Bill Commons

DE HB 201

enacted

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

Delaware · 2025-2026 Regular Session (153rd General Assembly) · lower

Description

This Act strengthens essential protections for victims of human trafficking by removing practical barriers that prevent victims from getting convictions or juvenile delinquency adjudications obtained as a result of being a victim of human trafficking vacated and the related criminal or juvenile records expunged. This Act amends § 787 of Title 11 in the following ways: (1) Requires a showing that the offense to be vacated was committed “as a result”, instead of “as a direct result”, of the victims having been trafficked, which recognizes that victims of human trafficking may engage in a range of criminal behaviors related to their exploitation. (2) Provides that a motion to vacate and any hearing or proceeding related to the motion to vacate must remain confidential, unless the court determines good cause exists to open the proceeding, so a victim of human trafficking may seek relief without fear of revictimization. (3) Eliminates the requirement of a mandatory hearing on a motion to vacate unless the Attorney General files a timely objection to the motion. This will allow victims to obtain relief on uncontested motions without needing to relive their trauma through questioning at a formal hearing. (4) Clarifies that the standard of proof for determining eligibility for vacating an adjudication or conviction under § 787(j) is by a preponderance of evidence. (5) Allows a victim to vacate a conviction or adjudication of delinquency under § 787(j) and expunge the records of that conviction or adjudication. Additionally, this Act allows the court to order immediate expungement sua sponte or on request and allows expungements to be ordered by the court deciding the motion to vacate. (6) Establishes guidelines for the Attorney General to request an extension of time, if needed, to respond to a motion to vacate. This Act also aligns the standards for a defense to a charge of prostitution or loitering from “as a direct result” to “as a result” of human trafficking. This matches the change made to the vacatur provisions and keeps the standards in § 787 consistent. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Introduced
2025-06-05
Status date
—
Latest action
2026-05-14 — Signed by Governor
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Bryan Townsendprimary
  • David P. Sokolaprimary
  • Ray Seigfriedprimary
  • Brian Pettyjohnprimary
  • Trey Paradeeprimary
  • Spiros Mantzavinosprimary
  • Josue O Ortegaprimary
  • Melanie Ross Levinprimary
  • Sarah McBrideprimary
  • Darius J. Brownprimary
  • Russell Huxtableprimary
  • John "Jack" Walshprimary
  • Dave G. Lawsonprimary
  • Claire Snyder-Hallprimary
  • Kerri Evelyn Harrisprimary
  • Stell Parker Selbyprimary
  • Cyndie Romerprimary
  • Mara Gormanprimary
  • Franklin D. Cookeprimary
  • David L. Wilsonprimary
  • William Bushprimary
  • Lyndon D. Yearickprimary
  • Laura V. Sturgeonprimary
  • Marie Pinkneyprimary
  • Bryant L. Richardsonprimary
  • Nicole Pooreprimary
  • Michael F. Smithprimary
  • Kimberly Williamsprimary

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2025-06-05

    Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

    introduction,referral-committee

  2. 2026-01-14

    Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 10 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  3. 2026-01-28

    Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES

    passage

  4. 2026-01-28

    Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

    introduction,referral-committee

  5. 2026-03-25

    Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  6. 2026-04-16

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

    passage

  7. 2026-05-14

    Signed by Governor

    executive-signature

Versions

Not provided by source.

Documents

Not provided by source.

Votes

  • SM

    2026-01-28 · pass · 41-0

    Member-level votes (41)
    • Alonna Berry: yes
    • Stephanie T. Bolden: yes
    • Frank Burns: yes
    • William Bush: yes
    • William J. Carson: yes
    • Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha: yes
    • Richard G. Collins: yes
    • Franklin D. Cooke: yes
    • Daniel B. Short: yes
    • Timothy D. Dukes: yes
    • Mara Gorman: yes
    • Ronald E. Gray: yes
    • Krista Griffith: yes
    • Kerri Evelyn Harris: yes
    • Debra Heffernan: yes
    • Kevin S Hensley: yes
    • Jeff Hilovsky: yes
    • Valerie Jones Giltner: yes
    • Kendra Johnson: yes
    • Kimberly Williams: yes
    • Kamela T Smith: yes
    • Larry Lambert: yes
    • Sean M. Lynn: yes
    • Michael F. Smith: yes
    • Melissa Minor-Brown: yes
    • Shannon Morris: yes
    • Eric Morrison: yes
    • DeShanna U Neal: yes
    • Josue O Ortega: yes
    • Edward S. Osienski: yes
    • Sophie Phillips: yes
    • Charles S Postles Jr.: yes
    • Cyndie Romer: yes
    • Melanie Ross Levin: yes
    • Sherae'a Moore: yes
    • Bryan W. Shupe: yes
    • Claire Snyder-Hall: yes
    • Jeffrey N. Spiegelman: yes
    • Jesse R. Vanderwende: yes
    • Madinah Wilson-Anton: yes
    • Lyndon D. Yearick: yes

  • SM

    2026-04-16 · pass · 20-0

    Member-level votes (21)
    • Darius J. Brown: yes
    • Eric Buckson: yes
    • Daniel Cruce: yes
    • Stephanie L. Hansen: yes
    • Gerald W. Hocker: yes
    • Kyra L. Hoffner: yes
    • Russell Huxtable: yes
    • Dave G. Lawson: yes
    • S. Elizabeth Lockman: yes
    • Spiros Mantzavinos: yes
    • Trey Paradee: other
    • Brian Pettyjohn: yes
    • Marie Pinkney: yes
    • Nicole Poore: yes
    • Bryant L. Richardson: yes
    • Ray Seigfried: yes
    • David P. Sokola: yes
    • Laura V. Sturgeon: yes
    • Bryan Townsend: yes
    • John "Jack" Walsh: yes
    • David L. Wilson: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142423

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T03:53:51.443619Z

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