Sen. Marie Pinkney

This Act updates how academic eligibility for driver education certification is calculated because many high schools have moved from the traditional 7-period school day to various forms of block scheduling. Under this Act, the Department of Education must establish, through regulations, how equivalent credit is calculated for courses taught on a block schedule or when the full length of a course is less than 1 year. This Act also adds world language to the academic courses from which a student may satisfy the credit requirement. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act amends the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act to update the statutory definition of confirmatory blood lead testing for children under 16 years of age. The Act allows a confirmed elevated blood lead level to be established either through a venous blood lead test or through two capillary blood lead screenings collected within 12 weeks of each other, provided that the applicable lead reference value is met or exceeded. Two positive capillary blood lead screenings yield an effective specificity of approximately 99.75% when properly collected. This change is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance case definition, reduces barriers to case identification and management, and requires conforming regulatory updates.

According to the Arts Education Partnership, 27 states currently include arts course credits as a requirement for high school graduation, and several states have implemented diploma seals or similar recognition programs to incentivize participation. This Act directs the Department of Education to establish the Delaware Certificate of Arts Excellence to recognize high school students who demonstrate sustained engagement and achievement in the arts. Establishing a similar program in Delaware could help increase arts enrollment, elevate the value of arts education, and support students interested in pursuing creative professions.

This Act provides that health care facilities must permit patients who have been issued and possess a valid registry identification card for the medical use of marijuana and have a terminal illness to use medical marijuana on the health care facilities’ premises, subject to certain restrictions. However, a health care facility may prohibit or suspend such use of medical marijuana under some circumstances, such as if the facility's medical professionals determine that use of medical marijuana may have an adverse impact on the medical care and treatment of the patient or is otherwise contraindicated, or if a federal regulatory agency, the United States Department of Justice, or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services initiates an enforcement action against a health care facility based on the use of medical marijuana on the facility's premises or issues a rule or guidance prohibiting the use of medical marijuana at health care facilities. In addition, the Act provides that a person is not subject to civil or criminal liability or professional discipline for complying with the Act, except in cases of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. This Act is modeled on a 2021 California law known as "Ryan's Law."

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 151 prohibits the operation of private detention facilities in the State of Delaware. This means that all detention facilities in the state must be publicly owned and operated, directly affecting any private entities currently operating or planning to operate such facilities.

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.

Maddy summaryHCR 134 is a resolution that officially designates the last Monday of May as Memorial Day. This measure directly affects state government records and public observances by establishing a formal date for honoring military personnel who died in service. The bill was passed by both the House and Senate without requiring a formal vote count. Once enacted, it serves as a commemorative recognition rather than changing laws or regulations.

This concurrent resolution designates May 2026 as "Lupus Awareness Month" in the State of Delaware and encourages expanded efforts to keep Delaware residents properly informed about Lupus symptom recognition and treatment.

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.

This bill clarifies that counties and municipalities can deposit their revenues in any depository bank or credit union. The State of Delaware already can choose where it deposits its money, and this legislation would extend that ability to counties and municipalities.