Rep. Ed Osienski

This Act amends Title 23 of the Delaware Code to increase the maximum draft limit applicable to sixth class pilots from 27 feet to 29 feet, enabling the safe pilotage of deeper-draft vessels and aligning pilotage standards with modern shipping practices. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act clarifies the application of the marijuana establishment spacing requirement in § 1354(e), Title 4 of the Delaware Code, by specifying that the distance limitation applies only to retail marijuana licenses. The Act aligns the marijuana licensing framework with Delaware’s existing liquor-control statutes, which impose spacing requirements on consumer-facing retail outlets but not on upstream operations such as production or wholesale activities. By limiting the spacing requirement to retail licenses, the Act permits the co-location of non-retail marijuana operations, including cultivation, manufacturing, and testing facilities, while preserving the Commissioner’s full regulatory authority over licensing, inspection, and enforcement.

Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill 208 differs from Senate Bill No. 208 in the following 9 ways: 1. Makes technical corrections, including changing § 3508A and § 3509A to § 3508B and § 3509B to avoid confusion with existing code sections in Chapter 35A of Title 24 of the Code, correcting the title for § 3509 and § 3509B, and making changes to use consistent language and structure. 2. Adds cognitive rehabilitation to the list of evidence-based therapeutic interventions under the practice of psychology. 3. Adds cognitive therapy to the list of therapies that are included as examples of evidence-based interventions. 4. Replaces "organic brain syndromes" with the modern term " brain-based disorders". 5. Adds programs accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association to the list of degree programs that are accepted by the Board of Examiners of Psychologists (Board) for licensure or registration under Chapter 35 of Title 24 of the Code. This makes it easier for individuals from Canada to be licensed or registered under Chapter 35 of Title 24 of the Code. 6. Removes from the qualifications of applicants for licensure as a licensed psychology associate the requirement that a master’s degree must be from a program with a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours, because the qualifications of applicants for licensure as a psychologist do not include a required number of semester hours for doctoral degree programs. The Board determines the qualifications of applicants, including whether the applicant’s degree is from a program that meets the requirements listed in § 3508 and § 3508B of Title 24. 7. In the scope of practice of a licensed psychology associate, replaces "general measures of cognitive abilities and achievement" with "measures of intellectual ability". This clarifies that a licensed psychology associate may not administer neuropsychological tests. 8. Updates registration as a doctoral-level psychological assistant under § 3509 and registration as a master's-level psychological assistant under § 3509B to reflect modern practice. The applicant for registration, not the supervising psychologist or supervising licensed psychology associate, is responsible for providing to the Board evidence of the applicant's qualifications for registration. Similar updates are made throughout Chapter 35 of Title 24 to reflect that the individual applying for registration is applying rather than the supervising psychologist or licensed psychology associate. 9. Removes the requirement for applicants for licensure or registrations under Chapter 35 of Title 24 to submit the applicant’s criminal history reports from the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to the Board. The Board directly receives electronic copies of each applicant’s criminal history reports from the SBI and the FBI, as provided in § 3508(b)(1), § 3508B(b)(1), §3509(b)(1), and §3509B(b)(1). Like SB 208, this Act adds 2 additional psychology professionals regulated under Chapter 35 of Title 24: (1) a licensed psychology associate and (2) a master’s-level psychological assistant. This Act also renames the psychological assistant registered under § 3509 of Title 24 to “doctoral-level psychological assistant” to mark the difference in education between the existing psychological assistant and the master’s-level psychological assistant added by this Act. This Act also changes § 3511 to clarify that licensing through reciprocity does not apply to individuals registered under § 3509 and § 3509B. A licensed psychology associate may independently practice at a master’s-level of education and training, subject to the limitations listed under § 3508B(e) added by this Act. The Board of Examiners of Psychologists (Board) may grant a license to practice as a licensed psychology associate if an applicant meets certain qualifications, including holding a master’s degree in psychology from an accredited school, completing an internship, obtaining at least 2 years of supervised professional experience, and achieving a passing score on a Board-approved examination. A licensed psychology associate is subject to the same standards as a psychologist licensed under Chapter 35 of Title 24, including handling of patient records, mandatory reporting, character and fitness requirements, and professional discipline. A licensed psychology associate also may be granted a license by reciprocity. An individual who is seeking further licensure under Chapter 35 of Title 24 may register as a master’s-level psychological assistant. A master’s-level psychological assistant may perform specific functions, appropriate for the assistant’s level of education and training, under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or licensed psychology associate. The supervising licensed psychologist or supervising licensed psychology associate may apply to the Board for registration of a master’s-level psychological assistant and shall provide to the Board evidence that the individual presented for registration has the required master’s-level of education and training, that the individual will receive appropriate training and supervision, that the individual meets character and fitness requirements. The supervising psychologist or licensed psychology associate must also give the Board a statement outlining the specific functions the master’s-level psychological assistant will perform under supervision. The individual seeking registration must provide a statement, under oath, that the individual will not practice independently, will perform only the specific functions outlined in the statement submitted by the supervising psychologist or supervising licensed psychology associate, and will not represent that the individual is a licensed psychologist or licensed psychology associate. A master’s-level psychological assistant is subject to the same professional standards and professional discipline as a doctoral-level psychological assistant. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. Technical changes include removing deadlines that have passed and are no longer relevant, changing language to increase clarity and consistency, and changing the structure of certain paragraphs to increase readability and organization. Additionally, to clarify that all applicants for licensure or registration under Chapter 35 of Title 24 must provide criminal background checks, this Act moves the provision requiring applicants to provide fingerprints to obtain a criminal background report from § 3514 of Title 24 to the qualification requirements for each individual licensee or registrant under § 3508, § 3508B, § 3509, and § 3509B of Title 24. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 11 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to impose or levy a tax or license fee. This Act is effective on its enactment and is to be implemented the earlier of the following: 1. Twelve months from the date of enactment. 2. Notice by the Board of Examiners of Psychology published in the Register of Regulations that final regulations to implement this Act have been adopted.

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Delaware Division of the Arts, in cooperation with the Division of Small Business, prepare for consideration by the 154th General Assembly a report detailing recommendations for developing an arts, cultural, or creative district program and submit the report to the 154th General Assembly not later than April 2, 2027.

This Act updates auto insurance protections by prohibiting carriers from limiting repair or replacement work to particular facilities, individuals, or business establishments as a condition of payment of a claim. This Act makes technical corrections to conform the statute with the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act discontinues the Delaware State Education Association centennial limited edition special license plate and replaces it with an updated special license plate of the Delaware State Education Association. A special license plate supports a cause and is available for purchase by the public at large, including by members the beneficiary organization. The numbers, letters, or both, assigned will be the same as the license plate assigned to the owner’s vehicle at the time of the application for the plate. This Act does not affect the validity of Delaware State Education Association centennial limited edition special license plates issued previously under § 2140G of Title 21; Delaware State Education Association centennial special license plates that are otherwise valid remain valid. This Act requires a greater-than-majority vote for passage because Article VIII, § 11 of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of 3/5 of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly when a new tax or license fee is imposed.

This House Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of Labor to evaluate the feasibility of apprenticeship programs for school-based mental health professionals and submit a report to certain members of the General Assembly, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Controller General by November 1, 2026.

This Substitute for House Bill No. 84 prohibits employers from requiring meetings or communications the purpose of which is to convey the employer’s political or religious views, including views regarding unionization. The Act enumerates several situations to which the prohibition does not apply, including the communication of religious views by a religious employer, the communication of political views by a political party or organization, and training required to comply with civil rights laws and occupational safety and health laws. The statute also clarifies that the following communications are outside the scope of the prohibition: (1) An employer communicating to its employees any information that the employer is required by law to communicate, but only to the extent of that legal requirement; (2) An employer communicating to its employees any information that is necessary for those employees to perform their job duties; (3) An institution of higher education, or any agent, representative, or designee of that institution, meeting with or participating in any communications with its employees that are part of coursework, any symposia, or an academic program at that institution; (4) An employer that is a public entity communicating to its employees any information related to a policy of the public entity or any law or regulation that the public entity is responsible for administering; and (5) A tax exempt organization, as defined under United States Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3) communicating with its employees about policy issues that are relevant to the organization, its mission, or the people the organization serves, provided such communication is done in a non-partisan manner. The provision is added to the existing chapter dealing with discrimination in employment, and the Department of Labor is empowered to investigate employer practices, make rules and regulations, and commence civil actions if necessary. The Department of Labor is instructed to update, within 90 days of the effective date of this Act, the notices it prepares for use by employers regarding unlawful discrimination in employment to include the provisions of this Act.

Delaware's current fireworks laws have led to confusion among consumers and noncompliance, with individuals frequently using fireworks outside of legally permitted days. Many consumers are unaware they are breaking the law, while those who knowingly violate it face fines too low to serve as a deterrent. This results in ongoing nuisances for neighbors, increased risks of bodily harm, and heightened dangers of fires and property damage. Additionally, out-of-state retailers advertise illegal fireworks in Delaware without consequence, further misleading consumers. The absence of a registration process for fireworks retailers limits the State Fire Marshal’s ability to oversee the sale and distribution of these potentially hazardous products. This bill strengthens enforcement by increasing fines, regulating sales through a permit system, ensuring consumer awareness through required safety information, and generating revenue for the Fire Marshal’s office to improve oversight and public education. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 11 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to impose or levy a tax or license fee.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates August 26, 2026, as "Women's Equality Day" within the State of Delaware. It serves as a commemorative resolution to honor the historical significance of that date rather than establishing new laws or regulations. The measure requires no changes to existing policies or funding and affects only the official state calendar.