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HB 55 Delaware House · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF MILITARY STATUS.

Summary
This Act is intended to supplement protections under federal law for members of the military, their families, and veterans by adding “military status” as a protected class for purposes of the State’s public accommodations, housing, insurance, education, and employment laws. Technical corrections are also made to existing statutory language to conform with the requirements of the Legislative Drafting Manual. This House Substitute No. 1 adds language to clarify that distinctions or differential treatment based on military status that are allowed by State law or regulation, federal law or regulation, or government contract, are not unfair or discriminatory practices. It also updates existing statutory language that was changed by 84 Del. Laws c 429.
Issues: ✓ HousingSupports HousingAdds military status as protected class in housing laws, preventing discrimination against service members and veterans per bill's housing protections clause.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds 'military status' as protected class in employment laws, preventing discrimination against military members/veterans per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds military status as protected class in employment/housing/education, preventing discrimination against veterans per bill summary.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Apr 15, 2025 Signed Jul 23, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Jun 30, 2025 · House Jun 17, 2025

How they voted

21–0
Passed
Total votes 21
Jun 30, 2025
D Democratic15
15 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican6
6 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
5
Committee
2
Jul 23, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
Jun 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
upper
Jun 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Veterans Affairs) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 8 On Its Merits
upper
Jun 17, 2025
Introduced
Assigned to Veterans Affairs Committee in Senate
upper
Jun 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT
lower
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Veterans Affairs) in House with 7 Favorable, 7 On Its Merits
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Introduced
Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 55, and Assigned to Veterans Affairs Committee in House
lower
15 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Bill Bush
Bill Bush
DDemocratic
DE
29
P
Photo of Bryant Richardson
Bryant Richardson
RRepublican
DE
21
P
Photo of Claire Snyder-Hall
Claire Snyder-Hall
DDemocratic
DE
14
P
Photo of Dave Sokola
Dave Sokola
DDemocratic
DE
8
P
Photo of Eric Morrison
Eric Morrison
DDemocratic
DE
27
P
Photo of Jack Walsh
Jack Walsh
DDemocratic
DE
9
P
Photo of Josue Ortega
Josue Ortega
DDemocratic
DE
3
P
Photo of Laura Sturgeon
Laura Sturgeon
DDemocratic
DE
4
P
Photo of Melanie Ross Levin
Melanie Ross Levin
DDemocratic
DE
10
P
Photo of Nicole Poore
Nicole Poore
DDemocratic
DE
12
P
Photo of Nnamdi Chukwuocha
Nnamdi Chukwuocha
DDemocratic
DE
1
P
Photo of Ray Seigfried
Ray Seigfried
DDemocratic
DE
5
P
Photo of Russ Huxtable
Russ Huxtable
DDemocratic
DE
6
P
Photo of Spiros Mantzavinos
Spiros Mantzavinos
DDemocratic
DE
7
P
Photo of Stell Selby
Stell Selby
DDemocratic
DE
20