Delaware HB 359 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 AND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF HUMAN REMAINS.
Delaware, 153. HB 359: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 AND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF HUMAN REMAINS.
Latest action
September 24, 2026 — Signed by Governor
Summary
This Act permits the State to bury or cremate an unclaimed body or remains of an indigent individual without requiring written consent of the next of kin or other legally responsible party. This statutory change will reduce costs, conserve cemetery space, and reduce environmental impacts by limiting formaldehyde exposure in the soil.
Sponsors
- DeShanna U Neal — primary sponsor
- Nicole Poore — primary sponsor
- Ray Seigfried — primary sponsor
- Stell Parker Selby — primary sponsor
- Sarah McBride — primary sponsor
- Claire Snyder-Hall — primary sponsor
- Kerri Evelyn Harris — primary sponsor
- Russell Huxtable — primary sponsor
- Melanie Ross Levin — 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 |
2/3
June 25, 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 7 Favorable
- 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 1 Favorable, 9 On Its Merits
- Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House
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