Delaware Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Delaware · House Jul 23, 2026

HB 478: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS.

This Act makes a technical correction to the specific persons who can access a fingerprint-based background check under this chapter in order to comply with the requirements of Public Law (Pub. L.) 92-544 for access to FBI criminal history record information.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jul 23, 2026

SB 328: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL BUILDING SAFETY.

This Act updates the school building maintenance standards to require the facilities evaluation instrument be established through regulation by the Department of Education rather than just through guidance from the Department. It also clarifies that the minimum standard of good repair facility category related to hazardous materials includes that of lead.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Delaware · Senate Jul 23, 2026

SJR 15: DIRECTING THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REEVALUATE THE USE OF THE SAT IN DELAWARE, ENGAGE EDUCATORS IN MODERNIZING THE STATE ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT OF A COHERENT HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENT SYSTEM, AND DEVELOP ADDITIONAL MEASURES OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND READINESS.

This Senate Joint Resolution directs the Delaware Department of Education to reevaluate the use of the SAT within Delaware’s accountability system while continuing to offer the SAT during the school day for students who wish to take it. The Resolution further directs the Department to engage educators statewide in developing a modernized accountability framework, explore additional measures permitted under federal law, recognize career readiness indicators such as industry credentials, dual enrollment, and work-based learning, and clarify that proficiency results are one indicator of postsecondary readiness rather than a sole measure of school quality. The Department will explore and develop a coherent high school assessment system, including a standards-aligned high school summative assessment and learning progress assessments, designed to provide timely, instructionally useful data while maintaining full compliance with federal accountability requirements.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Delaware · House Jul 23, 2026

HB 412: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HUNTING, TRAPPING, GAME ANIMALS, GAME BIRDS, DEER, AND PROTECTED WILDLIFE.

This Substitute is different from the original bill in that it adds the activities of fishing, crabbing and clamming as requiring a license consistent with line 18 already in the code. The substitute also clarifies in section 2 that dogs may be used for tracking or recovering a wounded or dead deer that was lawfully shot during open deer season. Section 1 of this Act closes a loophole that allows hunters and trappers who are exempt from obtaining a Delaware hunting or trapping license to avoid completing a Department-approved hunting or trapping education program. Although many exempt hunters and trappers already complete these programs, this legislation codifies the requirement. This Act also updates and clarifies the statutory language governing administration of drugs to wildlife. Section 2 of this Act adds language to expressly permit the sale of taxidermy and antlers from lawfully taken deer. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform with the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

signed · Delaware · House Jul 23, 2026

HB 424: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 RELATING TO AUTISM SURVEILLANCE AND REGISTRATION.

In 2004, the 142nd General Assembly passed House Bill No. 500 as amended by House Amendment No. 1, creating an Autism registration and surveillance program. Physicians, surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, or other healthcare practitioners are required to report occurrences using the established procedure or incur a fee of $100 for each violation of failure to report. The Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS) has received questions from providers about Delaware’s required Autism Surveillance and Registration Program and concerns about privacy, ethics, and the absence of parental consent to store this information. The Autism Surveillance and Registration Program was implemented in a passive approach, and the data collected is not used for analysis or review. The Division of Public Health’s current strategy around Autism is to promote awareness and encourage appropriate screenings. This Act repeals the Autism Surveillance and Registration Program and requires that protected health information collected at an individual level to be expunged under statutory confidentiality requirements.

signed · Delaware · House Jul 23, 2026

HB 443: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VOLUNTEERS IN EDUCATION.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

signed · Delaware · House Jul 23, 2026

HB 423: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DEFERRED COMPENSATION.

This Act establishes an automatic enrollment feature for newly hired state employees in the State’s 457(b) deferred compensation retirement plan. The Board may, through a plan amendment, modify the definition of a covered employee. Under the Act, a predetermined percentage of an employee’s salary will be automatically deducted from each paycheck and contributed to the 457(b) plan upon hire. This Act allows new employees to opt out at any time prior to the commencement of automatic withdrawals, which normally commences 90 days after hire. If an employee does not opt out of automatic enrollment during this 90-day period, the employee will be enrolled and contributions will commence. The employee will thereafter have an additional 30 days to opt out and request a refund of any contributions. Refund requests must be submitted no later than 120 days after the date of hire. Employees under a collective bargaining agreement are not subjected to auto-enrollment but are able to participate if should they elect to do so. This Act takes effect 10 days after the date of publication in the Register of Regulations of a notice from the State Treasurer that the Office of Management and Budget has certified to the State Treasurer that necessary payroll upgrades necessary to implement this Act have been completed.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Delaware · House Jul 23, 2026

HB 431: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO COMPOSTING.

This Act allows for the composting of yard waste, food residuals, and other organic materials on property zoned for agricultural purposes. County governments may limit the square footage allowed for this activity, but must allow for at least 5000 square feet per 4 acres of property.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Delaware · House Jul 23, 2026

HB 415: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VETERINARIANS AND MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

This Act requires that all veterinarians report any suspected cruelty to animals to the Office of Animal Welfare or the appropriate reporting authority. Veterinarians must complete mandatory reporting training every 6 years and attest that they have completed mandatory training in any application for licensure or licensure renewal. The Board of Veterinary Medicine may impose disciplinary sanctions for violations of this Act. All reports provided by a veterinarian under this Act are confidential and may only be disclosed under specific circumstances. Under this Act, the Office of Animal Welfare and any other enforcement agency responsible for investigating animal abuse must adopt confidential procedures to protect the identity of the veterinarian making a report.

signed · Delaware · House Jul 23, 2026

HB 420: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MASSAGE AND BODY WORK.

This Act permits massage and bodywork therapists to obtain pre-licensing education in a hybrid format, as permitted by the Board of Massage and Bodywork’s rules and regulations. Rules and regulations will specify which subjects may be obtained through hybrid education to ensure proper training in the interests of public protection. This change is consistent with initiatives in other states, which have adopted more flexible learning models. This Act also strikes language pertaining to certified massage technicians because the Board no longer issues this type of license. Currently, licensed certified massage technicians may continue their licensure status with timely license renewal. Finally, revisions have been made to specify that licensees are massage and bodywork therapists, not massage or bodywork therapists, as indicated in the statute.

signed · Delaware · House Jul 23, 2026

HB 429: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STEP THERAPY EXCEPTION PROCESS.

This Act modernizes Delaware law by adding modern medical treatment options biologics or biosimilars to the step therapy exception process. The current law was passed before biosimilars were widely available. Biosimilars are to biologics what generic drugs are to traditional drugs once their exclusivity expires. This revision adds an exclusion to step therapy protocol exceptions for interchangeable biologics and biosimilars.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Delaware · House Jul 23, 2026

HB 398: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE TIME OF SALES FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION.

This Act allows Delaware horse racetracks to sell alcohol for on-premise consumption until 2:00 a.m. This Act also removes the power of municipalities to require closing time to be at an earlier time for horse racetracks that sell alcoholic liquor.