PROCLAIMING OCTOBER 28, 2026, AS “NATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Introduced by Frank Cooke and 10 co-sponsors

Designates October 28, 2026 as National First Responders Day in Delaware to publicly recognize and honor police, fire, EMS, and other first responders.

Passed In House by Voice Vote

Bill overview

Bill type: Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR)

Session / Jurisdiction: Delaware, 153rd General Assembly

Title: Proclaiming October 28, 2026, as “National First Responders Day” in the State of Delaware

Status: Introduced and subsequently passed in the Senate (21 yes votes) on 2026-06-16; passed in the House by voice vote on 2026-06-17

Purpose and intent

The resolution formally proclaims a specific day, October 28, 2026, as “National First Responders Day” within the State of Delaware.

The intent is to recognize and honor the service, sacrifice, and contributions of first responders—including police, fire, EMS, and other emergency responders—who protect and assist the public during emergencies and everyday public safety operations.

Key provisions

Official designation: The State of Delaware designates October 28, 2026, as National First Responders Day.

Public recognition: The resolution expresses gratitude and appreciation for the dedication, bravery, and sacrifices of first responders. It may be used to encourage state agencies, local governments, schools, and communities to acknowledge and honor first responders in appropriate ways (e.g., proclamations, ceremonies, educational activities).

Scheduling/observance guidance: as a concurrent resolution, it typically does not mandate official state holidays or paid time off but may encourage Commonwealth and local jurisdictions to observe or recognize the day through appropriate recognition events and educational activities.

Affected parties

First responders: Police, fire, emergency medical services, and other emergency personnel serving Delaware and its communities.

State and local entities: Delaware state agencies, county and municipal governments, schools, and community organizations that may engage in commemorative activities or educational programs.

General public: The resolution aims to raise awareness of the vital role of first responders and may influence public observances or curricular activities in schools.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and sponsors: The resolution has multiple co-sponsors, indicating cross-chamber and potentially cross-issue support. Sponsors include Ed Osienski, Dave Wilson, Frank Cooke, Dave Sokola, Stell Selby, Ron Gray, Gerald Hocker, Brian Pettyjohn, Claire Snyder-Hall, Danny Short, and Russ Huxtable.

Legislative process:

Introduced in the Senate on 2026-06-16.
Passed the Senate with a 21-yes vote on 2026-06-16.
Passed the House by voice vote on 2026-06-17.

Nature of act: As a concurrent resolution, it expresses the sense of both chambers but does not create new law or allocate funds. It serves an official pronouncement and ceremonial recognition.

Potential impact

Ceremonial recognition: Provides formal acknowledgment of first responders by the state, which can be used to highlight their contributions in ceremonies, media, and educational settings.

Public awareness: Encourages public appreciation and awareness of first responders’ roles and challenges.

No fiscal impact specified: The text of a typical concurrent resolution does not authorize spending; any related observances would depend on local decisions and budgets.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize specific stakeholder perspectives (e.g., law enforcement, fire services, EMS, or educators) or compare it to similar commemorative resolutions in other jurisdictions.