DE HB 265
enactedAN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSE REPORTING AND IMMUNITY FOR CERTAIN CRIMES.
Delaware · 2025-2026 Regular Session (153rd General Assembly) · lower
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Quick answers
Did DE HB 265 pass?
Yes. DE HB 265 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-06-24): Signed by Governor
What is DE HB 265 about?
This Act provides limited immunity from prosecution for persons who seek to report a sexual offense. Under this Act a person who is a victim or witness or otherwise seeks law enforcement assistance in relation to a sexual offense may not be charged, arrested, or prosecuted, or issued a civil citation for low-level crimes relating to drug or alcohol use or possession. This Act also provides that a person’s probation or pretrial release status may not be revoked or changed based on an incident for which the person would receive the limited immunity from prosecution provided under this statute.
Who sponsors DE HB 265?
Bryan Townsend, Josue O Ortega, Sarah McBride and 16 others are the primary sponsors of DE HB 265, joined by 17 cosponsors.
Description
This Act provides limited immunity from prosecution for persons who seek to report a sexual offense. Under this Act a person who is a victim or witness or otherwise seeks law enforcement assistance in relation to a sexual offense may not be charged, arrested, or prosecuted, or issued a civil citation for low-level crimes relating to drug or alcohol use or possession. This Act also provides that a person’s probation or pretrial release status may not be revoked or changed based on an incident for which the person would receive the limited immunity from prosecution provided under this statute.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-08
- Latest action
- 2026-06-24 — Signed by Governor
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Bryan Townsendprimary
- Josue O Ortegaprimary
- Sarah McBrideprimary
- Kerri Evelyn Harrisprimary
- Nicole Pooreprimary
- William Bushprimary
- Brian Pettyjohnprimary
- Claire Snyder-Hallprimary
- Cyndie Romerprimary
- Eric Morrisonprimary
- Spiros Mantzavinosprimary
- Ray Seigfriedprimary
- Russell Huxtableprimary
- Mara Gormanprimary
- Stell Parker Selbyprimary
- Marie Pinkneyprimary
- David L. Wilsonprimary
- Melanie Ross Levinprimary
- Sophie Phillipsprimary
- Alonna Berrycosponsor
- Mara Gormancosponsor
- Debra Heffernancosponsor
- Kendra Johnsoncosponsor
- Larry Lambertcosponsor
- Eric Morrisoncosponsor
- DeShanna U Nealcosponsor
- Cyndie Romercosponsor
- Claire Snyder-Hallcosponsor
- Kimberly Williamscosponsor
- William Bushcosponsor
- Krista Griffithcosponsor
- Kerri Evelyn Harriscosponsor
- Daniel Crucecosponsor
- S. Elizabeth Lockmancosponsor
- Ray Seigfriedcosponsor
- Bryan Townsendcosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-06-24
Signed by Governor
executive-signature
2026-06-18
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
passage
2026-05-13
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
committee-passage
2026-03-19
Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
introduction,referral-committee
2026-03-19
Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 4 ABSENT
passage
2026-03-11
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 7 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-01-08
Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
introduction,referral-committee
Versions
- Bill TextCompare
Documents
Votes
SM
2026-03-19 · pass · 37-0
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: other
- Timothy D. Dukes: other
- 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: other
- 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: other
SM
2026-06-18 · 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: other
- S. Elizabeth Lockman: yes
- Spiros Mantzavinos: yes
- Trey Paradee: yes
- 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
Attribution
Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-10-20T20:20:33.016657Z
Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:
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