Delaware SB 26 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
Delaware, 153. SB 26: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
Latest action
September 30, 2026 — Signed by Governor
Summary
Under current Delaware law, if a labor dispute constitutes a lockout, employees who meet all other eligibility requirements qualify for unemployment benefits from the date they file their claim. However, if a labor dispute does not constitute a lockout, employees do not qualify for (i.e. are disqualified from receiving) unemployment benefits. This Act changes the law to allow an employee who is subject to a labor dispute, other than a lockout, to collect unemployment benefits after a 2-week waiting period, if the employee meets all the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits, including being able and available for work and completing weekly job requirements. This Act provides that the 2-week waiting period established by this Act is waived if one or both of the following apply: (1) The labor dispute is caused by the failure or refusal of the employer to comply with an agreement or contract between the employer and the individual, including a collective bargaining agreement with a union representing the individual, or a State or federal law pertaining to hours, wages, or other conditions of work. (2) The employer hires a permanent replacement worker for the individual's position. The Department of Labor may impose a penalty on an employer who fraudulently certifies the ability of an employee to return to the employee’s prior position on conclusion of the labor dispute. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Sponsors
- Darius J. Brown — primary sponsor
- Bryant L. Richardson — primary sponsor
- Claire Snyder-Hall — primary sponsor
- John "Jack" Walsh — primary sponsor
- Spiros Mantzavinos — primary sponsor
- Edward S. Osienski — primary sponsor
- David L. Wilson — primary sponsor
Bill text
Bill Text Read version ↗ Read version ↗
Recorded votes
SM
May 5, 2026 · House · pass
yes: 26 · no: 9 · other: 6
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 | no |
| Franklin D. Cooke | yes |
| Daniel B. Short | other |
| Timothy D. Dukes | no |
| Mara Gorman | yes |
| Ronald E. Gray | no |
| Krista Griffith | yes |
| Kerri Evelyn Harris | yes |
| Debra Heffernan | yes |
| Kevin S Hensley | other |
| Jeff Hilovsky | no |
| Valerie Jones Giltner | no |
| 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 | no |
| Eric Morrison | yes |
| DeShanna U Neal | yes |
| Josue O Ortega | yes |
| Edward S. Osienski | yes |
| Sophie Phillips | yes |
| Charles S Postles Jr. | no |
| Cyndie Romer | yes |
| Melanie Ross Levin | yes |
| Sherae'a Moore | other |
| Bryan W. Shupe | other |
| Claire Snyder-Hall | yes |
| Jeffrey N. Spiegelman | no |
| Jesse R. Vanderwende | other |
| Madinah Wilson-Anton | yes |
| Lyndon D. Yearick | no |
SM
January 13, 2026 · Senate · pass
yes: 16 · no: 5 · 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 | no |
| Kyra L. Hoffner | yes |
| Russell Huxtable | yes |
| Dave G. Lawson | no |
| S. Elizabeth Lockman | yes |
| Spiros Mantzavinos | yes |
| Trey Paradee | yes |
| Brian Pettyjohn | no |
| Marie Pinkney | yes |
| Nicole Poore | yes |
| Bryant L. Richardson | no |
| Ray Seigfried | yes |
| David P. Sokola | yes |
| Laura V. Sturgeon | yes |
| Bryan Townsend | yes |
| John "Jack" Walsh | yes |
| David L. Wilson | no |
Legislative history
- Signed by Governor
- Passed By House. Votes: 26 YES 9 NO 6 ABSENT
- Reported Out of Committee (Labor) in House with 2 Favorable, 6 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Labor Committee in House
- Passed By Senate. Votes: 16 YES 5 NO
- Reported Out of Committee (Labor) in Senate with 5 Favorable
- Introduced and Assigned to Labor Committee in Senate
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