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SB 49 Delaware Senate · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 AND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRIVING RESTRICTIONS DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

Summary
In a state of emergency, getting information to the public as quickly as possible is vital to the safety of the community. This Act provides protections to those who provide these essential communication and broadcasting services by deeming them "first informers." Under this Act, first informers are exempt from driving restrictions that the Governor may impose during a state of emergency. This Act also reorganizes provisions of Chapter 31 of Title 20 for clarity and makes additional technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Signed May 22, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Apr 10, 2025 · House May 8, 2025

How they voted

21–0
Passed
Total votes 21
Apr 10, 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
9
Key actions
7
Committee
2
Amendments
1
May 22, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
May 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
upper
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed By House. Votes: 33 YES 8 ABSENT
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment HA 1 to SB 49 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 4 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Introduced
Assigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
upper
15 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Brian Pettyjohn
Brian Pettyjohn
RRepublican
DE
19
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 Wilson
Dave Wilson
RRepublican
DE
18
P
Photo of Frank Cooke
Frank Cooke
DDemocratic
DE
16
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 Ray Seigfried
Ray Seigfried
DDemocratic
DE
5
P
Photo of Rich Collins
Rich Collins
RRepublican
DE
41
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
P
Photo of Trey Paradee
Trey Paradee
DDemocratic
DE
17
P
Photo of Valerie Giltner
Valerie Giltner
RRepublican
DE
37