Sen. Dave Lawson

This Act makes the following changes to human trafficking law: (1) It adds “patronizing a victim of sexual servitude” and “ trafficking of persons for use of body parts” to the offenses that may serve as a predicate for forfeiture of property under the trafficking statute. (2) It removes an obsolete reference to charging a minor with delinquency for engaging in prostitution. The Criminal Code was revised in 2019 to define prostitution as a crime that may be committed only by a person who is 18 years of age or older. (3) It adds conduct constituting a human trafficking offense to the list of conduct that constitutes “abuse” for purposes of obtaining a protective order in Family Court.

This Act makes changes to the operating requirements for the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council. It reduces the members required for quorum from 13 to 10. Since the quorum requirement has been reduced to less than a majority of the Council, the bill also specifies that the Council may generally take action upon the vote of a majority of members present at a meeting, but that a majority vote of the Council members is required to approve the appointment of an Executive Director. Consistent with current practice, the Executive Director has the authority to hire staff and contract for services within the limits of available funds. The Act also revises the reporting on funds spent to be part of the annual report and include state, federal, or other funding received by the Council other than State-funded positions. At the present time, the Council does not receive state funding other than allocated personnel positions. Finally, the Act allows the Council to have a virtual meeting with a physical location open to the public (anchor location) so long as a staff member of the Council is present at the anchor location. Without this authorization, a member of the Council would be required to attend at the anchor location in order to comply with the State’s open meeting rules.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution officially designates May 6, 2025, as "Wishbone Day" in the State of Delaware.

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes May 6, 2025, as “Alpha Phi Alpha Legislative Day at the Capitol” in Delaware. It honors Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated as an organization that has provided a voice and a strong vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color in the State of Delaware and around the world.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 59 recognizes the period from April 28 to May 3, 2025, as "Auctioneers Week" in the State of Delaware. This resolution serves to acknowledge the auctioneering profession within the state.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 62 recognizes the month of May 2025 as "Healthy Vision Month" in the State of Delaware. This resolution serves to acknowledge the importance of vision health.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests that the State of Delaware, the City of Dover, and Kent County Levy Court coordinate with the City of Wilmington to relocate the Caesar Rodney Equestrian Statue to The Green in Dover, the John Dickinson Plantation, or another suitable location before the Semiquincentennial Celebration.

This Act requires a municipality to comply with all limitations and requirements contained in Chapter 95 of Title 29 and § 120 of Title 22 whenever the municipality uses eminent domain to acquire real property. This Act prohibits a municipality from using eminent domain to acquire real property for recreational use. Additionally, a municipality shall hold a public hearing before using eminent domain to acquire real property. A municipality shall give notice of the public hearing at least 10 days prior to the date of the public hearing by doing all of the following: Publishing an advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality or in the county in which the municipality is located. If the owner can be identified, by mailing written notice by certified mail to the owner of the real property the municipality plans to acquire by eminent domain. The required notice must include all of the following information: A description of the real property to be acquired. The public use for which the real property is to be acquired. The time and place for the public hearing. At the public hearing, all of the following must be explained: The public use for the real property is to be acquired. The reason for choosing the real property for the public use. The right of each owner of the real property to receive just compensation under Chapter 95 of Title 29. The right of each owner of the real property to negotiate, including the right to accept or reject the offer of damages required under Chapter 95 of Title 29. Public comment must be allowed at the public hearing and any objection raised at the public hearing must be considered. This Act also updates the condemnation procedure in Chapter 61 of Title 10 to require a municipality bringing a condemnation action to show compliance with the public hearing requirement in § 120 of Title 22 in its complaint. This Act applies to condemnation proceedings filed after the Act’s enactment into law. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article IX of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend a municipal charter, whether directly, by amendment to a specific municipality’s charter, or, as in this Act, indirectly, by a general law.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 55 recognizes April 18, 2025, as "National Line Worker Appreciation Day" in the State of Delaware. This resolution aims to honor line workers for their essential role in providing power and maintaining infrastructure across the state.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 53 recognizes April 21-25, 2025, as "National Home Visiting Week" in the State of Delaware. This resolution aims to acknowledge the importance of home visiting programs.