Rep. Kerri Harris

This Act requires the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association to promulgate regulations requiring all coaches to have CPR, first aid, and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. It also requires schools with an athletic program or department to have an Emergency Action Plan for responding to a cardiac arrest event at an athletic event or practice. It requires that an AED be accessible in a clearly marked, unlocked location at any athletic event or venue. Finally, the regulations must require testing and maintenance of AEDs and notification to the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding the AED acquisition and its location.

This Act adds the existence of the Division of Legislative Services and the Office of the Controller General into Delaware Code. Chapter 11 of Title 29 details the creation of Legislative Council, as well as the authority of the Council to appoint a Director of the Division of Legislative Services (Director) and a Controller General. Chapter 11 further states that the Director shall organize and supervise the Division of Legislative Services and that the Controller General may be provided with additional employees to enable the Controller General to perform their duties. However, our Code does not create the Division of Legislative Services or the Office of the Controller General, which are the offices overseen by the Director and Controller General, respectively.

The Delaware National Guard provides financial assistance to eligible service members for certain postsecondary education tuition and fees. Under the current education benefits program, the Delaware National Guard reimburses service members for tuition and fees the service members have already paid. But young service members often cannot take advantage of this program because they cannot afford to pay upfront for tuition and fees. This also hurts Delaware National Guard recruiting efforts because potential service members may choose to join National Guard programs in other states that do not require service members to pay upfront for tuition and fees. Keeping the Delaware National Guard fully staffed is essential to responding to state emergencies. Lack of staff also leads the Department of Defense to shift positions from the Delaware National Guard to other states that can recruit at higher levels than Delaware. This results in reduced mission capability in Delaware and less federal funding coming to Delaware.  This Act amends the existing code relating to Delaware National Guard education benefits by switching from a system that reimburses service members to a system that pays certain tuition and fees, on behalf of a service member, directly to a Delaware postsecondary institution. This change allows more service members to use education benefits, which will improve Delaware National Guard recruiting and retention, and enhance the professional education qualifications of its members. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual and clarifies that the tuition assistance provided for Delaware private postsecondary institutions is based on the average tuition for state-supported postsecondary institutions. This Act is effective immediately and is implemented on July 1, 2026, to allow updates to rules, regulations, and forms for the Delaware National Guard tuition assistance program.

This Joint Resolution designates August 31, 2025, as "International Overdose Awareness Day" in the State of Delaware and requires that in observance, the State flag be flown at half-staff at State facilities. By recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day, this Joint Resolution affirms the importance of overdose awareness, remembers those who have died from overdose, and acknowledges the grief suffered from losing a loved one to overdose.

This Senate Joint Resolution establishes the Juvenile Justice Educational Transitions Task Force to propose a plan to ensure more successful transitions of youth from Delaware’s secured post-adjudicatory residential placement back into middle school or high school, including consideration of a new educational facility specifically targeted at transition of those youth.

This Act bans the sale of Tianeptine in the State by identifying it as a Schedule I controlled substance. Tianeptine, also known as “gas station heroin,” is an antidepressant drug that is not approved by the FDA and is being sold as a dietary supplement in gas stations and other shops. This Act requires approval by a two-thirds vote because the statutory change will result in the expansion of an existing misdemeanor.

This Act creates a breastfeeding and lactation program within the DOC to provide lactation support to women in DOC custody. Among other things, it permits women to collect breast milk for later retrieval and delivery to an infant or toddler by an approved person. It also requires the DOC to provide nutrition information and a meal plan specific to pregnant, post-partum, or lactating women, based on national best practices. This Act further requires that DOC publish an annual report regarding the number of participants in the program and the nature of services provided.

In addition to other changes, this Substitute requires that a feasibility study be completed by March 1, 2026, a year before the remainder of this Act will be enforced. It also adds 5 additional members to the Committee issuing the feasibility review and appoints the Director of DSHA, or the Director’s designee, as the chair of this Committee. It also directs the Committee to answer a number of specific questions about the feasibility of this Act. Similar to HS 1 to HB 70, HS 2 to HB 70 differentiates between large property owners and small property owners, recognizing that smaller property owners may find lead certification to be prohibitively expensive and may need more time and assistance to comply with this Act. To that end, this Substitute bill defines large property owners as persons that own or control 20 or more rental units, while small property owners are defined as persons who control fewer than 20 rental units. In addition to different deadlines, small property owners may certify a multi-unit property by inspecting only 5 units of the property. All owners may request a certificate deferral if lead inspectors or certified contractors are not available or if remediation or abatement would create a significant economic burden on the property owner. Unlike HB 70, small and large property owners must obtain lead free or lead safe certification before a rental unit is turned over to a new tenant, but no later than 4 years after the Act is implemented. As in HB 70, if the rental unit is uninhabitable, the landlord must provide alternative housing while the unit undergoes lead abatement or remediation. Recertification for lead safe units must occur prior to commencement of any rental agreement more than 4 years after the date the unit was last certified. Units must be recertified as lead free or lead safe if a lead-based paint hazard is discovered in the rental unit or if individuals residing in the unit develop elevated lead blood levels. Similar to HB 70, this Act creates a Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Grant and Loan Program. Preference for grants must be given to families with young children, pregnant individuals, or tenants regularly visited by children under 6 years old. For landlords with 5 or few units, grants or loans may be issued for 100% of the costs incurred to obtain certification. For landlords with 6-19 units, 50% of the costs may be covered by the fund. A landlord may not raise the rent on a rental unit that benefits from a grant or loan under this program for 3 years. It also permits the lead-based paint hazard control grant and loan program to issue loans to large property owners for 10% of the costs associated with lead abatement or remediation if the landlord can show the expenditure would be a significant financial burden. This Substitute bill further requires DHSS to provide an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the number and types of certifications issued under this Act, as well as any violations or civil penalties issued. Prior to filing a complaint for eviction, this Substitute bill requires the landlord to provide documentation that the property in question is in compliance with this Act. No documentation is required if a complaint is filed because the tenant refuses to provide reasonable access to the rental unit so that the landlord may comply with this chapter. As in HB 70, this Act also does the following: (1) Establishes a Lead-Based Paint Remediation Certification Committee to study the available workforce and available public funding to support the inspection and remediation efforts required by this Act along with the feasibility of meeting deadlines established under this Act. (2) Prohibits landlords from discriminating against individuals because they make a complaint or assist in an investigation or proceeding relating to a lead-based paint hazard in a rental unit or premises. (3) Prohibits landlords from discriminating against individuals residing in a unit who have elevated blood lead levels or children or pregnant individuals who may be affected by lead-based paint hazards. (4) Requires that contractors performing lead-based paint abatement or remediation under the Delaware State Lead-Based Paint Program provide for the safety of workers performing lead-based paint remediation work, including free blood testing for workers at least every 3 months. Aside from the feasibility review, this Act will not be implemented or enforced until March 1, 2027.

This Act requires the Delaware Public Service Commission to ensure that all regulated utilities do not use customer funds to subsidize unregulated activities for example, lobbying activities, political contributions, charitable contributions, and certain advertising and public relations activities. This Act places a cap on annual capital expenses in the amount of $125 million for electric distribution companies. This Act also contains a severability clause.

Maddy summarySB 61 requires Delaware's representatives on the PJM Interconnection (a regional electricity grid operator) to publicly disclose their votes during PJM meetings or when considering specific matters. This applies directly to Delaware's utility regulators or officials serving on PJM's governing body. The bill mandates that all votes cast by Delaware representatives be made publicly available, increasing transparency about how the state participates in regional energy decisions. The policy change is procedural, focusing solely on disclosure requirements without altering voting rules or outcomes.