DelawareHB 468153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EMERGENCY SERVICES.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

12 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 5 costs, 4 mixed.

911 callers get stronger record privacy

911 texts, audio recordings, and information from calls or related investigations are confidential and exempt from Delaware's public-records law. The Department and call centers may share them for emergency response, necessary system management, or related criminal justice work. Sharing is also allowed for Department maintenance, quality checks, or a court order.

911 systems get rapid cyberattack response

Entities discovering ransomware or another cyber incident affecting 911 infrastructure must immediately start their emergency response plan. They must notify the Board within one hour, take reasonable steps to isolate affected systems, preserve evidence, and cooperate with responders and investigators. They cannot engage with or pay attackers without express written approval from the Board and appropriate law enforcement agencies. A written report is due within 10 business days after system restoration. The Board may require more reporting or security audits.

Modern 911 service and dispatch standards

Delaware establishes a statewide 911 system for voice, texts, images, and video. Every call center must maintain next-generation 911 or Board-approved technology, and covered phone companies must provide 911 capability to every center. The Board must track technology, plan improvements, and set statewide technical and operating standards. Centers providing medical dispatch under state contract must use standard caller questions, prearrival instructions, and approved quality-review software. They must electronically capture caller location and dispatch data, track times in seconds, and send data to the state medical-services database in real time. These centers must handle simultaneous calls around the clock and support one-button advanced-life-support transfers with pickup and transfer times. They also must maintain NENA and NAEMD accreditation, fire and police dispatch certifications, and transfers between computer dispatch systems.

Higher 911 fees on prepaid wireless

The initial prepaid wireless 911 charge rises from $0.60 to $0.90 per eligible retail purchase; consumers owe it. A purchase qualifies through a Delaware store, delivery address, recorded or customer-provided address, or mobile number linked to Delaware. Sellers collect the charge, send payments quarterly, and may keep 3% for collection costs. Rate changes start on a calendar quarter at least 60 days after final notice; Revenue posts notice 30 days ahead. This is the only state or local 911 funding charge allowed on prepaid wireless service.

Higher monthly 911 charges for customers

The monthly 911 charge stays at $0.60 through September 30, 2026, then rises to $0.90 on October 1, 2026. After that, the law allows $0.10 increases every two years, up to $2 per month. Charges apply to eligible residential lines, business lines or trunks, and each billed wireless number. Qualifying nontraditional communications services also pay; special counting rules apply to some business phone systems. Residential Lifeline lines and wholesale business lines are excluded.

911 centers face financial reporting rules

Centers receiving Board funding must keep it in a separate bank account and document transactions separately. They must use it only for allowed 911 service and Board-standard costs. Detailed reports with supporting records are due each January 15 and July 15. The Fund requires an independent audit at least every three years; the Board may audit center records at any time. The Board may cut, suspend, or stop payments until a center satisfies accounting and audit requirements.

Separate wireless 911 plan requirement ends

Wireless providers and emergency call centers no longer must follow the Board's separate state plan for wireless 911 service. The law also removes the Secretary's authority to enforce that plan or issue related rules. This repeal concerns the separate wireless plan, not the law's statewide 911 standards.

State control grows over 911 centers

The Board chooses call-center locations, with no more than nine authorized centers statewide. Existing centers may stay open, but a grandfathered center that closes cannot be replaced, and the allowed total falls. The Board, through the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, exclusively contracts for the statewide system and must establish efficient purchasing processes. Local centers retain authority to buy extra programs and equipment that supplement that system. All centers must move to Board-managed vendors by December 31, 2027, or risk reduced, suspended, or ended funding and technical support.

911 centers get funding with conditions

Beginning January 1, 2027, local 911 centers share one-quarter of monthly surcharge deposits under a Board formula. The initial formula uses 2025 billing-address counts for residential lines, basic-rate services, and wireless numbers, plus other relevant information. The Board must publish a recalculated formula January 1, 2032, using 2030 counts, then repeat every five years. Total annual payments must reach $2.5 million when funds are sufficient; otherwise, payments are prorated and unpaid amounts carry forward. Centers may request extra awards for eligible costs or statewide projects; the Board considers population, operations, standards compliance, and dispatch service. Extra awards are not guaranteed, and the Board may cut or stop regular payments for noncompliance or failure to provide 911 service.

911 funding covers costs with limits

The Board manages the 911 Fund and may pay statewide project obligations, contracts, administration, and eligible agency or provider costs. Eligible uses include equipment, installation, networks, databases, software, maintenance, training, public education, and language translation. Staff costs qualify only under the allocation rules; real-estate construction, purchase, renovation, or furnishings qualify only under monthly-allocation rules. Vehicle-related spending is limited, but 911 communications equipment in mobile command vehicles and radios used directly by centers qualify. Fund payments cannot duplicate or compete with Board purchases or cover connection costs for entities opting out of Board-purchased services. Revenue may carry forward for statewide projects, but annual spending cannot exceed annual revenue deposited into the Fund.

911 liability shields limit some lawsuits

People providing or operating 911 services in good faith are protected from civil liability for resulting death, injury, or loss. This includes receiving, processing, relaying, and transferring information, system maintenance, emergency radio communications, and next-generation internet-based services. Protection does not cover gross negligence or an intentional legal wrong. These shields limit some claims by people harmed by covered 911 work.

Phone providers lose credits, retain privacy

Covered providers must name a Board contact and provide information the Board requires. Written requests for subscriber, revenue, expense, and caller-location data must serve a lawful purpose directly related to 911. Providers retain ownership of that data, and Board disclosure is limited by a nondisclosure agreement. Providers lose statutory credits for surcharge collection costs, protections for uncollectible charges, and authority for related collection and distribution agreements. The law does not establish whether these changes affect customer prices.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

William Bush
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Alonna Berry
Democratic • House
Franklin D. Cooke
Democratic • House
Daniel B. Short
Republican • House
Kyra L. Hoffner
Democratic • Senate
Josue O Ortega
Democratic • House
Nicole Poore
Democratic • Senate
David L. Wilson
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 59 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/30/2026

Passed (3/4 required)

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 6/18/2026

Passed (3/5 required)

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Signed by Governor
6/30/2026Governor
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
6/30/2026Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Corrections & Public Safety) in Senate with 5 Favorable
6/24/2026Senate
Assigned to Corrections & Public Safety Committee in Senate
6/18/2026Senate
Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT
6/18/2026House
Amendment HA 1 to HB 468 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
6/18/2026House
Amendment HA 1 to HB 468 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
6/17/2026House
Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 5 On Its Merits
6/16/2026House
Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 5 On Its Merits
6/16/2026House
Introduced and Assigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House
6/9/2026House

Bill Text

Current
6/9/2026
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