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House passes a slate of bills on May 5 including parentage, education and theft measures
Summary
On May 5 the Delaware House passed multiple bills on final reading, including SB 2‑50 (Uniform Parentage Act), HB 2‑67 (reading competency reporting) and HB 3‑26 (theft by impersonation); several measures passed by roll call and a number of ceremonial resolutions were adopted.
The Delaware House completed a packed floor calendar on May 5, 2026, approving a range of bills on third reading and adopting ceremonial resolutions.
What passed and how the House voted (votes at a glance): - HB 3‑10: Passed on roll call with 26 yes, 12 no, 3 absent. - HB 3‑46 (STD/STI code modernization): Passed on roll call with 38 yes, 3 absent. - HB 3‑06 (AI/chatbot disclosure): Passed as amended, 25 yes, 12 no, 1 not voting, 3 absent (see separate coverage). - HB 2‑67 (reading competency reporting): Passed with 38 yes, 3 absent. - SB 2‑50 (Uniform Parentage Act): Passed on roll call with 26 yes, 10 no, 2 not voting, 3 absent. - HB 3‑47 (public school registration): Passed with 35 yes, 1 no, 5 absent. - HB 3‑26 (theft by impersonation, as amended): Passed with 33 yes, 2 no, 6 absent. - SB 26 (unemployment compensation changes related to labor disputes): Passed with 26 yes, 9 no, 6 absent.
Highlights from the floor: - SB 2‑50 (Uniform Parentage Act): Representative Griffith said the bill adopts the 2017 Uniform Parentage Act to bring Delaware law up to date for assisted reproduction and to clarify who may be a legal parent; legal experts and members discussed safeguards for surrogacy contracts and whether individuals with certain criminal histories could be parties to surrogacy arrangements. An on‑floor legal witness explained that surrogacy contracts require medical and psychological evaluations and that custody proceedings continue to be decided by the court using a child’s best interests.
- HB 3‑46 (STDs/STIs): Representative Morrison said the bill modernizes definitions, reporting and department authority, removes provisions allowing forced examinations, quarantines and compelled testing, and aligns the code with current public health practice; the Department of Public Health supported the bill as presented.
- Education bills: Representative Williams presented HB 2‑67 to revise reporting timelines for reading‑competency data, moving annual reporting to August and adjusting data points following prior legislative action (HB 3‑04). HB 3‑47 removed a strict birth‑certificate requirement from school registration and listed acceptable alternatives (passport, hospital record, prior school record, notarized affidavits) to ease enrollments.
- HB 3‑26 (theft by impersonation): Representative Morrison described cases in which AI was used to impersonate family members and steal money, and the amendment removed statutory sentencing to leave penalties to the discretion of courts; the Attorney General’s office supported the bill.
Ceremonial items: The House recognized International Midwives Day and Hospital Week, welcomed Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity members and honored line workers including a City of Dover lineman recognized for a heroic act.
Process note: Multiple bills were read on third and final reading with sponsors introducing prefiler amendments and offering Q&A on the floor; several amendments were adopted by voice vote prior to roll calls. The House recessed at the end of the session and will reconvene per the legislative calendar.
All vote totals and quotes are taken from the official House transcript of May 5, 2026.
