# Delaware HB 175: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FEES AND ASSESSMENT AND TO AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE VARIOUS DNREC FEES AND ASSESSMENTS.

Delaware HB 175, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FEES AND ASSESSMENT AND TO AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE VARIOUS DNREC FEES AND ASSESSMENTS., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) House bill sponsored by Debra Heffernan (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-06-24 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB175-153
- 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 175
- State: Delaware
- Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)
- Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FEES AND ASSESSMENT AND TO AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE VARIOUS DNREC FEES AND ASSESSMENTS.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-05-28
- Last action: 2025-06-24, Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: Debra Heffernan (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 16
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (41 yes, 19 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 17

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Coastal project applicants pay permit fees: cost, high. Coastal construction and mechanical dune restoration permit applications cost $4,500. A letter of approval costs $500. Violation reviews cost $500 for each violation reviewed.
- Homeowners pay septic and well fees: cost, medium. Septic site reviews, repairs, component replacements, connection approvals, Class H reviews, system permits, and holding tank inspections cost $250 each. System compliance inspections cost $100; subdivision feasibility reviews, waivers, variances, and product approval applications cost $1,000 each.…
- Waterfront applicants pay dredging and lease fees: cost, medium. Listed dock, pier, fill, amendment, authorization, and salvage permit applications cost $250. New dredging costs $1.50 per cubic yard plus $250 per application. Maintenance dredging costs $250 per application, plus $500 per event below 500 cubic yards or $1,000 at 500 cubic yards or more. Listed 10…
- Water professionals pay licensing and exam fees: cost, medium. Percolation testers, septic system designers, and site evaluators pay $100 annually per license, up from $40. Drilling and pump installation contractor applications cost $250; well driller, pump installer, and wastewater operator license applications cost $100. Waste hauling transporter permits and…
- Businesses pay air permit and operating fees: cost, low. Air-quality variance applications cost $10,000; temporary emergency variance applications cost $5,000. Listed permit fees range from $100 to $1,000, including $800 for fuel-burning equipment, crematories, and emergency generators. Listed annual fees range from $100 to $600, including $300 for fuel-…
- Businesses pay more for complex air reviews: cost, low. Minor new-source review applications cost $6,000; emission offset and major pollution-prevention reviews cost $24,000. Reviews under federal air-emission standards and distributed-generator reviews cost $6,000. Reviews of federally enforceable laws and confidentiality requests cost $3,000. A $3,000…
- Groundwater and irrigation operators pay new fees: cost, low. Applications for large septic drainfields, rapid infiltration basins, underground injection systems, and irrigation spray systems cost $250. Listed nonmunicipal systems pay $0.25 per 1,000 gallons annually, capped at $20,000 per entity. Municipal systems pay $0.10 per 1,000 gallons annually, capped…
- Hazardous substance facilities face higher reporting fees: cost, low. Standard annual fees for extremely hazardous substances are at least $900 for the first whole unit and $50 per additional unit. The schedule covers no more than 300 units. Qualifying stationary sources reporting propane and ammonium nitrate retain maximum rates of $500 for the first unit and $25 pe…
- Hazardous waste businesses lose fee caps: cost, low. The law removes the $10,000 general annual cap on hazardous waste program fees. It also removes the $500 annual cap for small businesses. Delaware's environmental agency can set reasonable fees by regulation to cover program administration. This provision does not set the resulting fee amounts.
- Large aboveground tank owners pay higher fees: cost, low. Annual registration for tanks holding 12,499–39,999 gallons rises from $300 to $700; construction permits rise from $1,500 to $3,500. For tanks holding at least 40,000 gallons, annual registration rises from $750 to $1,000; construction permits rise from $3,750 to $9,000. Annual registration is due…
- Underground tank owners and contractors pay more: cost, low. Underground tank registration costs $150 per tank annually, up from $50. Payment must arrive by February 1 each year; the late charge rises from $30 to $50. Tank contractor company certification costs $750, up from $250. On-site supervisor certification costs $300, up from $100. Both certifications…
- Waste and gasoline facilities pay program fees: cost, low. Solid waste facilities pay $14,000 annually, and recycling facilities pay $2,000 annually. Composting facility fees are $400, $4,000, or $9,000 for classes 1, 2, or 3. Scrap tire disposal fees are $500 for class 1 and $750 for class 2. Gasoline vapor-control system construction costs $1,000 for bul…
- Wastewater operators pay discharge and permit fees: cost, low. Wastewater discharge applications and amendments cost $250; applications recur every five years, and industrial stormwater permits cost $250 annually. Industrial and non-industrial dischargers pay $0.25 per 1,000 gallons annually, capped at $20,000 per entity. Municipal discharge fees begin July 1,…
- Land project applicants face higher review caps: cost, low. Delaware's environmental agency can charge up to $975 per disturbed acre per project, replacing the former $80 maximum. This applies when the agency approves plans for a land-disturbing activity that requires a permit. Actual charges follow the agency's fee schedule and cannot exceed the new ceilin…
- Hazardous waste assessments lose floors and ceilings: mixed, low. Hazardous waste generators pay annual assessments of $50 per ton for land disposal, $35 for specified off-site handling, or $10 for incineration. Facility owners and operators pay $84 per ton for land disposal, or $64 for off-site storage, treatment, or disposal excluding land disposal. These asses…
- Permit holders get limited old-fee transition: mixed, low. The law generally takes effect 180 days after enactment, replacing equivalent fees approved under earlier laws. Applications submitted after the effective date use the new fees. Current holders can pay the old fee when their permit or license expires within 90 days after that date. They must submit…
- Water users pay fees; farms avoid annual charges: mixed, low. Listed large water-withdrawal systems pay $250 for an allocation permit. Public, industrial, and commercial systems pay $0.25 per 1,000 gallons annually, capped at $20,000 per entity. Agricultural systems have no annual allocation fee. Municipal annual fees begin July 1, 2026, at $0.10 per 1,000 ga…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Debra Heffernan (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kerri Evelyn Harris (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Larry Lambert (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: S. Elizabeth Lockman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Melissa Minor-Brown (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Eric Morrison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Josue O Ortega (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Trey Paradee (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sophie Phillips (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nicole Poore (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David P. Sokola (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-06-18 | Senate | Passed (3/5 required) | pass | 15 | 5 |   |
| 2025-06-12 | House | Passed (3/5 required) | pass | 26 | 14 |   |

## Actions (8)

- 2025-06-24: Signed by Governor (Governor)
- 2025-06-18: Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 5 NO 1 ABSENT (Senate)
- 2025-06-17: Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable (Senate)
- 2025-06-12: Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate (Senate)
- 2025-06-12: Passed By House. Votes: 26 YES 14 NO 1 ABSENT (House)
- 2025-06-12: Amendment HA 1 to HB 175 - Passed In House by Voice Vote (House)
- 2025-06-11: Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 5 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits (House)
- 2025-05-28: Introduced and Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House (House)

## Bill text

- Current, 2025-05-28: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142394&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=142394&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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB175-153 (as of 2026-10-19).