| HB 71 w/ HA 1 | Signed | 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. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS. |
| HB 79 w/ HA 2 | Signed | Morrison | This Act requires additional reporting and disclosure related to the use of mechanical restraint and seclusion in public schools.
While public school personnel cannot use mechanical restraint or seclusion on students in absence of a waiver, law-enforcement officers can. This Act requires the Department of Education to collect data from public schools about the use of mechanical restraint and seclusion, in addition to the physical restraint data that is already collected. The Department of Education shall include the mechanical restraint and seclusion data in its annual report. This Act adds a specific date by which the annual report is due. Additionally, the annual report must be submitted to certain entities, including the Delaware School Boards Association and the boards of education of school districts and the boards of directors of charter schools.
This Act also adds mechanical restraint and seclusion to the parental notice requirement and special procedures and safeguard requirements that already exist for use of physical restraint.
Though § 4112F defines “chemical restraint”, chemical restraint cannot be performed by anyone in a public school. Therefore, this Act does not add chemical restraint to data collection, reporting, parental notification, or safeguard requirements.
Furthermore, this Act adds a definition of school resource officer (SRO) to clarify that SROs are law-enforcement officers. This Act requires the Department of Education to amend its regulations in accordance with the definitions in this Act.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual, including correctly formatting lists and revising § 4112F(d) of Title 14, the subsection addressing particular training requirements for SROs, to account for the creation of a definition of SRO. One technical correction in § 4112F(d) is changing a “shall not” to a “may not” as it applies to the prohibition against the use of SROs who have not complied with mandated training requirements. According to Rule 12 in the Legislative Drafting Manual, “shall not” should be avoided in legislative drafting. Furthermore, both “may not” and “must not” are proper ways to express a prohibition in the Delaware Code. They convey the same level of mandatory prohibition except that “may not” qualifies a verb in active voice while “must not” qualifies an inactive verb or an active verb in passive voice. This technical correction still prohibits school districts and charter schools from using an SRO who has not satisfied the training requirements in § 4112F(d).
This Act takes effect on August 1, 2025. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LIMITATIONS ON THE USE OF SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT. |
| SB 99 | Signed | Poore | This Act creates a background special license plate for the William Penn High School to support scholarships and community events sponsored by the high school.
A background special license plate supports a cause and is available for purchase by the public at large, including members of the organization. The numbers, letters, or both, assigned will be the same as the license plate assigned to the owner’s vehicle at the time of the application for the plate.
This Act requires a greater-than-majority vote for passage because § 11 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths for the members elected to each house of the General Assembly when a new tax or license fee is imposed. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES. |
| SB 105 | Signed | Sokola | This Act provides that the Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (“Secretary”), or the Secretary’s designee, is a member of the Enhanced 911 Emergency Reporting System Service Board (“Board”) by virtue of the Secretary’s position. This Act also makes the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, the Board Chair.
The Secretary is currently, and historically, an appointed member of the Board and this Act would codify that practice.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE ENHANCED 911 EMERGENCY REPORTING SYSTEM SERVICE BOARD. |
| SB 108 | Signed | Walsh | This Act removes prohibitions in Title 11 of the Delaware Code related to owning or possessing certain types of knives that may be opened by one hand. Such cutting implements are lawfully used as tools by many working in the trades, and are also popular among outdoor, hunting, and camping enthusiasts. Currently, despite common and myriad lawful purposes, such knives are treated as deadly weapons in Delaware, and therefore subject otherwise law-abiding Delawareans engaged in law-abiding activities to criminal prosecution in the justice system. Removing the prohibitions would permit individuals to lawfully use such tools, but would still subject them to prosecution for deadly weapons-related offenses where an individual uses such a knife in the course of an attack or assault aimed at causing death or serious injury. | AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 2, TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CRIMES AND DEADLY WEAPONS. |
| HS 1 for HB 91 | Signed | K. Williams | This Substitute to HB 91 differs from HB 91 in that it further expands free breakfasts in schools participating in the federal School Breakfast Program by making them available to all students, regardless of household income, but does not expand free lunch income eligibility.
The Department of Education shall reimburse a public school providing free breakfasts. The reimbursement must be equal to the federal free reimbursement rate multiplied by the total number of breakfasts that the participating public school serves during the applicable budget year minus the total amount of reimbursement for breakfasts served during the applicable budget year that the participating public school receives under the School Breakfast Program.
This Act does not apply to schools participating in the federal Community Eligibility Provision, Provision 1, Provision 2, or Provision 3 special assistance certification and reimbursement alternatives.
This Act takes effect immediately and is to be implemented beginning July 1, 2026. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS. |
| SB 113 | Signed | Sokola | 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. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. |
| SB 136 | Signed | Sokola | This Act adopts a recommendation made by the Delaware Compensation Commission in its January 6, 2025, report. Specifically, this Act changes the minimum amount of pension payable to a member of the General Assembly elected after February 28, 2025, because the pension amount will no longer be calculated by multiplying the elected official’s years of service as an elected member of the General Assembly times the highest rate of payment being paid to any retired member of the General Assembly. Instead, the pension payable to an elected official of the General Assembly elected on or after February 28, 2025, shall be computed under § 5527(a)(1) of Title 29. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE EMPLOYEES’ PENSION PLAN. |
| SS 1 for SB 51 | Signed | Wilson | This Act is a Substitute for and differs from Senate Bill No. 51 by removing the retroactive effective date.
This Act amends the Charter of the City of Harrington to clarify the City’s taxing powers by adding a specific power for the City Council to impose and collect a lodging tax of no more than 3% of the rent, in addition to the amount imposed by the State under Chapter 61 of Title 30, for the occupancy of any room in a hotel, motel, or tourist home, as defined under § 6101 of Title 30 of the Delaware Code, located within the boundaries of the City.
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 charter issued to a municipal corporation. | AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HARRINGTON RELATING TO THE POWER TO IMPOSE AND COLLECT A LODGING TAX. |
| HB 172 | Signed | Osienski | This bill makes a technical correction to the specific categories of persons required to obtain a fingerprint-based background check under this chapter in order to comply with the requirements of Public Law (Pub. L.) 92-544 for access to FBI criminal history record information. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE MARIJUANA CONTROL ACT. |
| SB 151 w/ HA 1 | Signed | Mantzavinos | This Act updates and modernizes the Delaware Self-Service Storage Facilities Act. The Act clarifies that self-storage rental agreements may be delivered and accepted electronically. The bill borrows language from the Delaware Residential Landlord Tenant Act regarding the legal effect of unsigned rental agreements. The bill addresses vehicle storage at a self-service storage facility and clarifies the disposition of property following the termination or nonrenewal of the rental agreement by either the occupant or owner. Finally, the Act updates the requirements to allow advertisements be placed on websites that regularly advertise property for auction or sale, making Delaware law consistent with most jurisdictions, including Maryland and the District of Columbia. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SELF-SERVICE STORAGE FACILITIES. |
| SB 154 | Signed | Sokola | This Act provides that, for purposes of Title 29 of the Delaware Code, Section 5527, related to the amount of monthly ordinary service or disability pension, a member of the General Assembly who is elected on Election Day in November and serves through the next Election Day in November will receive full-service credit for that term. Thus, the Act provides that a member of the House of Representatives who served five, two-year terms and, for each term, was elected on Election Day in November and served through the next Election Day in November will be credited with ten years of service. Likewise, the Act provides that a member of the Senate who served five, four-year terms and, for each term, was elected on Election Day in November and served through the next Election Day in November will be credited with twenty years of service. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STATE EMPLOYEES’ PENSION PLAN. |
| SB 163 | Signed | Sokola | Presently, Title 29 of the Delaware Code § 5813(c) requires public officers to file financial disclosure forms on March 15 of each year. However, in certain years, for example, 2025, the statute calls for financial disclosures to be filed over the weekend, because March 15, 2025 fell on a Saturday. On weekends, the assistance of the Public Integrity Commission may not be available. This Act changes the deadline for filing financial disclosures to “on or before the third Wednesday of March” which will be a weekday and a regular business day. This Act also clarifies the statute by expressly stating that the financial disclosures may be filed “on or before” the new deadline, in keeping with the current practice of the Public Integrity Commission. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES. |
| HS 1 for HB 139 | Signed | Bush | This substitute to House Bill No. 139 grants the Insurance Coverage Office, which is tasked by statute with adjusting all claims and paying losses covered by the Fund, standing to participate in line of duty death claims. Like House Bill No. 139, this substitute also eliminates a requirement for the Insurance Commissioner to hold a hearing for every Line-of-Duty Death claim, and instead mandates they occur only if the claim is contested, and makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Drafting Manual. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LINE-OF-DUTY HEARINGS. |
| HS 1 for HB 143 | Signed | Bush | This bill will be an updated version of the Uniform Accountancy Act. The bill removes reference to Substantial Equivalency and allows for an alternative pathway to licensure for Automatic Mobility and the ability to work across state lines.
This bill makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY. |
| SS 1 for SB 156 w/ SA 1, SA 2 + HA 1 | Signed | Mantzavinos | This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 156. Like Senate Bill No. 156, this Substitute prohibits the reporting of medical debt to consumer reporting agencies and prohibits any medical debt from being included on a consumer report. Since 2023, at least 9 other states have passed laws that prohibit or restrict the reporting of medical debt on credit reports, including California, New Jersy, and Virginia. This Act differs from Senate Bill No. 156 in that it (1) adds language to the purpose section of the statute making it clear that the intent of the chapter is for medical debt not to be used in credit, employment, or housing decisions; (2) removes the proposed definition of medical debt information and instead adds a definition of medical debt; and (3) removes the proposed prohibition language on using a credit report containing medical debt information from being used when making decisions regarding someone’s credit, employment, or housing. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE MEDICAL DEBT PROTECTION ACT. |
| SS 2 for SB 115 | Signed | Lockman | This Act provides a pathway for former defendants in eviction actions to have the eviction filings against them shielded from public view. Being the subject of an eviction filing can prevent an individual from securing housing for years after any judgment in the case has been satisfied. Even tenants who prevailed in eviction actions may be denied housing by landlords who turn away any applicant with a prior eviction filing, regardless of the outcome of the case. The well-known health, social, and economic consequences of eviction can thus linger for years after an eviction filing, and trap individuals – including many children and families – in a cycle of poverty and housing instability. The effects are particularly acute among already marginalized groups, such as Black and female renters. By shielding eviction records when an individual has met certain requirements, this Act will help break down barriers to stable housing and economic security.
Under this Act, the Court must grant shielding upon a motion by the defendant if the Court finds any of the following to be true:
1. The judgment against the defendant was a judgment on the merits, a default judgment, or a stipulated judgment, 5 or more years have passed since the judgment was entered, the defendant has satisfied any monetary award included in the judgment, and the defendant has had no other similar judgments within 5 years of the defendant’s motion to shield.
2. The parties resolved the action through a stipulated agreement, and the defendant has complied with the terms of the stipulated agreement.
3. The plaintiff withdrew the complaint.
4. The Court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint.
5. The final judgment was in favor of the defendant.
6. The plaintiff and the defendant have agreed to the shielding.
7. The shielding of the records is clearly in the interests of justice.
The Court may not charge a filing fee for a motion to shield. Once the Court has granted the shielding, the Court has 45 days to effectuate it. An individual whose eviction record has been shielded can answer questions about prior evictions as if the shielded action was never filed.
This Act is a second Substitute for Senate Bill No. 115. Like Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 115, Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 115 does the following:
1. Adds judgement by stipulation to the list of judgments for which shielding is available after 5 years if the defendant has satisfied any monetary award included in the judgment.
2. Creates exceptions that make the shielded records available to the Department of Justice and the defendant in the action.
3. Allows for records of shielded actions to be available to the public for purposes of preserving case law, provided that all identifying information is redacted or otherwise obscured.
4. Makes minor technical changes.
The primary differences between Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 115 and Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 115 are as follows:
1. Senate Substitute No. 2 replaces the term “expungement” with the term “shielding” to better reflect how the Court will be handling records.
2. Senate Substitute No. 2 eliminates the provision in Senate Substitute No. 1 that would have allowed certain eviction records to be automatically shielded.
3. Senate Substitute No. 2 adds a requirement that a defendant seeking shielding under paragraph (a)(1) of § 5720 (lines 6 through 9) have no other similar judgments against them within 5 years of the motion to shield.
Senate Substitute No 2. also adds language specifying that redacted records are being made available for purposes of preserving important case law, and that the Court is responsible only for databases and systems that it controls. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SUMMARY POSSESSION. |
| HS 1 for HB 144 | Signed | Minor-Brown | This Act amends the Charter of the City of New Castle by authorizing the City Council to levy taxes on real property at varying rates based upon property classification (e.g. residential, commercial, or industrial).
H.S. 1 to H.B. 144 clarifies that any taxes on real property must be in “just portions” sufficient to cover the aggregate of the budget. | AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX RATES. |
| HS 1 for HB 128 | Signed | Heffernan | 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.
| AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE PROGRAM. |
