Delaware HB 357 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO SUPPORT POOR PERSONS.
Delaware, 153. HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO SUPPORT POOR PERSONS.
Latest action
September 30, 2026 — Signed by Governor
Summary
This Act updates § 503 of Title 13 by replacing the outdated term “poor person” with the term, “a person unable to financially support oneself”. This language change is a technical change to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. In addition, this Act clarifies that § 503 of the Title 13, relating to the duty to support a person unable to financially support oneself (formerly “poor person”), includes the duty to a support an adult child with a disability that cannot support oneself. This duty is articulated in H. v. V., 2018 Del. Fam. Ct. LEXIS 4, where the Family Court found that a parent of a 22 year-old adult child diagnosed with severe autism was statutorily obligated to provide support to the adult child.
Sponsors
- Melanie Ross Levin — primary sponsor
- Nicole Poore — primary sponsor
- Mara Gorman — primary sponsor
- Ray Seigfried — primary sponsor
- Spiros Mantzavinos — primary sponsor
- Claire Snyder-Hall — primary sponsor
- David L. Wilson — primary sponsor
Bill text
Bill Text Read version ↗ Read version ↗
Recorded votes
SM
May 5, 2026 · House · pass
yes: 37 · no: 0 · other: 4
Official vote source ↗Individual member positions (41)
| Member | Vote |
|---|---|
| Alonna Berry | yes |
| Stephanie T. Bolden | yes |
| Frank Burns | yes |
| William Bush | yes |
| William J. Carson | yes |
| Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha | other |
| 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 | other |
| 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 | other |
| 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 | other |
| Bryan W. Shupe | yes |
| Claire Snyder-Hall | yes |
| Jeffrey N. Spiegelman | yes |
| Jesse R. Vanderwende | yes |
| Madinah Wilson-Anton | yes |
| Lyndon D. Yearick | yes |
3/4
June 24, 2026 · Senate · pass
yes: 21 · no: 0 · other: 0
Official vote source ↗Individual member positions (21)
| Member | Vote |
|---|---|
| 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 | 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 |
Legislative history
- Signed by Governor
- Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
- Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 4 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate
- Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 4 ABSENT
- Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 9 On Its Merits
- Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House
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