AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Introduced by Frank Cooke and 4 co-sponsors

The bill would amend Delaware's Article II to change how the General Assembly is organized or operates, altering its constitutional framework.

Introduced and Assigned to Administration Committee in House

Overview

HB 428 (Session 153, Delaware) is a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at Article II of the Delaware Constitution concerning the General Assembly. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Administration Committee in the House on May 19, 2026. It has four named co-sponsors: Dave Lawson, Lyndon Yearick, Brian Pettyjohn, and Danny Short.

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to amend Article II of the Delaware Constitution relating to the General Assembly. While the summary provided does not include the exact text of the proposed amendment, constitutional amendments of this kind typically address questions such as legislative structure, powers, duties, term limits, compensation, appointment processes, or procedural rules for the General Assembly. The stated aim is to modify the constitutional framework governing how the General Assembly operates in Delaware.

Key provisions and changes (as implied by the bill type)

Constitutional amendment: The proposal would alter the text of Article II, resulting in a change to the constitutional basis for the General Assembly’s organization, powers, or procedures.

Specific changes are not detailed in the provided information. Typically, such amendments may cover areas such as:

Legislative session length, timing, or frequency
Qualification and eligibility rules for legislators
Compensation or benefits for legislators
Rules governing legislative procedures, oversight, or ethics
Procedures for redistricting or reapportionment
Authority and limits of the General Assembly

Until the exact language is released and analyzed, the precise substantive effect remains unknown from the provided materials.

Who would be affected

Members of the Delaware General Assembly (Senators and Representatives) would be directly affected, as the amendment would change constitutional rules governing their role, powers, or operations.

Other state officials and branches (e.g., the Executive, the courts) could be affected indirectly if the amendment alters checks, balances, or inter-branch relations.

The public would be impacted to the extent the amendment changes governance, transparency, or accountability mechanisms within the legislative branch.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and assignment: The bill was introduced and assigned to the Administration Committee in the House on May 19, 2026.

Legislative process (typical for Delaware): After committee review, the bill would require passage by both the House and Senate, possibly with public hearings or amendment opportunities, and then approval by the Governor or possible veto or override processes depending on the constitutionality with other statutory provisions.

Ballot action: As a constitutional amendment, if passed by both chambers, it would typically be placed on a future statewide ballot for voter ratification. The exact timeline (referendum date, implementation) would be determined by subsequent legislative action and potential election scheduling.

Notes for readers

The exact text and substantive details of the proposed amendment are not included in the current summary. To assess its full impact, one would need the bill’s precise language, the fiscal note (if any), committee analysis, and any public testimony or sponsor statements.

The presence of four co-sponsors suggests broad interest in changing the constitutional framework governing the General Assembly, but the nature of the change remains to be clarified upon release of the bill text and committee materials.