Rep. Eric Morrison

This resolution directs the Department of Labor, in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Social Services, to study the creation of a Delaware Healthcare Apprenticeship Degree Program that would place aspiring healthcare professionals in paid clinical positions in healthcare facilities while they complete the training and schooling necessary to become credentialed healthcare professionals. The resolution requires that the study consider how any recommended program may be funded through Delaware’s federal Rural Health Transformation Program award and implemented through or in coordination with the competitive awards made by the Department of Health and Social Services under that program, so that the program complements, rather than duplicates, the State’s ongoing healthcare workforce initiatives. This resolution also directs the Department of Labor to consult with stakeholders to make recommendations for degreed apprenticeship programs beyond healthcare and requires the Department to submit a report of its findings to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Division of Legislative Services by May 1, 2027.

This Act clarifies that individual, group, and blanket health insurance carriers must provide for and pay for services (including immunizations) that were recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the comprehensive guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that were in effect as of January 1, 2025. They must also cover immunizations that were supported by national clinical guidelines or national standards of care in effect on January 1, 2025. To that end, this Act removes provisions that permit carriers to deny coverage for these items or services simply because they are not currently recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC and the comprehensive guidelines supported by the HRSA. This Act also removes obsolete United States Preventative Task Force provisions related to breast cancer screening from 2009.

This Act modernizes Delaware’s pharmacy practice laws by authorizing pharmacists to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Pharmacists have the expertise necessary to provide patient care beyond what current Delaware law allows, and enabling them to do so is an important step toward expanding access to health care in this State. Under this Act, pharmacists are permitted to independently evaluate patients, identify health conditions, order and prescribe laboratory tests, and prescribe drugs or devices without reliance on statewide protocols, formularies, or specified lists of conditions. Pharmacists may not prescribe controlled substances, with the exception of medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder, which pharmacists may only prescribe under a standing order from the Division of Public Health. In order to enable pharmacists to prescribe medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder under a standing order, this Act also amends the Uniform Controlled Susbstances Act in Chapter 47 of Title 16 to include “pharmacist” in the definition of “practitioner.” To ensure continuity of care, this Act also establishes requirements for documentation of treatment and communication with primary care providers. This Act takes effect immediately, but implementation is delayed by up to 1 year to give the Board of Pharmacy time to implement necessary regulations. This Act does not affect current law regarding the use of statewide protocols, standing orders, or collaborative practice agreements. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act expands the scope of practice for dental hygienists in this State. Allowing dental hygienists to use the full range of their education and expertise when providing oral health services will help alleviate provider shortages that make it challenging for Delawareans to obtain dental care. In particular, this Act will help fill gaps in access to preventative oral health care. Oral health is inseparable from overall health, and patients are best served when care is delivered through an integrated, team-based model. Dental hygienists play a vital and respected role in prevention, education, and early identification of disease. A collaborative dental team where each provider practices at the top of their education within a structured system of referral, communication, and accountability ensures patients receive timely preventative services along with accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. This approach strengthens access while preserving the standard of care and protecting the public. This Act grants dental hygienists the authority to do all of the following, in addition to the services they currently provide: 1. Administer and dispense topical agents under the standing order of a dentist providing general supervision. 2. Prescribe, administer, and dispense fluoride under the standing order of a dentist providing general supervision 3. Apply sealants without the need for a dentist to examine a patient beforehand, provided a dentist will see the patient within 12 months of receiving treatment. 4. Engage in dental hygiene assessment and treatment planning within the scope of the authority of a dental hygienist as defined by the Board of Dentistry and Denal Hygiene based on education and experience. 5. Provide direct access to prophylaxis without the need for a dentist to examine a patient beforehand, provided a dentist will see the patient within 12 months of receiving treatment. 6. Directly supervise dental assistants in a manner to be prescribed by the Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act updates the Delaware Code section that requires municipalities in New Castle County to submit permit data to the County government. The Act clarifies that such information should be submitted monthly in a manner prescribed by the County and that only closed permits where a certificate of occupancy has issued should be reported. If a municipality fails to timely report permit data it must submit a report to the County and the General Assembly detailing the reason for the omission, what steps are being taken to address the problem, and when the information will be submitted. This permit data is necessary for the County to ensure the accuracy of property assessments.

This Act creates a special license plate for Preservation Delaware, Inc., a statewide nonprofit whose mission is dedicated to the preservation of Delaware’s architectural heritage and historic settings through education, public policy initiatives, and technical assistance. This Act requires a greater-than-majority vote for passage because Article VIII, § 4 of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of 3/4 of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to appropriate money to any county, municipality, or corporation.

This Joint Resolution designates August 31, 2026 as "International Overdose Awareness Day" in Delaware and requires the state flag to be flown at half-staff in observance and to honor those whose lives were taken too soon.

This Act provides special authority to school districts in New Castle County to reset their tax rate for the 2026-2027 tax year. This authority is necessary because several adjustments to the New Castle County tax roll are continuing to be made after the completion of the general reassessment that took effect for the 2025-2026 tax year. This includes the ongoing adjudication of appeals from the assessment values set in the general reassessment as well as quality control reviews, and potential changes pending in other legislation. This Act allows the New Castle County school districts to adjust the tax rate so that no increase in operating revenue over the prior year will be realized, with two exceptions: (1) revenue increases from approved referenda; and (2) revenue equal to the 5-year average growth rate for each district. The 5-year average growth rates for NCC districts are as follows: (1) Appoquinimink, 3.68%; (2) Brandywine, 0.54%; (3) Christina, 0.32%; (4) Colonial, 1.10%; (5) Red Clay, 0.58%; (6) Smyrna, 0.31%; and (7) New Castle County Vocational Technical, 0.96%. This Act sunsets on March 31, 2027.

This Act amends section 137 of Title 17 of the Delaware Code to increase the requirement for a qualified independent appraisal from $10,000.00 to $25,000.00, to align with the current maximum threshold permitted by the Federal Highway Administration. This will allow DELDOT to more quickly complete smaller dispositions as property values continue to increase. This House Substitute corrects an error in the synopsis of the original bill.

This Act modernizes Delaware law by adding modern medical treatment options biologics or biosimilars to the step therapy exception process. The current law was passed before biosimilars were widely available. Biosimilars are to biologics what generic drugs are to traditional drugs once their exclusivity expires. This revision adds an exclusion to step therapy protocol exceptions for interchangeable biologics and biosimilars.