Delaware Bills

passed both · Delaware · Senate May 15, 2025

SCR 74: DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF MAY 11-17, 2025, AS "CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution designates the week of May 11-17, 2025, as "Charter Schools Week" in the State of Delaware and commends Delaware's public charter schools for their efforts in educating Delaware students.

Ed Osienski (D) Dave Wilson (R) Frank Cooke (D) Dave Sokola (D) Rich Collins (R)

in committee · Delaware · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 127: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE RELATING TO RENTS.

This Act amends the New Castle City Charter to provide that the New Castle City Council may impose and collect a tax of no more than 5% on the gross rents within city boundaries. The tax may not apply to rental properties that are directly subsidized by federal, state, or City of New Castle rental assistance funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed both · Delaware · House May 15, 2025

HCR 49: RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF MAY 11 THROUGH MAY 17, 2025, AS "NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK" IN DELAWARE.

House Concurrent Resolution 49 formally recognizes the week of May 11 through May 17, 2025, as "National Hospital Week" within the state of Delaware. This resolution serves to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of hospitals and healthcare workers during that specific week.

in committee · Delaware · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 25: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 14 AND 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ACT.

This Act allows an employee organization to file a petition with the Board to become the exclusive representative of an appropriate bargaining unit for the purpose of collective bargaining. In the event an employee organization provides over 50% of the employees’ approval, through their authorized signatures, then the Board may not order an election but must certify the employee organization. This Act also makes technical corrections to confirm existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Delaware · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 6: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE PRE-AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2025.

This Legislation is the Delaware Pre-Authorization Reform Act of 2025. Section 1 of the Act applies to health Insurance Contracts regulated under Chapter 33 of Title 18. Section 1 provides that changes in utilization review terms for a health-care service, such as the clinical criteria used to conduct utilization reviews for a health-care service, will apply only upon re-authorization of the health-care service. Covered persons must be notified at least 6 months before any changes to utilization review terms, except in certain circumstances such as changes in clinical guideline status In addition, Section 1 sets qualifications for who may make determinations with regard to requests for pre- authorization of health-care services and appeals of adverse determinations; a timeline and required contents for the notification of an outcome of appeal of an adverse determination or a notification that additional information is necessary to make the determination of appeal; and requirements for any utilization review entity used to perform utilization review by an insurer, health-benefit plan, or health-service corporation. Section 1 also shortens the timelines for the determination of pre-authorization requests and notification to the health-care provider of the determination. For requests for pre-authorization of non-urgent health-care services not submitted electronically, the utilization review entity must notify the health-care provider within 5 business days of receipt of the request; for requests submitted electronically, notification must be given within 3 business days of receipt. For requests for pre-authorization for urgent health-care services submitted electronically, notification must be given within 24 hours of receipt. By January 1, 2027, insurers, health-benefit plans, health-service corporations, and utilization review entities must accept and respond to electronic pre-authorization requests through the same platform as the electronic request was submitted. In addition, Section 1 extends the time period that a pre-authorization is valid for from 60 days to 90 days. Finally, Section 1 provides that no more than 1 pre-authorization may be required for a single episode of care, and that if pre-authorization is granted as to a health-care service that is part of a group of services for which a bundled payment is charged, pre-authorization for the other health-care services included in the group is deemed to be approved as well. Section 2 of the Act applies to Group and Blanket Health Insurance under Chapter 35 of Title 18 and makes the same changes to pre-authorization standards and procedures that Section 1 of the Act makes to Health Insurance Contracts regulated under Chapter 33 of Title 18. Section 3 of the Act provides that the State Employee Benefits Committee established under § 9602 of the Title 29 of the Delaware Code must ensure that carriers administering plans for group health insurance comply with the requirements and provisions for pre-authorization set forth in Chapter 33, Subchapter II and Chapter 35, Subchapter V of Title 18. Section 4 of the Act provides that the Act will apply to health insurance policies, contracts, or certificates issued, modified, or renewed after December 31, 2026. Section 5 of the Act provides that the Department of Health and Social Services must, to the extent feasible, assure that contracts awarded to carriers providing health insurance relating to Medicaid assistance comply with the requirements and provisions for pre-authorization set forth in Chapter 33, Subchapter II and Chapter 35, Subchapter V of Title 18. Section 6 provides that this Act is known as the "Delaware Pre-Authorization Reform Act of 2025."

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Delaware · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 147: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DENTIST AND DENTAL HYGIENIST COMPACT.

SB 147 adopts the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact within Delaware. This compact is an agreement among participating states designed to streamline the licensing process for dental professionals. It allows dentists and dental hygienists who hold a valid license in one member state to practice in other member states without needing to obtain a separate license in each jurisdiction. The bill aims to facilitate the practice of qualified dental professionals across state lines.

passed both · Delaware · House May 15, 2025

HCR 54: COMMENDING MELISSA WILSON REPRESENTING THE SMYRNA SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR BEING SELECTED AS DELAWARE'S EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR FOR 2025 AND COMMENDING EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER NETWORK’S EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR.

This Concurrent Resolution commends the 2025 Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year, Melissa Wilson, and all of the District/Charter Network Educational Support Professionals of the Year.

passed both · Delaware · Senate May 15, 2025

SCR 73: DESIGNATING MAY 2025 AS "HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This resolution designates May 2025 as “Haitian Heritage Month” and May 18, 2025, as "Haitian Flag Day" in the State of Delaware and encourages all Delawareans to honor Haitian and Haitian American culture.

passed both · Delaware · Senate May 15, 2025

SCR 76: RECOGNIZING THE THETA ZETA ZETA CHAPTER OF ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, FOR ITS OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT AND SERVICE TO THE DOVER COMMUNITY.

This resolution recognizes and commends the Theta Zeta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, for its years of exemplary service to the Dover community, with a focus on educational equity, health advocacy, civic engagement, and empowering women and children. The chapter’s work reflects the sorority’s historic legacy of scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood.

in committee · Delaware · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 89: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS.

This Act prohibits a seller that regularly accepts payment by credit card from (1) imposing a credit card surcharge greater than the percentage processing fee charged by the credit card company, for transactions of $1,500 or less, and (2) refusing to accept payment by credit card or imposing any credit card surcharge, for transactions that exceed $1,500.

passed · Delaware · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 46: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.

This Act prohibits any autonomous vehicle that requires a Class A commercial driver license without an O restriction from being operated on a Delaware highway for testing purposes, transporting goods, or transporting passengers without a human safety operator being physically present within the autonomous vehicle. A two-thirds vote requirement is required under Section 28 of Article IV of the Delaware Constitution.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed both · Delaware · Senate May 14, 2025

SCR 72: DESIGNATING MAY 15, 2025, AS “GLOBAL ACCESSIBILITY AWARENESS DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This resolution designates May 15, 2025, as "Global Accessibility Awareness Day" in the State of Delaware, affirms the importance of making the internet and technology accessible to all, and encourages expanded efforts to keep Delaware residents properly informed about the need for equitable digital access and inclusion.

Topics ✓ Technology

Bill results