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HB 443 Delaware House · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VOLUNTEERS IN EDUCATION.

Summary
This Act provides clarification that all individuals currently or prospectively serving as mentors to one or more students through a mentoring program under the Department of Education must submit to state and federal criminal background checks, and that they are subject to continued criminal record monitoring for 1 year.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates background checks and monitoring for mentors, enhancing safety and protecting vulnerable students from potential harm by individuals with criminal histories.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates background checks for student mentors to ensure student safety, directly protecting the education environment.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
House Passage
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
Signed into Law
Jul 2026
Introduced May 21, 2026 Signed Jul 23, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Jun 30, 2026 · House Jun 18, 2026

How they voted

20–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 21
Jun 30, 2026
D Democratic15
15 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican6
5 Yea 1
83% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
5
Committee
2
Jul 23, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
Jun 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
upper
Jun 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 7 On Its Merits
upper
Jun 24, 2026
Introduced
Re-Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
upper
Jun 18, 2026
Introduced
Assigned to Education Committee in Senate
upper
Jun 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES
lower
Jun 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 10 On Its Merits
lower
May 21, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House
lower
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Dave Lawson
Dave Lawson
RRepublican
DE
15
P
Photo of Josue Ortega
Josue Ortega
DDemocratic
DE
3
P
Photo of Kerri Harris
Kerri Harris
DDemocratic
DE
32
P
Photo of Kim Williams
Kim Williams
DDemocratic
DE
19
P
Photo of Laura Sturgeon
Laura Sturgeon
DDemocratic
DE
4
P
Photo of Stell Selby
Stell Selby
DDemocratic
DE
20