Delaware HB 456 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SUBAQUEOUS LANDS.
Delaware, 153. HB 456: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SUBAQUEOUS LANDS.
Latest action
September 24, 2026 — Signed by Governor
Summary
This Act streamlines DNREC’s subaqueous lands permitting process by adding permitting exemptions for common activities already authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, expanding the use of general permits to provide statewide authorization for certain activities instead of individual permits, clarifying when some decisions may be delegated from the Secretary to Department staff, imposing specific processing timelines for minor structures and standardizing applications to reduce processing delays. It also creates the Marine Contractors and Consultants Licensing Board, to assist DNREC in licensing and regulation of individuals and entities that affect submerged lands or tidelands.
Sponsors
- Cyndie Romer — primary sponsor
- Ronald E. Gray — primary sponsor
- Claire Snyder-Hall — primary sponsor
- Bryant L. Richardson — primary sponsor
- Russell Huxtable — primary sponsor
Bill text
Bill Text Read version ↗ Read version ↗
Recorded votes
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 |
SM
June 11, 2026 · House · pass
yes: 40 · no: 0 · other: 1
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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |
Legislative history
- Signed by Governor
- Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
- Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
- Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT
- Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 7 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
- Introduced and Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House
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