| HB 195 w/ SA 1 | Passed | K. Williams | This Act changes the age at which a person can bartend from 21 years old to 18 years old, and requires that a bartender who is 18, 19, or 20 years old be directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old. This Act also increases the frequency of statutorily mandated alcoholic beverage server training from every 4 years to every 2 years.
To ensure that 18–20-year-olds are protected from sexually oriented content by virtue of being permitted to bartend, this Act prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering into or working in any capacity in a tavern or taproom that offers sexually oriented entertainment. This includes taverns and taprooms that are licensed as adult entertainment establishments under Chapter 16 of Title 24, taverns and taprooms that offer sexually explicit performances as defined in § 787 of Title 11, and tavern and taprooms that are advertised as “strip clubs,” “adult entertainment clubs,” “gentlemen’s clubs,” or that offer performances or services of a sexually oriented nature.
Currently, Delaware is in the minority of states when it comes to requiring bartenders to be 21 years old. By reducing the legal bartending age to 18, this Act will help Delaware’s food service industry remain competitive with the many other states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in which 18–20-year-olds can bartend.
| AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BARTENDING. |
| HB 262 | Passed | Heffernan | This Act clarifies that paid leave for the adoption of a child may begin at one of the following times: (1) when the child is placed for adoption with the employee; (2) when the employee initiates a petition for adoption; or (3) when the adoption process is completed. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PAID LEAVE. |
| HB 304 | Passed | Romer | This Act mandates that all current and prospective employees or contractors of the Office of Auditor of Accounts submit to state and federal criminal background checks. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS. |
| HB 325 w/ HA 1, HA 2 | Signed | Berry | This Act changes the title of “physician assistant” to “physician associate” in Title 24, as well as changes the references from physician assistant to physician associate throughout the Delaware Code. It does not change any rights or privileges of those who have been or continue to hold themselves out to be a “physician assistant.”
Current law provides that a physician associate may not maintain or manage a location that does not have oversight by the physician associate’s collaborating physician. This Act provides that a licensed physician associate with more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours who intends to practice without a collaborative agreement must apply to the Regulatory Council for Physician Assistants for independent practice authority.
This Act also provides that the Regulatory Council for Physician Associates must adopt rules and regulations to address the following: (1) the verification of post-graduate clinical practice hours for physician associates with more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours; (2) creating an application for physician associates with more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours to request independent practice authority; (3) creating a process for physician associates who practice without at least 1 licensed Delaware physician in the group, practice, or health system, and have been granted independent practice authority, to notify the Physician Associates Regulatory Council prior to a change of their practice area and provide proof they have had training which aligns to the new practice area; and (4) the conditions under which a physician associate may be denied independent practice authority and how to reapply.
The Act also provides that a physician associate is considered to be a primary care provider when practicing in the medical specialties for a physician to be a primary care provider. Payment for services within the physician associate’s scope of practice must be made when ordered or performed by the physician associate, if the same service would have been covered if ordered or performed by a physician. Payment for services must be based on the services provided and not on the health care professional who delivered the service. Physician associates must be authorized to bill for and receive direct payment for the medically necessary services they deliver.
The Act also provides that a physician associate who has independent practice authority may sign the special disabled license plate or placard applicant form certifying that a person is disabled, for use in an application to receive a special license plate.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
This Act is effective immediately and to be implemented the earlier of : (1) One year from the date of the Act’s enactment; or (2) When the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline approves the enabling regulations promulgated by the Regulatory Council of Physician Associates.
| AN ACT TO AMEND THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS. |
| HCR 117 | Passed | Minor-Brown | This Concurrent Resolution celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Division of Legislative Services. | CELEBRATING THE DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE DIVISION OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES. |
| HS 2 for HB 151 | Passed | Gorman | House Substitute No. 2 for House Bill No. 151 prohibits the State, a unit of local government, or any agency, officer, employee, or agent thereof, from doing the following with respect to a detention facility owned, managed, or operated by a private entity: (1) Enter into an agreement of any kind for the detention of an individual with; (2) Pay, reimburse, subsidize, or defray in any way any cost related to the sale, purchase, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of; (3) Receive per diem, per detainee, or any other payment related to the detention of an individual in; (4) Give any financial incentive or benefit to any private entity or person in connection with the sale, purchase, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of.
This House Substitute is different from House Bill No. 151 in the following ways:
(1) It adds an exemption that excludes Residential Alternative to Detention facilities from the definition of a private detention facility.
(2) It exempts facilities that house a program to provide services in a nonsecure residential setting for juveniles under the jurisdiction of Family Court from the definition of a private detention facility. It also provides a definition of “nonsecure residential setting”. The exemption for nonsecure residential settings for juveniles sunsets on February 1, 2028.
This Substitute makes technical corrections to Section 3 of House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 151. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DETENTION FACILITIES. |
| SB 283 w/ SA 1 | Committee | Pinkney | This Act expands the scope of practice for dental hygienists in this State. Allowing dental hygienists to use the full range of their education and expertise when providing oral health services will help alleviate provider shortages that make it challenging for Delawareans to obtain dental care. In particular, this Act will help fill gaps in access to preventative oral health care.
Oral health is inseparable from overall health, and patients are best served when care is delivered through an integrated, team-based model. Dental hygienists play a vital and respected role in prevention, education, and early identification of disease. A collaborative dental team where each provider practices at the top of their education within a structured system of referral, communication, and accountability ensures patients receive timely preventative services along with accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. This approach strengthens access while preserving the standard of care and protecting the public.
This Act grants dental hygienists the authority to do all of the following, in addition to the services they currently provide:
1. Administer and dispense topical agents under the standing order of a dentist providing general supervision.
2. Prescribe, administer, and dispense fluoride under the standing order of a dentist providing general supervision
3. Apply sealants without the need for a dentist to examine a patient beforehand, provided a dentist will see the patient within 12 months of receiving treatment.
4. Engage in dental hygiene assessment and treatment planning within the scope of the authority of a dental hygienist as defined by the Board of Dentistry and Denal Hygiene based on education and experience.
5. Provide direct access to prophylaxis without the need for a dentist to examine a patient beforehand, provided a dentist will see the patient within 12 months of receiving treatment.
6. Directly supervise dental assistants in a manner to be prescribed by the Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene.
This Act also 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 DENTAL HYGIENE. |
| SA 1 to SB 283 | Passed | Pinkney | This Amendment gives the Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene time to develop regulations by providing that the Act must be implemented the earlier of the following:
(1) 1 year from the date of the Act's enactment.
(2) Notice by the Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene published in the Register of Regulations that the final regulations to implement this Act have been promulgated. | |
| SA 1 to HB 195 | Passed | Walsh | This Amendment provides that notwithstanding the lowering of the minimum bartending age in this State to 18 years old, a person who is under 19 years of age may not be involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor while the person is enrolled in a secondary school program. | |
| HCR 119 | Passed | Jones Giltner | This resolution designates May 6-12 as "National Nurses Week" and 2026 as “The Year of The Power of Nurses” in Delaware. This resolution also recognizes the Delaware Nurses Association for its’ 115 years of service to Delaware Nurses and all residing in Delaware. | DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF MAY 6-12 AS "NATIONAL NURSES WEEK" AND 2026 AS “THE YEAR OF THE POWER OF NURSES” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. |
