Delaware Bills

in committee · Delaware · Senate May 18, 2026

SB 323: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE DIVISION OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION.

This act requires the Division of Professional Regulation to employ at least one licensed journeyperson electrician to carry out investigations as a member of the Investigative Unit of the Division.

passed both · Delaware · Senate May 14, 2026

SCR 189: PROCLAIMING MAY 14, 2026, AS “HOME CARE ADVOCACY DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, RECOGNIZING BOTH ADULT AND PEDIATRIC HOME CARE NEEDS.

This resolution proclaims May 14, 2026, as "Home Care Advocacy Day" in the State of Delaware and recognizes the dedication and hard work of caregivers.

passed both · Delaware · Senate May 14, 2026

SCR 190: DESIGNATING MAY 2026 AS "LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This bill designates May 2026 as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in the State of Delaware. It directly affects state agencies and officials by establishing an official timeframe to highlight information about the disease. The primary mechanism is a formal declaration that encourages public awareness without mandating specific actions or funding. This measure serves as a commemorative resolution rather than a law that changes operational procedures or imposes new requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Delaware · Senate May 14, 2026

SCR 187: RECOGNIZING MAY 13, 2026, AS DELAWARE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DAY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This bill designates May 13, 2026, as Delaware Local Government Day to honor the state's local government workers. It directly affects municipal employees, officials, and organizations across Delaware by establishing an official date for recognition. The primary mechanism is a formal declaration that sets aside this specific day for commemorative purposes without altering existing laws or budgets. Once enacted, the resolution serves as a symbolic gesture to acknowledge the contributions of local government personnel.

in committee · Delaware · House May 14, 2026

HB 392: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PROHIBITION OF PARTISAN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.

The Delaware Nonprofit Nonpartisanship Protection Act is designed to uphold and safeguard the long-standing principle of nonpartisanship for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations operating within the State. The bill reinforces the protections established by the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits from engaging in partisan political activities, including endorsing or opposing candidates for public office.

passed both · Delaware · House May 14, 2026

HCR 129: RECOGNIZING THE NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE AND ITS ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This bill formally acknowledges the NASCAR All-Star Race and highlights its economic benefits to Delaware. It does not create new laws or change any government policies but serves as a symbolic recognition of the event's importance to the state. The measure was passed by both the House and Senate without requiring a formal vote on the final text.

passed · Delaware · House May 14, 2026

HR 25: RECOGNIZING MAY 16, 2026, AS "ARMED FORCES DAY" IN DELAWARE.

This bill designates May 16, 2026, as "Armed Forces Day" within the state of Delaware. It is a ceremonial measure that does not alter laws, allocate funding, or change government operations. The resolution serves solely to officially acknowledge the date for honoring military service members in Delaware.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Delaware · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 58: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO POSTCONVICTION REMEDY.

This Act provides a remedy for convicted persons relating to changes in forensic scientific or technical information. Specifically, a convicted person may apply to the Superior Court for relief if certain forensic scientific information was not available to be offered by the convicted person prior to the conviction or if it undermines forensic scientific evidence that was presented at trial. The court must grant relief if (1) the convicted person files an application asserting that the relevant forensic evidence is currently available and was not ascertainable through the exercise of reasonable diligence by the convicted person before or during trial or before the date of entry of a plea, (2) the application is accompanied by an affidavit from a forensic expert that satisfies certain requirements, and (3) the court determines that, had the evidence been presented at a trial, there is a reasonable likelihood that the result at trial would have been different or that the convicted person would not have been convicted. Once a petition for relief is filed, the Superior Court shall set a hearing on the petition, not later than 180 days after the petition was filed, and notify the petitioner and the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice may file a response to the petition within 90 days after its filing. After the hearing, if the court determines that the petitioner has failed to make a prima facie showing that the petitioner is entitled to relief, the court will dismiss the petition in a written opinion. However, if the court determines that the petitioner has made a prima facie showing that the petitioner is entitled to relief, the court may grant the petitioner discovery on matters relating to the forensic evidence used to obtain the conviction or sentence at issue and hold another hearing to determine whether there is a reasonable likelihood that, had the new evidence been presented at a trial, the convicted person would not have been convicted. If so, the court shall grant such relief as the court deems appropriate, which may include vacating the petitioner's conviction. For purposes of the Act, "convicted person" means a person who has received a verdict of guilty by the trier of fact, entered a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere that was accepted by the court, or received a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Like Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 58, Senate Substitute No. 3 differs from Senate Bill No. 58 in that (i) it clarifies that relevant forensic scientific evidence that may provide a basis for relief is not limited to evidence presented at trial, but rather includes evidence that was presented before trial, at trial, or before the date of entry of a plea; and (ii) it clarifies that the court must grant relief if the relevant criteria are satisfied. Like Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 58, Senate Substitute No. 3 differs from Senate Bill No. 58 in the following ways: • It replaces "application" with "petition," in order to maintain consistency in how a petition seeking relief under § 4505 of Title 11 is described. • It gives the court discretion to take certain actions if it finds that a petitioner has made a prima facie showing of the requirements for relief under § 4505 of Title 11. Under Senate Bill No. 58, the court would have been required to take certain actions. • It provides that if a petitioner has established entitlement to relief under § 4505 of Title 11, the court shall grant such relief as it deems appropriate, which may include vacating the petitioner's conviction. Under Senate Bill No. 58, the court would have been required to vacate the petitioner's conviction and grant the petitioner's motion for a new trial. In addition, Senate Substitute No. 3 differs from Senate Bill No. 58 in that it requires the application to be accompanied by an affidavit from a forensic expert and that it permits the Superior Court to hear a claim for relief later than 180 days after the petition if there is good cause for an extension.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Delaware · House May 14, 2026

HB 201: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

This Act strengthens essential protections for victims of human trafficking by removing practical barriers that prevent victims from getting convictions or juvenile delinquency adjudications obtained as a result of being a victim of human trafficking vacated and the related criminal or juvenile records expunged. This Act amends § 787 of Title 11 in the following ways: (1) Requires a showing that the offense to be vacated was committed “as a result”, instead of “as a direct result”, of the victims having been trafficked, which recognizes that victims of human trafficking may engage in a range of criminal behaviors related to their exploitation. (2) Provides that a motion to vacate and any hearing or proceeding related to the motion to vacate must remain confidential, unless the court determines good cause exists to open the proceeding, so a victim of human trafficking may seek relief without fear of revictimization. (3) Eliminates the requirement of a mandatory hearing on a motion to vacate unless the Attorney General files a timely objection to the motion. This will allow victims to obtain relief on uncontested motions without needing to relive their trauma through questioning at a formal hearing. (4) Clarifies that the standard of proof for determining eligibility for vacating an adjudication or conviction under § 787(j) is by a preponderance of evidence. (5) Allows a victim to vacate a conviction or adjudication of delinquency under § 787(j) and expunge the records of that conviction or adjudication. Additionally, this Act allows the court to order immediate expungement sua sponte or on request and allows expungements to be ordered by the court deciding the motion to vacate. (6) Establishes guidelines for the Attorney General to request an extension of time, if needed, to respond to a motion to vacate. This Act also aligns the standards for a defense to a charge of prostitution or loitering from “as a direct result” to “as a result” of human trafficking. This matches the change made to the vacatur provisions and keeps the standards in § 787 consistent. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Delaware · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 67: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BACKGROUND CHECK CENTER.

This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 67. It differs from the original bill by changing the period of time that a criminal history report obtained by the Background Check Center is valid for 1 year, instead of 3 years. The 1-year period of time is now applicable to both applicants of long-term care facilities as well as home-care agencies. This Act also removes the requirement that a current employee of a long-term care facility or home-care agency would need to get another criminal background check if they seek a promotion with their current employer. Because this Act codifies the time frame in which a criminal background check is required, this Act removes the administrative discretion previously provided to the Department of Health and Social Services to determine the frequency in which fingerprints must be obtained.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed both · Delaware · Senate May 13, 2026

SCR 184: DESIGNATING MAY 3 – 9, 2026, AS “TARDIVE DYSKINESIA AWARENESS WEEK” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This Concurrent Resolution designates May 3 – 9, 2026, as “Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week” in the State of Delaware to raise awareness about tardive dyskinesia (TD), an involuntary movement disorder associated with certain medications, and encourages individuals experiencing symptoms to consult their healthcare provider.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Delaware · Senate May 13, 2026

SCR 180: DESIGNATING MAY 6, 2026, AS “INTERNATIONAL WISHBONE DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This bill designates May 6, 2026, as "International Wishbone Day" within the State of Delaware. It directly affects state officials and the public by establishing an official state observance for that specific date. The primary mechanism is a formal declaration that recognizes the day, without creating new laws or imposing requirements. This type of resolution serves to acknowledge a cultural or commemorative theme rather than changing operational policies.

Bill results