 AND 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE TERMINATION OF UTILITY SERVICES.

This Act updates the law relating to the termination of utility services to a dwelling unit by adopting and expanding state regulations concerning the termination of heating and cooling services. Among other things, this Act does the following: 1. Prohibits a utility company from terminating any services outside the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. 2. Prohibits a utility company from terminating any services from December 21 of each year to January 1 of the following year. 3. Prohibits a utility company from terminating heating services for nonpayment to a dwelling unit when the temperature is at or below 35 degrees Fahrenheit. 4. Prohibits a utility company from terminating cooling services when the Heat Index is equal to or exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. 5. Requires 14 days written notice be given to a dwelling unit prior to termination of services for nonpayment of bills during the heating or cooling season. 6. Requires the utility company to make at least 3 attempts to contact the occupant of a dwelling unit by telephone, text message, or email prior to termination of services for nonpayment during the heating season, including one attempt that must be after 5 p.m. 7. Requires the utility to make at least 1 attempt to contact the occupant of a dwelling unit by telephone, text message, or email prior to termination of services for nonpayment during the cooling season. 8. Requires that the 14 days written notice include information about payment plans, government assistance programs, and other ways termination of services may be deferred. 9. Imposes a civil penalty of up to $1,000 in lieu of a misdemeanor. This Act also expands the scope of utility termination laws to include the termination of utilities run by municipal electric companies. Municipalities that use municipal electric companies will be responsible for adopting ordinances to enforce utility termination laws within the municipality. Among other things, House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 differs from House Bill No. 62 by including additional times when shutoff of utilities is prohibited; removing the provision prohibiting shutoffs for occupants receiving certain benefits; and clarifying certain notice requirements.

signed · Delaware · House May 22, 2025

HB 41: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF MILLSBORO RELATING TO ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY AND THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.

This 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 committees

signed · Delaware · House May 22, 2025

HB 38: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REQUIRING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO KEEP AND PROVIDE RECORDS AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENTAL COMPENSATION POLICY SUBCHAPTER.

This Act requires an institution of higher education that receives funding from this State to keep and provide records for an elected or appointed official who is employed by the institution of higher education. The University of Delaware and Delaware State University are to comply with this Act for employees who are paid in whole or in part with State funds. If the State Auditor finds that an institution of higher education is knowingly in violation of this Act, the State Auditor may impose an administrative penalty on the institution of higher education and shall report the violation and amount of administrative penalty imposed to the Public Integrity Commission, Department of Justice, and the Office of the Controller General.

signed · Delaware · House May 22, 2025

HB 43: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO APPEALS.

This bill adopts an inmate mailbox rule similar to the federal inmate mailbox rule. If a pro se inmate files an appeal while incarcerated, the date of filing will be counted as the date that that the inmate gave the appeal to the DOC officials for mailing rather than the date that the Courts receive the appeal.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Delaware · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 54: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

This Act is from the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee, to remove the provision that a committee member who participates virtually in a committee meeting is not counted toward quorum.

signed · Delaware · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 74: AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 76, TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE LEASE-PURCHASE AGREEMENT ACT.

This Act amends Title 6 by adding "lease-purchase property" to the Delaware Lease-Purchase Agreement Act. Pursuant to the Act, "lease-purchase property" means personal property that is owned by the lessor at the time it is displayed and offered for lease-purchase to the consumer. The Act provides that, for lease-purchase property offered online and available for online sale or sale by e-commerce, a lessor may satisfy the lessor's disclosure obligations under § 7606(c) by electronic disclosure. Similarly, for personal property, other than lease-purchase property, that is offered for lease-purchase by a lessor, the lessor must disclose electronically the cash price of the item and the amount of the lease payment and the total amount of lease payments necessary to acquire ownership. These disclosures must be made before any of the disclosures required by § 7603 of the Delaware Lease-Purchase Agreement Act. Finally, the Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

signed · Delaware · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 69: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN SCHOOLS.

This Act prohibits a school district or charter school from selling or serving breakfast, lunch, or competitive food on campus during the school day that contains the color additive Red dye 40 (CAS no. 25956-17-6). Competitive foods are sold through the school nutrition programs, and include items sold in vending machines on campus or served a la carte. Red dye 40 (CAS no. 25956-17-6) is a synthetic food coloring derived from petroleum. It is found in food products such as cereal, beverages, gelatins, puddings, popsicles, chips, dairy products, and confections. Red dye 40 is used solely to enhance the appearance of food and does not provide any nutritional value. Consumption of Red dye 40 has been associated with hyperactivity, aggression, and other neurobehavioral problems in some children. Red dye 40 may also be linked with migraines and learning difficulties. The European Union requires a warning label to be placed on food products with Red dye 40, stating that it “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”. California became the first state to pass a prohibition on the provision of and sale of foods in schools that contain Red dye 40. Presently, at least 6 other states have introduced legislation to prohibit Red dye 40 in schools. This Act is effective immediately and is to be implemented beginning July 1, 2026. The Department of Education and local education agencies will use the period leading up to the implementation date as a planning and preparation year.

signed · Delaware · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 49: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 AND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRIVING RESTRICTIONS DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

In 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.

Bill results