Rep. Debra Heffernan

Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 9, 2026, as "Youth Prevention Day" in Delaware to raise awareness about youth-related issues. It does not create new laws or change government operations but serves as a symbolic recognition of the date. The measure was passed by both the House and Senate without requiring a formal vote count.

This Act amends the Fiscal Year 2026 Bond and Capital Improvements Act to (1) add the Department of Labor, Sussex Facility, to the Transfer to the State Treasurer’s Agency Bond Reversion Account; (2) add the Delaware Veterans Cemetery Expansion to the list of OMB Projects in the Transfer from the State Treasurer’s Agency Bond Reversion Account; (3) allow the Legislative Building Committee to develop design standards and plans for Legislative Hall; (4) authorize the Office of Management and Budget, Division of Facilities Management, to utilize residual funds for the Delaware State Police Firing Range Improvements; (5) allow for funds appropriated to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to be used for the construction of a mixed-species exhibit; (6) authorize the Department of Transportation to use Community Transportation Funds for one-time reimbursements for various projects; (7) reprogram funding from the Community Redevelopment/Reinvestment Fund from Downtown Milford, Inc. to the City of Milford, Delaware Nature Society, Kent Sussex Industries, the Milford District Fee Public Library Commission, and the Milford Housing Development Corporation; (8) update Delaware Code to make a language change from a stationary source reporting propane and ammonium nitrate to a stationary source reporting propane or ammonium nitrate; (9) require the Diamond State Port Corporation and the Department of Transportation to conduct a study of rerouting truck traffic on Hay Road; (10) correct a reference to the Historic Tax Credit; (11) allows that the activation timing of amber warning lights shall not apply to Red Clay School District school buses equipped with, and operating stop arm cameras; (12) authorize the Office of Management and Budget, Division of Facilities Management, to utilize residual funds from the Ferris Window project for the Cleveland White project, (13) authorize the Office of Management and Budget, Division of Facilities Management, to utilize any residual funds from the Department of Correction for the W1 Building HVAC project at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (14) authorize the transfer of Warwick School No. 203 to Indian Mission Properties, Inc.; (15) amend Delaware Code to require the Diamond State Port Corporation Executive Director to be selected by majority vote of the Board.

This Act updates the Delaware Volunteerism Act to specify that high school students may complete their community service with local fire departments to obtain up to 1 elective credit. It also requires schools to notify students of the opportunity to earn elective credit through volunteer work at or before the time students select their classes. This Act also allows the Department of Education to promulgate regulations to implement the Delaware Volunteerism Act. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act requires a peace officer to consider issuing a juvenile civil citation to a qualified juvenile offender who would otherwise be charged only with specified offenses, and requires that if the peace officer decides not to issue a civil citation and instead charges the juvenile with a crime, the peace officer must document the reason in DELJIS. This Act also requires each law enforcement agency to submit an annual report to the Police Officer Standards and Training Commission about its use of juvenile civil citations. Finally, this Act requires that training on the Juvenile Civil Citation Program be included as part of a police officer’s mandatory training every 2 years.

This substitute for House Bill No. 128, like House Bill No. 128, does the following: This Act provides that the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program is the primary payor, and other paid leave benefits must be coordinated with this benefit according to the terms of the policy or procedure governing other benefits. This Act also allows disability insurance benefits to be offset by family and medical leave benefits paid to an employee pursuant to the terms of a disability insurance policy. This Act addresses private plans, and clarifies that an employer that meets its obligations under Chapter 37 of Title 19 through a private plan does not need to provide claim documentation to the Department except if there is an appeal, complaint, audit, or specific inquiry from the Department. Private plan employers with fewer than 25 employees that voluntarily elect to provide coverage under the Chapter that is otherwise exempted due to the size of their companies will be subject to all of the provisions of the Chapter. This Act establishes a Paid Leave Advisory Committee to review issues related to the implementation and administration of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program and to review proposed statutory and regulatory amendments to the program. This substitute differs from House Bill No. 128 as follows: This substitute does not change the calculation of an application year or change the 24-month benefit period to a 12-month benefit period. This substitute adds provisions for child support garnishment of PFMLA benefits. This substitute prohibits the practice of requiring employees to use unused accrued paid time off before accessing PFMLA benefits. This substitute allows the Paid Leave Advisory Committee to begin meeting once the Delaware LaborFirst system is functional and the steering committee has been dissolved. This substitute specifies that family and medical leave benefits cannot be assigned and are exempt from the claims of creditors. This substitute sets forth procedures for executing upon judgments for amounts due under Chapter 37 of Title 19 or other titles subject to this chapter.

This House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 50 creates the Delaware Energy Fund to provide assistance to consumers whose household income is less than 350% of the federal poverty level. Under 2025 federal guidelines, 350% of the federal poverty level for a single person is $54,775 and for a family of four is $112,525. The Delaware Energy Fund will be administered by the SEU and recipients of assistance from the fund will also be required to participate in energy savings and efficiency programs. Only one assistance payment may be made per application. The Act also directs the Department of Natural Resources Environmental Control to transfer 30% of the funds generated by alternative compliance payments and solar alternative compliance payments to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The Substitute also changes existing code language to require, rather than allow, 5% of CO2 allowance proceeds to be directed to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The Act sunsets 3 years after its enactment.

This Act provides the Public Service Commission with the flexibility to consider and approve a discounted gas or electric residential utility rate for qualified low-income customers, provided the discount is 20% of standard residential distribution rates. This permits low-income customers to receive utility distribution services at a lower cost. A utility offering a discounted low-income rate is responsible for annually determining customer eligibility in cooperation with the Department of Health and Social Services. The Public Service Commission must review any discount rate approved under this Act every five years to determine if the discount rate should be re-authorized.

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes the significant health concerns regarding water bead toys and urges the Delaware Department of Education to take regulatory action to keep children safe.

Currently, the microbrewery statute permits a business to own 1 microbrewery and up to 2 brewpubs (a microbrewery that also has a restaurant as part of its business). This legislation would permit a microbrewery to choose to operate either 2 brewpubs or 1 additional microbrewery and 1 brewpub, under common ownership. The total number of licenses the business could hold remains 3, but it allows the business to choose 2 microbreweries and 1 brewpub, or 1 microbrewery and 2 brewpubs. A microbrewery can also choose to operate just one establishment.

This Act updates certain statutory fees in Title 7 and establishes or updates certain permit and licensing fees found in 68 Del. Laws Ch. 86 (1991). These are fees charged for regulatory activities within the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) divisions of Air Quality, Waste and Hazardous Substances, Water, and Watershed Stewardship, most of which have not changed or been updated since 1991. The intent of the increased and new fees is to bring revenue generated by fees more in line with the cost of the regulatory programs and activities they support, including the cost of employees who work in those areas. The effective date for the fee changes is 180 days after enactment. Fees that are assessed by application or activity will be seen by applicants or permit holders the next time they apply for or renew permits or licenses after the effective date. Those who apply for permits or renewals before the effective date will pay current fees. Fees that are assessed on an annual basis will be seen by applicants the first time they pay the fee after the effective date. Certain fees for municipalities will not take effect until July 1, 2026 and will be billed at 50% of the new rate in the first year. DNREC is required to keep a complete list of fees and assessment on its public website. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 10 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to increase the effective rate of any tax levied or license fee imposed.