Sen. Jack Walsh

This Act amends the Delaware Equal Accommodations Law to adopt the protections of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973’s Section 504 (“Section 504”), and its implementing regulations as those regulations existed on January 1, 2025. This bill will help ensure that Delawareans with disabilities get broad and full protection within Delaware. The bill also adds that references to Section 504 in other parts of Delaware law or regulation will be considered a reference to the Delaware Equal Accommodations Law.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 20, 2026, as Public Health Advocacy Day in Delaware to formally acknowledge the importance of public health efforts. It is a symbolic measure that does not alter laws, allocate funding, or impose new requirements on individuals or organizations. The resolution serves as an official state recognition rather than a functional policy change.

This bill protects small businesses in Delaware by preserving lottery retailers’ role in iLottery. This bill requires iLottery players to purchase prepaid cards at physical stores to enable their online play. In 2012, the General Assembly adopted the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012, HB 333 of the 146th General Assembly, establishing iLottery in Delaware. To support small businesses, the General Assembly included a provision of that law that required online players to purchase prepaid cards in physical retail stores. However, over a decade later, the Delaware Lottery Commissioner launched an iLottery program that does not uphold this protective provision. This bill updates the iLottery program to reflect the original intent of the law. This Act also makes technical changes to conform to the Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that would establish a fundamental right for all employees to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution. In addition, as the first leg of a constitutional amendment, the next General Assembly must pass an act concurring with this Act for it to become part of the Delaware Constitution.

This Act prohibits employers from asking employees or potential employees about political preferences, including donations the employee makes to candidates for office or political committees. It also prohibits employers from taking any adverse action against an employee based on political affiliation or preference. The prohibition does not apply if a political affiliation or preference is a bona fide occupational qualification of the employment. It also does not apply if employer disclosure of employee contributions is required by federal or state law.

This Act is a substitute for House Bill No. 370. This Act differs from HB 370 in that it adds a provision for the selection of the DEFAC Co-Chair, authorizes designees for the ex officio members, clarifies a provision relating to DEFAC meetings proceedings, and makes several technical corrections. This Act also differs from HB 370 by making the effective date July 1, 2026, or upon enactment, whichever is later. Like HB 370, this Act codifies the Delaware Economic & Financial Advisory Council (“DEFAC”) which was initially created by Executive Order No. 5 in March 3, 1977, and has continued through several executive orders issued since 1977. This Act is known and may be cited as the “DuPont-Cook Financial Responsibility Act.” The purpose of this Act is to preserve DEFAC’s structure under executive order while strengthening continuity, transparency, and clarity. DEFAC consists of at least 25, but no more than 34, members. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Pro Tempore each appoint 2 members, 1 from each caucus. The Governor appoints the remaining members, from the public and private sectors, and must appoint at least 12 members. The following serve by virtue of their positions: the Controller General, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Secretary of Finance, Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs, and State Treasurer. The duties of DEFAC are as follows: (1) Meet in March, May, June, October, and December of each year, and on other occasions that the Governor or DEFAC Chair deem necessary. (2) Serve in a general advisory capacity to the Governor and Department of Finance. (3) Advise the Governor, Secretary of Finance, and Legislative Council on: (a) The overall financial condition of the State of Delaware. (b) Current and projected economic conditions and trends, particularly as they affect the expenditures and revenues of the State, its citizens, and its major industries. (c) The tax policy of the State and the impact of federal tax policies. (4) Submit to the Governor, Secretary of Finance, Controller General, and General Assembly, by the dates required under § 6534(a) of Title 29, the General Fund and Transportation Trust Fund revenue and expenditures. (5) Submit to the Governor, Secretary of Finance, Controller General, and General Assembly, not later than December 31 of each year, estimates on the General Fund and Transportation Trust Fund revenue and expenditures. (6) Perform other duties and responsibilities imposed upon it in the Delaware Code. (7) Prepare an annual report summarizing DEFAC’s activities throughout the year, including forecast accuracy and key fiscal risks identified, no later than December 31, for distribution to the Governor and General Assembly. This Act also establishes the DEFAC Healthcare Spending Benchmark Subcommittee. Under this Act, state agencies must provide DEFAC financial and staffing support.

Early access to language is essential to child development. Children identified as Deaf or hard of hearing rely on hearing aids for language development. Language development leads to success in school. Medicaid coverage of hearing aids for children younger than 21 years old applies only to children who qualify for Medicaid. Delaware currently requires private insurers to provide minimum coverage of $1,000 for each hearing aid for individuals younger than 24 years old, covered as a dependent by the policyholder. The cost of hearing aids can vary widely but can cost from $3,000 to $5,000 out-of-pocket. This can be too expensive for families, even with the current $1,000 coverage requirement. The cost of a cochlear implant can range from $30,000 to $100,000, depending on the necessary device, surgery, and rehabilitation. Delaware does not currently require insurers to cover the costs of cochlear implants. This Act is a second substitute for Senate Bill No. 269 and differs from the first substitute Senate Bill No. 269 by changing the cost-sharing limitation to require insurers to cover at least 95%, instead 100%, of the cost of benefits for hearing aid and earmold benefits provided under § 3357(b)(1)a., § 3571A(b)(1)a., and § 5224(b)(1)a. of this Act. Like the first substitute to Senate Bill No. 269, this Act differs from Senate Bill No. 269 in all of the following ways: 1) Includes external sound processors in the definition of a cochlear implant. 2) Clarifies that, for group and blanket health policies and the state employee health plan, the required coverage of hearing-aid related parts and services is limited to individuals younger than 26 years old and covered as a dependent by the policyholder. 3) Names this Act in honor of T. Hollis Jennings who is a testament to the success of state-mandated hearing aid coverage and early intervention. Hollis got hearing aids when she was an infant. Her language developed typically, with no need for speech therapy. She now exceeds grade-level benchmarks in math and ELA. She’s also a phenomenal singer. 4) Makes technical changes to strike through and underline format to make it easier to see changes and to correct grammar. Like Senate Bill No. 269 and the first substitute for Senate Bill No. 269, this Act requires individual health insurance policies under Chapter 33 of Title 18, group and blanket health insurance policies under Chapter 35 of Title 18, and the state employee health plan under Chapter 52 of Title 29 to cover all of the following: 1) At least 1 hearing aid for each ear at least every 3 years, or before the expiration of the 3-year period if a health care professional determines that a new hearing aid is medically necessary. For hearing aids with earmolds, insurers are required to cover at least 1 earmold for each ear at least annually, or sooner if new earmolds are medically necessary. The cost-sharing limitation applies only to coverage of hearing aids. The types of hearing aid covered includes a hearing aid with an earmold, a hearing aid with slim tubing, a receiver-in-ear hearing aid, a bone-anchored hearing aid, and a cochlear implant. 2) Medically necessary hearing aid-related parts, attachments, or accessories. 3) Medically necessary related services related to prescribing, fitting, implanting, or dispensing hearing aids. Coverage must include medically necessary related services provided by a hearing care professional who specializes in providing care to pediatric patients. For individual health insurance policies, the coverage required under this Act applies to all covered individuals, regardless of age, because federal law prohibits states from limiting coverage for an essential health benefit based on an individual’s age unless there is a clinical reason. For group and blanket health insurance policies and the state employee health plan, the required coverage applies only to individuals younger than 26 years old and covered as a dependent by the policyholder. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual and reorganizes paragraphs for clarity. This Act applies to all policies, contracts, or certificates issued, renewed, modified, altered, amended, or reissued after December 31, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally designates September 2026 as "Prostate Cancer Awareness Month" within the State of Delaware. It directly affects state agencies and officials by establishing an official date for public awareness campaigns and educational events related to prostate cancer. The key provision is a symbolic recognition that encourages the state to highlight the importance of early detection and support for those affected by the disease. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or change funding but serves to unify state efforts around this health cause for the specified month.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 2026 as Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month in Delaware to highlight the condition affecting individuals with this neuromuscular disorder. It serves as a symbolic gesture to increase public understanding of the disease rather than establishing new laws or funding. The measure was passed by both the Senate and the House without requiring a formal vote in the final chamber.

According to the Arts Education Partnership, 27 states currently include arts course credits as a requirement for high school graduation, and several states have implemented diploma seals or similar recognition programs to incentivize participation. This Act directs the Department of Education to establish the Delaware Certificate of Arts Excellence to recognize high school students who demonstrate sustained engagement and achievement in the arts. Establishing a similar program in Delaware could help increase arts enrollment, elevate the value of arts education, and support students interested in pursuing creative professions.