# Delaware HB 161: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FUNERAL ESTABLISHMENT PERMITS.

Delaware HB 161, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FUNERAL ESTABLISHMENT PERMITS., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) House bill sponsored by Josue O Ortega (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-08-25 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB161-153
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Delaware HB 161
- State: Delaware
- Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)
- Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FUNERAL ESTABLISHMENT PERMITS.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-05-14
- Last action: 2025-08-25, Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: Josue O Ortega (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (61 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Broader facility rules for funeral businesses: cost, low. Delaware’s definition of a funeral establishment covers places that care for and prepare human remains. It covers funeral services, burial, entombment, cremation, and natural organic reduction, which turns remains into soil. The definition includes embalming areas, viewing areas, related services,…
- Funeral permits required, with venue exceptions: mixed, low. Funeral establishment operators must have a permit issued by Delaware’s Board; operating without one is grounds for discipline. A funeral service held in a private residence, church, or lodge hall needs no separate permit. This exception applies only when the funeral director of record operates fro…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Josue O Ortega (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Russell Huxtable (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-06-26 | Senate | Passed (2/3 required) | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2025-06-12 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |

## Actions (8)

- 2025-08-25: Signed by Governor (Governor)
- 2025-06-26: Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES (Senate)
- 2025-06-18: Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits (Senate)
- 2025-06-13: Re-Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate (Senate)
- 2025-06-12: Assigned to Legislative Oversight & Sunset Committee in Senate (Senate)
- 2025-06-12: Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT (House)
- 2025-05-21: Reported Out of Committee (Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)) in House with 5 On Its Merits (House)
- 2025-05-14: Introduced and Assigned to Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) Committee in House (House)

## Bill text

- Current, 2025-05-14: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142280&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2)

## Related bills

- HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST LICENSURE ACT. (passed house)
- HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO SUPPORT POOR PERSONS. (signed)
- SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. (vetoed)
- SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. (vetoed)
- HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLIC UTILITY CONSUMERS. (vetoed)
- HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING FOAM AND EQUIPMENT. (failed)

## Sources
- [Current (HTML)](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142280&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2)

## Related
- [HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB449-153)
- [HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB357-153)
- [SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB231-153)
- [SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB279-153)
- [HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB393-153)
- [HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB356-153)
- [Delaware bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware/bills)
- [Delaware state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB161-153 (as of 2026-10-19).