Rep. Josue Ortega

This Act changes the name of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee to "the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee." When the Committee was first codified in 1980, it was named the "the Joint Sunset Committee." In 2016, the Committee voted to change its name to "the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee." The Committee had "sunsetted" only 2 reviewed entities up to that point. Because "sunsetting" was only one of the Committee's many functions and used the function rarely, its name had grown confusing to the public. Adding "Legislative Oversight" more fully represented the Committee's purpose. Over the last 7 years, the Committee has reviewed 40 entities and "sunsetted" only 6 of them. In January 2026, the Committee voted to update its name to more accurately reflect its evolved purpose. Like most similar committees in other states, Delaware's committee has significantly downsized its focus on the "sunsetting" process in favor of conducting oversight and performance evaluation. This Act does not eliminate or lessen the Committee's authority to "sunset" an entity when a review demonstrates that doing so is the best outcome, and this Act does not amend the Committee's overall authority, focus, or purpose. This Act also makes a technical correction to the title of Chapter 102, Title 29.

This Act changes the name of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Division of People and Culture. Renaming the division from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to People and Culture signifies a broader, more comprehensive approach to cultivating an inclusive and engaging workplace. The new designation underscores the focus on the overall employee experience, organizational culture, and people-centered initiatives. This change positions the division as a key contributor to both cultural development and organizational success.

This Act requires public schools serving grades 7 to 12 that issue pupil identification cards to print on either side of the card the following information, which previously was optional for the public schools: (1) Teen Dating Violence Hotline:1-866-331-9474 or Text “loveis” to 22522. (2) Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255(TALK). Sections 1 and 2 of this Act remove application dates from the previous enactments of laws related to information printed on pupil identification cards for public schools serving grades 7 to 12 and on student identification cards for public institutions of higher learning. These application dates could be interpreted to mean that the previous enactments of these laws were to be effective only during the stated school years. By removing these application dates and establishing the effective date in Section 5 of this Act, these laws will be effective on July 1, 2026. This Act also makes technical corrections in Sections 3 and 4 of this Act to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally designates May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month within the state. It is a symbolic measure that does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change existing regulations. The resolution serves to highlight the importance of mental health awareness during that specific month.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution designates May 10-16, 2026, as "Charter Schools Week" in the State of Delaware and commends Delaware's public charter schools for their efforts in educating Delaware students.

Maddy summaryHB 219 designates "Diwali Day" as an annual ceremonial observance in Delaware, to be commemorated appropriately each year. This bill formally recognizes Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, as a day of cultural significance within the state's official calendar. It does not create new laws, alter regulations, or affect specific groups or programs - it solely adds a symbolic day to Delaware's recognized observances.

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.

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.

This Concurrent Resolution commends the 2026 Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year, Donna Ward, and all of the District/Charter Network Educational Support Professionals of the Year.

This Concurrent Resolution celebrates Homeschool Awareness Month in May 2026 and aims to demonstrate how homeschooling can be a better option than regular schooling for many children.