SB 48 Delaware Senate · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

Summary
This Act adds intentional interference with the operation of a school bus to the offense of disorderly conduct. Intentional interference with a school bus may include boarding a school bus and refusing to exit after being lawfully ordered to do so by the school bus driver; wrongfully restricting the movement of a school bus; or threatening the school bus driver, a student, or any passenger entering, leaving, or waiting for a school bus. A student or passenger otherwise authorized to be on the school bus in the ordinary course of business may not be guilty of disorderly conduct for intentional interference with the operation of a school bus. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 28 of Article IV of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to expand the scope of an existing crime within the jurisdiction of an inferior court.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Sep 2025
Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Signed Sep 2, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SA 1 to SB 48 HA 2 to SB 48 · 4 edits
MODERATE
The House Amendment No. 2 replaces Senate Amendment No. 1 to clarify who is protected under disorderly conduct provisions related to school buses. It expands protection to include all passengers (not just drivers) and clarifies when threats constitute violations, while also specifying that only authorized passengers are exempt from disorderly conduct charges.
Scope change
Expanded from only protecting bus drivers to protecting all school bus passengers, including students, attendants, and staff, regardless of their specific role or status.
SCOPE

Changed protection from bus drivers only to all school bus passengers including students, attendants, disability aides, and staff

Removed specific examples of protected passengers that could have narrowed the law's application

DEFINITION

Clarified that threats against passengers while entering, leaving, waiting for, or on the bus all constitute violations

ELIGIBILITY

Added exemption for authorized passengers from disorderly conduct charges when interfering with bus operations

Floor votes · Senate May 8, 2025 · House Jun 25, 2025

How they voted

200
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 21
May 8, 2025
D Democratic15
14 Yea 1
93% Yea
R Republican6
6 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
9
Committee
3
Amendments
6
Sep 2, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
Jun 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
upper
Jun 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 2 NO 1 ABSENT 1 VACANT
lower
Jun 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment HA 2 to SB 48 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
lower
Jun 25, 2025
Amended
Amendment HA 1 to SB 48 - Defeated By House. Votes: 8 YES 30 NO 1 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT 1 VACANT
lower
Jun 17, 2025
Introduced
Amendment HA 2 to SB 48 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 12 On Its Merits
lower
Jun 11, 2025
Introduced
Amendment HA 1 to SB 48 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Not Worked in Committee
upper
May 13, 2025
Introduced
Assigned to Education Committee in House
lower
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment SA 1 to SB 48 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Introduced
Amendment SA 1 to SB 48 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in Senate
upper
8 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors