# Delaware HB 456: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SUBAQUEOUS LANDS. Delaware HB 456, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SUBAQUEOUS LANDS., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) House bill sponsored by Cyndie Romer (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-09-24 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB456-153 - 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 456 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SUBAQUEOUS LANDS. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-06-04 - Last action: 2026-09-24, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Cyndie Romer (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 4 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (61 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Firm deadlines for small home docks: benefit, low. The law sets permit deadlines for private-residence boat docks no larger than 300 square feet. The Department must identify missing information within 30 days; applicants have 30 days to respond. The general permit is automatically issued unless the Department approves or denies it within 120 days… - State permit exemption for private waterways: benefit, low. Activities on privately owned underwater lands not affected by tides are exempt from the state submerged-lands chapter. They must be authorized by a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit in effect in Delaware. They must also have the Department’s water quality certification when required.… - Hearing and appeal rights for waterways: benefit, low. The Department must hold a hearing when it receives a qualifying written objection within 20 days after public notice is advertised. The objection must show knowledge of the application, explain its likely impact, and show the requester’s substantial connection to that impact. The Department must f… - More permit options for waterway projects: benefit, low. The Department can create general permits for utility lines and related facilities, covering construction, maintenance, repair, and removal. These include overhead or underground electric and telecom lines, underground water, sewage and stormwater lines, and oil and gas pipelines. It can also creat… - New licensing rules for marine contractors: cost, low. The law creates a Marine Contractors and Consultants Licensing Board for work on submerged lands and tidelands. Covered work includes adding, removing, or extracting material, and building, changing, repairing, or rebuilding structures or facilities. The Department keeps exclusive licensing authori… - Delegated waterway land decisions have limits: mixed, low. The Secretary can delegate powers and duties under the submerged-lands chapter. This includes authority to transfer land, lease it, or grant easements for areas up to 2,500 square feet. The Secretary cannot delegate those land-transfer, lease, or easement powers for larger areas. This change does n… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Cyndie Romer (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Frank Burns (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Ronald E. Gray (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Debra Heffernan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-24 | Senate | Passed (3/4 required) | pass | 21 | 0 | | | 2026-06-11 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 40 | 0 | | ## Actions (7) - 2026-09-24: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-24: Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES (Senate) - 2026-06-18: Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits (Senate) - 2026-06-11: Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate (Senate) - 2026-06-11: Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT (House) - 2026-06-10: Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 7 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits (House) - 2026-06-04: Introduced and Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-06-04: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143422&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=143422&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-HB456-153 (as of 2026-10-19).