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SB 214

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.

153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Introduced by Bill Bush and 1 co-sponsor

SB 214 modifies Delaware criminal code procedures for biological evidence handling, storage, and testing in criminal cases, affecting evidence preservation and defendant access rights.

was introduced and adopted in lieu of SB 214
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Bill Summary · SB 214

Legislative bill overview

SB 214 amends Delaware's criminal code (Title 29) to modify procedures and requirements governing the handling, storage, and use of biological evidence in criminal cases. The bill emerged from the Corrections & Public Safety Committee with mixed support, receiving one favorable recommendation and three "on its merits" votes, suggesting committee debate over specific provisions.

Why is this important

Biological evidence—DNA, blood, tissue samples—can be critical to establishing guilt or innocence, particularly in serious crimes and post-conviction appeals. How states manage this evidence affects public safety, wrongful conviction prevention, and closure for victims' families. Delaware's amendments could impact evidence retention periods, testing protocols, defendant access rights, or cold case investigation procedures.

Potential points of contention

  • Retention timelines: Whether biological evidence should be preserved indefinitely or destroyed after conviction; balancing storage costs against exoneration needs
  • Defendant access and testing rights: How much access defendants have to evidence for independent testing and at what cost
  • Procedural burdens: Whether new requirements create administrative delays in case closure or investigation timelines

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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