Delaware Bill Book

Rental car and car‑sharing companies could sue you for the time you lose a vehicle after an accident, even if you caused it.

This shifts the cost of a broken rental onto the driver, so ordinary people could face big bills, while companies protect their profits.

Rental car companies

• Accountability (hurts) — shifts blame to renters. rental firms can sue drivers for loss of use
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — removes renter protection. loss of use damages no longer prohibited
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — cost moves to consumers. renters may have to pay loss of use fees
• Process Transparency (neutral) — no new disclosure required. bill does not add reporting
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no funding changes. bill does not allocate money

• Official text (DE HB382)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143166
• LegiScan — HB382https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB382/2025

School districts could add new taxes or raise rates without a local vote, making homeowners pay more.

Citizens may lose control over school funding and see higher property taxes, while schools gain easy money, so people should speak up now.

Government Power

• Accountability (hurts) — less voter oversight. taxes can be levied without referendum
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — removes voter right. no referendum needed for many tax changes
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — homeowners pay more. taxes added without vote shift cost to property owners
• Process Transparency (hurts) — less public notice. tax changes may not require election
• Funding Tilt (helps) — more funding for schools. easier tax collection for school districts

• LegiScan — HB462https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB462/2025

This bill would give big tax breaks to electricity companies, which could shift costs to everyday people.

If this bill passes, electricity companies will get big tax credits. This could mean higher costs for regular people who pay for electricity. It's important to speak up now.

Big Business

• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Tax credits may shift costs to consumers.. The tax credits for electricity producers could lead to higher electricity prices for everyday people.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct protections for consumers.. The bill focuses on benefits for electricity companies, not protections for consumers.

• Official text (DE HB186)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142401
• LegiScan — HB186https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB186/2025

The DMV must double‑check certain automatic voter registrations and may remove those who fail eligibility, after notifying the voter.

Citizens could lose their voting record if their old driver’s license doesn’t meet new checks, so they should watch for notices and be ready to prove eligibility now while the bill is still being debated.

Government Power

• Accountability (helps) — Adds oversight of voter rolls. Mandates audit and public reporting by DMV and Elections Dept.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Can remove voter registrations. Allows removal of registrations that fail eligibility checks.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — State agencies handle verification. No direct cost to individuals, but state resources are used.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Requires public report. Audit findings must be published and sent to legislative leaders.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No new funding specified. Bill does not create new spending or revenue.

• Official text (DE HB317)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143533
• LegiScan — HB317https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB317/2025

The bill would move the deadline for the auto insurance study from Jan. 30 to March 10, delaying any new rules that could lower driver costs.

The extra two weeks give the task force more time, so any new rules that could lower car insurance prices will be delayed. Consumers who want cheaper coverage may be disappointed, while insurers may like the extra breathing room.

Insurers

• Accountability (hurts) — delay. delays report that could address insurance costs
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — none. no direct impact on rights
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — none. no cost shift
• Process Transparency (neutral) — none. deadline change only
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — none. no funding changes

• Official text (DE SCR127)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142773
• LegiScan — SCR127https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/SCR127/2025

This bill would change property tax bills for the 2025-2026 year, possibly lowering what you owe.

If this bill passes, it may help people save money on their property taxes. It's important to pay attention to how it changes things.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Changes in tax bills must be communicated clearly.. Counties must reissue tax bills, ensuring transparency.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Taxpayers may benefit from lower bills.. Using previously assessed values could lower taxes.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Tax changes affect local school funding.. School districts can borrow funds if needed.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Clear deadlines for tax payments are set.. Taxpayers will know when to pay and avoid penalties.

• Official text (DE HB249)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142685
• LegiScan — HB249https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB249/2025

This bill would change how companies handle your personal data and what rights you have to it.

This is a chance for people to protect their personal information better. If this bill passes, it could help you know who is using your data and how.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Some protections are added for consumers.. Consumers can access their data and know how it is used.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Exemptions limit the bill's effectiveness.. Many businesses, like banks, are not covered by this bill.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs may shift to consumers indirectly.. If companies face more rules, they might raise prices.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — The bill does not clarify all processes.. It lacks details on how companies must report data usage.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Unknown funding impacts.. The bill does not specify funding sources.

• Official text (DE HB380)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143105
• LegiScan — HB380https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB380/2025

The state would tell a bar council to look at how much lawyers get paid in shareholder lawsuits and suggest ways to limit fees.

Citizens should watch this bill because if the council recommends fee caps, future rules could keep corporate lawsuits from costing too much, protecting investors and keeping companies competitive.

Corporations

• Accountability (helps) — Requests oversight of attorney fee practices. Positive impact by seeking review
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct change to people's right to sue. Neutral
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No funding or cost shift mentioned. Neutral
• Process Transparency (helps) — Report must be sent to Senate leaders, House leaders, and the Governor. Improves transparency
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No money allocation specified. Neutral

• Official text (DE SCR17)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141858
• LegiScan — SCR17https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/SCR17/2025

The bill would let farmers pay lower taxes on barns and silos, but keep homes and shops taxed the same.

Farmers could save money and keep land in production, while other taxpayers may see less money for schools and services, so voters should watch the bill now.

Agriculture

• Accountability (neutral) — no new oversight. Bill does not change who enforces rules
• Rights & Protections (helps) — protects farm structures. Provides lower tax assessment for qualified farm buildings
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — shifts cost to taxpayers. Reduced taxes lower revenue for general budget
• Process Transparency (neutral) — application process added. Owners must file forms by Feb 1
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — reduces tax base. Lower assessments cut tax income

• Official text (DE SB35)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142970
• LegiScan — SB35https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/SB35/2025

The state would ask the education department to study how kindergarten readiness data is collected and suggest ways to make it easier for teachers and kids.

The review could help families if it leads to simpler tests, but it also means the state will spend time and money on a study that may not change anything.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases oversight of assessment practices. Department must review and report on readiness data
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct change to rights. Bill does not alter any legal rights
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — State funds the review. Taxpayer money used for study
• Process Transparency (helps) — Report must be published. Findings made public by May 2026
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No specific funding allocated. No budget line in text

• Official text (DE SR14)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142596
• LegiScan — SR14https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/SR14/2025

This bill would let more Delaware seniors get a property tax credit by shortening how long they must live in the state, saving them money.

This bill is a good thing for seniors in Delaware. Right now, you have to live in the state for 10 years to get a special property tax credit if you moved there after 2017. This bill would change that back to 3 years for everyone after 2025. This means more seniors could get a break on their property taxes sooner. Some might worry about how this affects the state's budget or if it's fair to those who waited the full 10 years. But for many seniors, this would make it easier to afford to stay in their homes. Since it's just introduced, now is the time to tell your lawmakers if you think this is a good idea.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral impact. The bill does not directly affect government accountability or transparency beyond standard legislative process.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Expands access to benefit. The bill would make it easier for more seniors to qualify for a property tax credit, expanding access to a financial benefit.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Benefits seniors. The cost of the tax credit would be borne by the school districts through reduced tax collections, directly benefiting eligible seniors by lowering their property tax burden.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard process. The bill is following the normal legislative process and does not show signs of being rushed or hidden.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Favors seniors. The bill would shift some tax burden away from seniors and onto the general tax base (or reduce government revenue), favoring seniors.

Pushing for it: Seniors in Delaware
Bearing the cost: Delaware school districts (through reduced tax collections)

• Official text (DE HB72)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141932
• LegiScan — HB72https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB72/2025

This bill would let Delaware tipped workers pay less tax on their tips, helping them keep more money for their families.

This bill would help people who work for tips, like those in restaurants or salons, by letting them subtract some of their tip money from their state taxes. This could mean more money in their pockets to help with rising costs. The bill aims to support these important workers and the businesses they work for. Some people might worry about how this affects the state's money for other services. But supporters believe it's a fair way to help a key part of our workforce. This is a chance to speak up if you want to see tipped workers keep more of their earnings.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral. This bill does not directly address accountability for businesses or government.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Helps people. This bill would help protect the financial well-being of tipped workers by reducing their state income tax burden.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Benefits individuals. The state's general fund would see reduced tax revenue, but the financial benefit goes directly to individual tipped workers.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Neutral. The bill has moved through committee and had an amendment introduced, showing a standard legislative process.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Tilts towards individuals. The bill would shift money from the state's tax revenue to individual tipped workers, allowing them to keep more of their earnings.

Pushing for it: Delaware tipped workers (Up to $15,000 per year)
Bearing the cost: Delaware state revenue

• Official text (DE HB386)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143575
• LegiScan — HB386https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB386/2025

This bill would make the state collect and share facts about who uses childcare help and how money is spent, so the program can work better for families.

This bill is good because it would make the state gather important facts about how its childcare help program works. This means leaders would have a clearer picture of who gets help, how much money is used, and if the program needs changes to serve more families better. Getting this information out in the open helps everyone understand if the program is fair and effective. People who care about making sure families can afford childcare and parents can work should support getting these reports done.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases state accountability for a key program.. Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is directed to provide a report on or before December 1, 2025, March 1, 2026, and June 1, 2026, on Delaware POC that details the number of individual children served each month, total amount of money spent, and what portion of the funds came from state, federal, or one-time stimulus sources, parent co-pays, and any other sources.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct impact on individual rights.. The bill focuses on data collection for an existing program, not on creating or removing rights.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No new costs are shifted to individuals.. The bill directs a state department to prepare reports on an existing program's funding and utilization, not to shift costs to individuals.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Reports will be made public for everyone to see.. The reports shall be made public on a state website within one week of the published date.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Aims to ensure proper funding for a program helping low-income families.. Having accurate data is integral to determining appropriate funding for the POC program as well assisting in formulating policy to expertly build and expand the program.

Pushing for it: Low-income families needing childcare
Bearing the cost: No specific group

• Official text (DE HR14)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142420
• LegiScan — HR14https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HR14/2025

Health insurers in Delaware must pay for recommended vaccines and preventive care with no extra charges for you.

This bill protects families by removing out-of-pocket costs for essential shots and screenings, so they can stay healthy without surprise bills, and it pushes insurers to follow national health guidelines.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — adds clear coverage rules. Insurers must follow USPSTF and CDC recommendations
• Rights & Protections (helps) — expands consumer rights. No cost‑sharing for covered vaccines and preventive services
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — shifts cost to insurers. Consumers avoid out‑of‑pocket payments
• Process Transparency (neutral) — neutral. Bill text is straightforward
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no new funding required. Costs covered by insurers

• Official text (DE HB338)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143040
• LegiScan — HB338https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB338/2025

This bill would add a new right to privacy to Delaware's constitution, making it harder for the government to snoop into your personal life and choices.

This bill would make sure that your personal privacy is protected by the state's main rulebook, the Delaware Constitution. It would mean the government cannot mess with your private life unless it has a really, really good reason. This is important because it would give people more control over their own choices and information, even if federal protections change. Some might say current laws are enough, but this bill aims to make sure these rights are clear and strong in Delaware.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases government accountability. The bill would make it harder for the state government to infringe on individual privacy without a compelling reason, holding it to a higher standard.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Adds a new right. It would add a specific right to individual privacy to the Delaware Constitution, strengthening protections for citizens.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No direct cost shift. The bill does not directly shift costs onto ordinary people or specific groups, as it establishes a right.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard constitutional amendment process. The bill follows the established, multi-step process for amending the state constitution, which is inherently transparent but also lengthy.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding mentioned. The bill does not propose or allocate any specific funding.

Pushing for it: Delaware citizens (in terms of protected rights)
Bearing the cost: Delaware state government (in terms of limiting its power)

• Official text (DE HB14)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141814
• LegiScan — HB14https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB14/2025

This bill would make it harder for others to get your private information from the DMV, like your social security number, keeping your data safer.

This bill would make it harder for the DMV to share your private information, like your social security number or citizenship status, with others. It also stops businesses from getting your data for market research. This means your personal details would be safer from being used without your clear permission. Some might say that sharing certain data helps businesses work better or for public safety reasons. But this bill focuses on keeping your private information truly private, which is important for everyone. It is still moving through the legislature, so now is the time to let your lawmakers know if you want your data protected.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases DMV accountability for data protection.. The bill would make the Division of Motor Vehicles more accountable for protecting sensitive personal information like social security numbers and citizenship status.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Strengthens individual privacy rights.. This bill would strengthen your right to privacy by limiting who can access your motor vehicle records and what information can be shared.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No direct cost shift to ordinary people.. The bill does not appear to shift direct financial costs onto ordinary people.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No change to transparency.. The bill focuses on data privacy rules, not on how transparent the legislative or administrative processes are.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding mentioned.. The bill does not mention specific funding or financial allocations.

Pushing for it: Delaware citizens' privacy
Bearing the cost: Entities seeking broad access to DMV data

• Official text (DE HB60)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141897
• LegiScan — HB60https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB60/2025

This bill would stop state workers from sharing your immigration status from tax or labor forms, helping keep your personal information private.

This bill is important because it would protect sensitive personal details for many people in Delaware. If it passes, state workers at the tax and labor departments would not be allowed to share your immigration status with others. This means your private information would be safer and less likely to be used against you. While some might argue that law enforcement needs full access to all data, this bill still allows sharing for serious felony crime investigations with a court order or Attorney General approval. This bill helps make sure people feel safe sharing necessary information with state agencies without fear of their immigration status being spread around.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — State employees held to higher standard. Makes it unlawful for state employees to disclose sensitive personal information without specific legal authorization, increasing their accountability for data protection.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects personal privacy. Establishes a clear protection for individuals' citizenship and immigration status, preventing unauthorized disclosure by state agencies and safeguarding personal privacy.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No direct cost shift. The bill does not directly shift costs onto ordinary people or specific groups. It focuses on data protection.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Not applicable. The bill primarily addresses data disclosure rules, not the transparency of legislative or administrative processes.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes. The bill does not mention any specific funding changes or appropriations.

Pushing for it: People whose immigration status is protected
Bearing the cost: State employees who might face penalties for unauthorized disclosure

• Official text (DE HB238)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142710
• LegiScan — HB238https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB238/2025

This bill would make school tax breaks in New Castle County fairer by linking them to county tax rules and making sure they grow with property values and inflation.

This bill would help people in New Castle County who get property tax breaks for school taxes. It would make sure these tax breaks keep up with how much homes are worth and how much things cost. This means your tax break would not lose value over time. It would also make the rules for school tax breaks the same as for county tax breaks. This makes things less confusing for everyone. If this bill and another one pass, New Castle County would fix tax bills for next year and give refunds if you paid too much. This bill is good because it helps people save money on their taxes and makes the tax system easier to understand.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — County must follow clear rules for exemptions. The bill requires New Castle County to use the same eligibility criteria and exemption amount for school taxes as for county taxes as of July 1, 2025.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects the value of tax exemptions. The bill requires modifications to tax exemption amounts to reasonably reflect changes in property value and inflation, helping to maintain their value for taxpayers.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Taxpayers with exemptions benefit. Taxpayers who qualify for exemptions would benefit from their exemptions keeping pace with inflation and property values, potentially reducing their tax burden.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process. The bill is currently introduced and follows the normal legislative process.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Helps ordinary people keep more money. By ensuring school tax exemptions are fair and keep up with economic changes, the bill would help ordinary people who qualify for these exemptions save money.

Pushing for it: Taxpayers in New Castle County who qualify for property tax exemptions
Bearing the cost: School districts in New Castle County, or other taxpayers who do not qualify for exemptions

• Official text (DE HB244)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142689
• LegiScan — HB244https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB244/2025

This bill would let all Delaware counties offer monthly or quarterly property tax payments, making it easier for people to pay their bills.

This bill would give people more choices in how they pay their property taxes. Instead of one big payment, they could pay smaller amounts more often. This could help families budget their money better and avoid financial stress. Some might say that offering more payment plans could mean more paperwork for counties, but it also helps people keep their homes by making taxes easier to manage. This bill is still new, so now is the time to tell your lawmakers if you want more flexible tax payment options.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Gives people more ways to pay taxes. The bill would allow all counties to accept property tax payments monthly or quarterly, which could help people manage their money better and avoid financial strain.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No new costs shifted. This bill changes how people can pay taxes, not how much they pay or who pays for county services. It does not shift costs onto new groups.

Pushing for it: Property owners in all Delaware counties, especially New Castle County
Bearing the cost: No specific group is financially harmed by this bill

• Official text (DE HB248)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142688
• LegiScan — HB248https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB248/2025

This bill would let workers use paid family and medical leave sooner, even if they have been at their job for less than a year.

Right now, Delaware workers have to wait a full year at a new job before they can take paid family or medical leave. This bill would change that. If you work enough hours, you could get the time off you need to care for a new baby or a sick family member without waiting 12 months. It is a big win for workers who change jobs or work long hours.

Workers

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Expands worker rights. Gives workers access to paid leave benefits sooner by removing the one-year waiting period.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Program funds. The leave is paid from the state insurance program, not directly out of pocket by the employer.
• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral. Does not affect legal accountability or lawsuits.

• Official text (DE SB360)https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143688
• LegiScan — SB360https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/SB360/2025