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HB 321

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR DISSEMINATION TO THE PUBLIC OF A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION.

153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Introduced by Kerri Harris and 5 co-sponsors

HB 321 aims to improve public notice and access to information about proposed Delaware constitutional amendments, ensuring timely, clear, and accessible dissemination to voters.

Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 321

Summary of HB 321 (Session 153, Delaware)

Purpose

HB 321 seeks to amend Title 29 of the Delaware Code to modify the procedure for disseminating to the public information about proposed amendments to the Delaware Constitution. The bill focuses on how and when the public is informed about constitutional amendments undergoing the amendment process.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Disclosure Procedure: The bill updates or establishes the requirements for disseminating information to the public regarding a proposed constitutional amendment. While the exact dissemination mechanisms are not specified in the summary materials provided, the core aim is to ensure timely and accessible notice and information about the amendment to the electorate.
  • Timing and Access: The act is likely to set deadlines or windows for publishing notices, summaries, or materials related to a constitutional amendment, potentially including what must be communicated (e.g., text of the amendment, analysis, impact statements) and through which channels.
  • Public Records/Transparency: Implicit in changes to dissemination procedures is an emphasis on transparency, ensuring voters receive clear, accurate, and publicly accessible information as amendments move through the process.

Note: Specific statutory language, such as exact notice periods, required formats, or channels (e.g., official state publications, websites, or newspapers), is not provided in the summary available here. The bill’s intent centers on refining how the public learns about proposed constitutional amendments.

Who Is Affected

  • General Public/Voters: Individuals eligible to vote in Delaware who would be asked to consider constitutional amendments. The changes affect how voters receive information about those amendments.
  • State and Local Government Entities: Agencies responsible for disseminating public notices and information related to constitutional amendment processes (likely including the Secretary of State, and relevant legislative or administrative offices).
  • Legislative Bodies: Members and staff of the General Assembly who operate under amended dissemination procedures.

Timelines and Procedural Aspects

  • Status and Process: The bill was introduced on March 11, 2026, and assigned to the Administration Committee in the House. It was reported out of the committee “on its merits” on April 15, 2026, indicating passage to the full House for consideration.
  • Next Steps: If advanced, the bill would proceed to the House floor for debate and vote. If approved, it would move to the Delaware Senate (and possibly through further committee stages) before possibly becoming law, subject to passage in both chambers and signature by the governor.

Additional Context

  • Sponsors: The bill has co-sponsors including Ed Osienski, Dave Sokola, Melissa Minor-Brown, Kerri Harris, Josue Ortega, and Bryan Townsend, indicating bipartisan or cross-aisle interest in refining constitutional amendment dissemination.
  • Policy Goal: The overarching goal is to improve public notice and informed participation in the constitutional amendment process by clarifying and possibly strengthening how information about proposed amendments is disseminated to the public.

If you would like, I can refine this summary with the exact statutory text or provide a side-by-side comparison with the current dissemination provisions to highlight precise changes.

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

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