| HB 264 | Committee | K. Williams | School nurses are a vital link in implementing the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act and in preventing lead poisoning among Delaware’s children. Since the 1990s, school nurses have been on the front lines of ensuring that students entering pre-kindergarten and kindergarten have a lead screening completed prior to the start of school.
The Delaware School Nurse Association (DSNA) Advocacy Committee has actively participated in the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Committee (CLPPAC) as a stakeholder, collaborating to improve blood lead testing rates and to address racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in lead poisoning. School nurses also contribute to the development, updating, and implementation of the statewide screening plan. Most importantly, when a child tests positive for an elevated blood lead level, school nurses are uniquely positioned to connect that student and family with the academic and health resources needed for success.
This Act adds a school nurse as a member on the CLPPAC. The presence of a school nurse as a voting member will strengthen the Committee’s work and ensure that the voices of those most directly supporting children are represented in both policy and practice. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 RELATING TO THE CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. |
| HB 259 w/ HA 1 | Committee | K. Williams | This Act requires the Division of Public Health to submit a report to various government officials and post on its website the data it receives from schools regarding the number of kindergartners who meet the requirements under this chapter for screening for lead poisoning. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCREENING FOR LEAD POISONING. |
| HB 283 | Committee | Hensley | This Act provides updates to Title 30 relating to the Realty Transfer Tax. First it clarifies that the exception for spouses is not solely limited between a husband and wife and instead applies to spouses in general. It also adds an exception for conveyances between grandparents and their grandchildren or the spouse of such a grandchild. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE REALTY TRANSFER TAX. |
| SCR 143 | Passed | Brown | This Resolution establishes the Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force, established for the purpose of examining opportunities to maintain and enhance Delaware’s position as a leader in blockchain and digital innovation, and identifying how to attract and retain businesses engaged in digital assets and related technologies, while developing appropriate consumer protections and regulatory clarity.
The Task Force is to prepare and deliver a final report to the General Assembly and the Governor concerning its findings and recommendations, if any, for maintaining Delaware’s competitive position in business law and digital innovation, no later than July 1, 2027. | ESTABLISHING THE BLOCKCHAIN AND DIGITAL INNOVATION TASK FORCE. |
| HA 1 to HB 259 | Passed | K. Williams | This amendment changes the submission date for the annual report to January 1 instead of December 1 and allows the reporting on lead screening prior to school enrollment to be combined with and transmitted together with the more general annual lead report required under § 2606 of Title 16.
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| HB 325 w/ HA 1, HA 2 | Committee | Berry | This Act changes the title of “physician assistant” to “physician associate” in Title 24, as well as changes the references from physician assistant to physician associate throughout the Delaware Code. It does not change any rights or privileges of those who have been or continue to hold themselves out to be a “physician assistant.”
Current law provides that a physician associate may not maintain or manage a location that does not have oversight by the physician associate’s collaborating physician. This Act provides that a licensed physician associate with more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours who intends to practice without a collaborative agreement must apply to the Regulatory Council for Physician Assistants for independent practice authority.
This Act also provides that the Regulatory Council for Physician Associates must adopt rules and regulations to address the following: (1) the verification of post-graduate clinical practice hours for physician associates with more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours; (2) creating an application for physician associates with more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours to request independent practice authority; (3) creating a process for physician associates who practice without at least 1 licensed Delaware physician in the group, practice, or health system, and have been granted independent practice authority, to notify the Physician Associates Regulatory Council prior to a change of their practice area and provide proof they have had training which aligns to the new practice area; and (4) the conditions under which a physician associate may be denied independent practice authority and how to reapply.
The Act also provides that a physician associate is considered to be a primary care provider when practicing in the medical specialties for a physician to be a primary care provider. Payment for services within the physician associate’s scope of practice must be made when ordered or performed by the physician associate, if the same service would have been covered if ordered or performed by a physician. Payment for services must be based on the services provided and not on the health care professional who delivered the service. Physician associates must be authorized to bill for and receive direct payment for the medically necessary services they deliver.
The Act also provides that a physician associate who has independent practice authority may sign the special disabled license plate or placard applicant form certifying that a person is disabled, for use in an application to receive a special license plate.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
This Act is effective immediately and to be implemented the earlier of : (1) One year from the date of the Act’s enactment; or (2) When the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline approves the enabling regulations promulgated by the Regulatory Council of Physician Associates.
| AN ACT TO AMEND THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS. |
| HA 1 to HB 325 | Passed | Berry | This Amendment to House Bill No. 325 removes the provision that required "Payment for services within the physician associate’s scope of practice must be made when ordered or performed by the physician associate, if the same service would have been covered if ordered or performed by a physician. Payment for services must be based on the services provided and not on the health care professional who delivered the service."
It also removes the adjective "existing" from "physician associate state law or regulation” with respect to standards that insurers and third parties may impose with respect to physician associate billing. | |
| SCR 164 | Passed | Richardson | This Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizes April 2026 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in the State of Delaware.
| RECOGNIZING APRIL 2026 AS "CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. |
| SCR 166 | Passed | Lockman | This Concurrent Resolution recognizes April 14, 2026, as “Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Day at the Capitol” in Delaware. | RECOGNIZING APRIL 14, 2026, AS “SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY DAY AT THE CAPITOL” IN DELAWARE. |
| HA 2 to HB 325 | Passed | Berry | House Amendment No. 2 to House Bill No. 325 clarifies that the Regulatory Council for Physician Associates must adopt rules and regulations regarding the following:
1) The licensing of physician associates to allow performance of medical services within their education, training, and experience.
2) An application for independent practice authority within a setting with at least 1 licensed Delaware physician.
3) An application for independent practice authority within a setting with no licensed Delaware Physician.
4) An application to report changes to the practice area of the independent practice authority withing a setting with no licensed Delaware physician.
5) The conditions under which a physician associate who is denied a waiver of the collaborative agreement requirement may reapply.
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