PRIA Logo™
DelawareHB 262153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PAID LEAVE.

Sponsored By: Debra Heffernan (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

School workers choose adoption leave start

The law lets eligible Delaware school employees choose when their paid adoption leave starts. It covers employees of reorganized school districts, charter schools, and vocational school districts. Full-time employees, or employees with at least 1 year of employment, qualify for 12 weeks of paid leave. This leave covers a child's birth or adoption of a child age 6 or younger. For adoption, employees can start leave at placement, when they begin a Family Court adoption petition, or when adoption is complete. The 12-week leave entitlement expires 12 months after the birth or adoption. Full-time and part-time employees can also use accumulated sick leave for these events, regardless of how long they have worked. Leave runs at the same time as applicable federal family leave and, for births, state short-term disability benefits. Employers cannot change or end an employee's benefits or employment because the employee takes this leave.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Debra Heffernan

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Alonna Berry

    Democratic • House

  • Stephanie T. Bolden

    Democratic • House

  • Darius J. Brown

    Democratic • Senate

  • Eric Buckson

    Republican • Senate

  • Franklin D. Cooke

    Democratic • House

  • Daniel Cruce

    Democratic • Senate

  • Stephanie L. Hansen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kerri Evelyn Harris

    Democratic • House

  • Gerald W. Hocker

    Republican • Senate

  • Kyra L. Hoffner

    Democratic • Senate

  • Russell Huxtable

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kendra Johnson

    Democratic • House

  • Larry Lambert

    Democratic • House

  • Dave G. Lawson

    Republican • Senate

  • S. Elizabeth Lockman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sean M. Lynn

    Democratic • House

  • Spiros Mantzavinos

    Democratic • Senate

  • Eric Morrison

    Democratic • House

  • DeShanna U Neal

    Democratic • House

  • Trey Paradee

    Democratic • Senate

  • Brian Pettyjohn

    Republican • Senate

  • Marie Pinkney

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nicole Poore

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bryant L. Richardson

    Republican • Senate

  • Melanie Ross Levin

    Democratic • House

  • Ray Seigfried

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claire Snyder-Hall

    Democratic • House

  • David P. Sokola

    Democratic • Senate

  • Laura V. Sturgeon

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bryan Townsend

    Democratic • Senate

  • John "Jack" Walsh

    Democratic • Senate

  • David L. Wilson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 58 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/6/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 3/19/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    6/10/2026Governor

  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

    5/6/2026Senate

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits

    4/15/2026Senate

  4. Assigned to Education Committee in Senate

    3/19/2026Senate

  5. Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 4 ABSENT

    3/19/2026House

  6. Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 11 On Its Merits

    3/11/2026House

  7. Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

    1/8/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation