AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE COMMISSION.

153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Introduced by Darius Brown and 21 co-sponsors

SB 330 creates a 15-member Delaware African American Heritage and Culture Commission under the Secretary of State to preserve, educate about, and promote Delaware’s African America

Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT

Overview

SB 330 proposes to amend Title 29 of the Delaware Code to establish the Delaware African American Heritage and Culture Commission. The Commission would operate under the Secretary of State and serve as a statewide resource dedicated to preserving and sharing Delaware’s African American heritage and culture. The bill outlines the Commission’s duties, staffing/resource considerations, and a modest ongoing fiscal cost.

Purpose and intent

Create a fifteen-member Delaware African American Heritage and Culture Commission.

Place the Commission under the authority of the Secretary of State.

Improve public understanding of the significance of the African American experience in Delaware.

Develop historians with specialized knowledge of Delaware African American history.

Provide support to institutions and groups pursuing similar objectives.

Serve as a statewide resource to educate residents and visitors and to promote related activities and events.

Key provisions and changes

Establishment: A 15-member Commission appointed to carry out duties related to Delaware African American heritage and culture.

Governance: Commission would operate under the Secretary of State.

Activities and duties (as described in supporting materials):

Preserve and share Delaware’s African American heritage and culture.
Educate the public about the significance of the African American experience in Delaware.
Develop or identify historians with expertise in Delaware African American history.
Provide support to organizations and institutions with similar aims.
Perform other duties defined by the Act.

Financial/operational framework:

Annual operating cost estimated at $20,000.
Potential use of funds for: supplies, in-state travel, hosting meetings/public forums, promotional materials, events, subcommittee expenses, and other Commission needs to comply with the Act.

Effective date: The Act would become effective upon the Governor’s signature.

Who would be affected

The State of Delaware, specifically the Department of State and the Secretary of State.

Potentially historians, cultural institutions, museums, libraries, schools, and community organizations engaged in African American heritage and culture in Delaware.

Residents and visitors to Delaware who participate in Commission-sponsored educational and cultural programs.

Procedural and timeline notes

Legislative history:

Introduced in the Senate and assigned to the Executive Committee (May 21, 2026).
Reported out of the Senate Executive Committee with a favorable vote (June 11, 2026).
Passed by the Senate (June 11, 2026) with 19 voting in favor and 2 absent.
Assigned to the House Administration Committee (June 11, 2026) for further consideration.

Fiscal note:

The Office of the Controller General estimates an annual cost of $20,000 for Fiscal Years 2027–2029 (starting after enactment and Governor’s signature).
No larger spending authorization or capital appropriation is specified in the provided materials; the costs are described as ongoing annual expenses.

Summary

SB 330 would create a 15-member Delaware African American Heritage and Culture Commission under the Secretary of State to preserve, educate about, and promote Delaware’s African American history and culture. It would support historians and cultural institutions, with an estimated annual operating cost of $20,000 beginning in fiscal year 2027. The bill outlines the Commission’s broad educational and supportive roles and sets a pathway for official state backing of statewide heritage initiatives.