PRIA Logo™
DelawareHB 475153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE NURSING ADVANCEMENT FUND.

Sponsored By: Melissa Minor-Brown (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

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

Annual grants support Delaware's nursing workforce

The law creates the Delaware Nursing Advancement Fund, run by the Division of Professional Regulation. Each year, its accumulated principal funds one grant to the Delaware Nurses Workforce Institute or a similar Delaware-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The recipient must track nurse supply and demand and study shortages in nursing education and practice. It must build partnerships on workforce policy, diversity, and career mobility. It must also teach the public, including K–12 students, about nursing careers and share workforce information with residents for free. Grants are distributed each July, with the first distribution due by July 31, 2027. Beginning January 1, 2027, Board disciplinary fines under the two specified legal authorities go to the Fund instead of the general fund. This does not change the fines people owe. Interest is credited monthly at the state's cash-management rate, and principal and interest remain dedicated to the Fund's purposes. The money is continuously available to the Division for the grant and reasonable costs of administering it, without a separate annual appropriation. It cannot pay for lobbying or administrative costs unrelated to the grant and its required work. Starting January 1, 2029, and every two years afterward, the recipient must report spending and completed work to the Division, Governor, Joint Finance Committee chairs, Controller General, and Legislative Services director. The Division can adopt rules to carry out the program.

Delaware nurses pay higher license fees

Beginning January 1, 2027, Delaware practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses pay a $10 license surcharge. It applies to each initial license and renewal, and the money goes to the Delaware Nursing Advancement Fund. Other nursing fees must reasonably reflect the costs of the Board of Nursing and Division of Professional Regulation. The Division, or an agency acting for it, calculates fees for each service annually at the start of the calendar year. The law also removes the ban on combining application fees with other charges.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Melissa Minor-Brown

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Alonna Berry

    Democratic • House

  • Eric Buckson

    Republican • Senate

  • Frank Burns

    Democratic • House

  • Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha

    Democratic • House

  • Stephanie L. Hansen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kerri Evelyn Harris

    Democratic • House

  • Debra Heffernan

    Democratic • House

  • Russell Huxtable

    Democratic • Senate

  • Valerie Jones Giltner

    Republican • House

  • Kendra Johnson

    Democratic • House

  • Larry Lambert

    Democratic • House

  • Eric Morrison

    Democratic • House

  • DeShanna U Neal

    Democratic • House

  • Edward S. Osienski

    Democratic • House

  • Marie Pinkney

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nicole Poore

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ray Seigfried

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claire Snyder-Hall

    Democratic • House

  • David L. Wilson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 59 • No: 1

Senate vote • 6/24/2026

Passed (3/4 required)

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 6/11/2026

Passed (3/4 required)

Yes: 38 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    8/31/2026Governor

  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

    6/24/2026Senate

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 7 Favorable

    6/17/2026Senate

  4. Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate

    6/11/2026Senate

  5. Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 1 NO 2 ABSENT

    6/11/2026House

  6. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 11 On Its Merits

    6/9/2026House

  7. Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

    6/4/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation