# Delaware HS 1 for HB 376: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF MILLVILLE. Delaware HS 1 for HB 376, AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF MILLVILLE., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) House bill sponsored by Ronald E. Gray (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-09-16 (Signed by Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB376-153 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Delaware HS 1 for HB 376 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF MILLVILLE. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-06-04 - Last action: 2026-09-16, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Ronald E. Gray (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (55 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 33 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Town property purchase power is removed: benefit, low. The law removes express authority for Millville to buy, hold, and resell property sold for unpaid Town charges. Covered debts include taxes, assessments, water bills, fees, and nuisance charges. This removal does not cancel the debt or establish that other collection or sale powers end. - Millville officials gain pay and reimbursement options: benefit, low. After a preliminary removal resolution, Millville must pay the Town Manager’s unpaid salary balance for the next three calendar months. The Manager’s contract can instead set different payment terms. Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Board of Adjustment members can receive compensation s… - Millville property taxes have annual limits: benefit, low. The law removes an older real-estate taxing clause and sets out an annual limit on covered Town property taxes. The combined real-estate and utility-fixture tax levy cannot exceed 3% of total taxable real-estate and improvement assessed value. Taxes used to pay principal or interest on Town bonds a… - Millville can fund volunteer and community groups: benefit, low. Millville can fund qualifying Delaware-incorporated volunteer fire, ambulance, and emergency-treatment groups that operate services or equipment for the Town. Total yearly contributions cannot exceed 6% of real estate taxes levied that year. The Town can also fund community organizations serving Mi… - Millville Mayor can act during emergencies: benefit, low. The Mayor can act without prior Council approval when a sudden emergency requires prompt protection of health, safety, or welfare. Examples include major fires, serious storms, flooding, civic disturbances, and toxic spills. County, state, or federal emergency declarations also qualify when issued… - Millville removes an express fine power: benefit, low. The law removes express Charter authority to fine people up to $1,000 for Town ordinance violations. It does not state that current fines change or that other penalty authority ends. - Millville residents get clearer public records: benefit, low. Millville must keep electronic and paper minutes of public Council, commission, and board meetings, including each member’s votes. Minutes must be available at Town Hall, posted online within a reasonable time, and approved at the next meeting when possible. The Town must also keep its rules curren… - Unpaid Town bills create property liens: cost, medium. Town taxes and municipal charges create liens on the charged property for 10 years from the levy date. General lien priority follows Delaware law; for a life estate, the life tenant's interest is liable first. Delinquent utilities, service charges, license and tapping fees, assessments, nuisance cl… - Commission members lose daily service payments: cost, low. Commission members no longer receive $5 for each day or part of a day of actual service. The law states no replacement payment. Each affected member's total loss depends on how many days they serve. - Millville damage claims require timely notice: cost, low. People seeking damages for alleged Town negligence causing injury, death, or property damage must give written notice within one year. Notice must go to the Town Manager or designee by prepaid certified mail, with return receipt requested. It must state the time, place, cause, character, and extent… - Annexation and new construction face fees: cost, low. The law removes an older impact-fee clause and authorizes fees for annexation, new development, construction, or first occupancy. Fees must reasonably recover public improvement costs and have a clear connection to growth or new construction. Annexation terms must be agreed to by Council and the ap… - Building projects remain subject to regulation: cost, low. The law removes an older building-and-zoning clause and sets out authority to regulate building construction and removal. Millville can establish building codes, require permits, set building lines, and divide the Town into zones. It can set rules for buildings and materials within each zone. The d… - Owners face annexation petition requirements: cost, low. Annexation petitions must cover land touching Millville and have support from at least 80% of property owners. Existing residential subdivisions instead need at least 80% of lot owners of record. Applicants must provide a description, current survey, and reasons; zoning requests beyond R-1 or R-2 R… - Owners pay for ordered sidewalk repairs: cost, low. Owners must arrange and pay for Council-ordered paving, graveling, curb, sidewalk, or path work beside their property. Work must follow the Town's notice and specifications. After 30 days without compliance, the Town can do the work and bill the owner. Bills unpaid 60 days after presentation can be… - Millville lodging guests face local taxes: cost, low. The law removes an older hotel, motel, and tourist-home tax clause and authorizes a tax on Town lodging establishments. Millville can charge up to 3% of rent, in addition to Delaware's lodging tax. The Town is not required to impose it. The law does not state whether a local tax is already collecte… - Tax deadlines and overdue collection fees: cost, low. Millville taxes are due 90 days after the fiscal year begins, normally May 1 unless Council changes it. The Town must collect taxes still unpaid 90 days after their due date, with applicable penalties and costs. The law replaces an older collection-fee clause and allows a fee capped at 18% of the o… - Millville businesses face annual license charges: cost, low. The law removes an older business-license clause and authorizes annual licenses, taxes, and fees for businesses, professions, and occupations. Council sets the amounts; the law lists no charge amount. Delaware residents need no license to sell produce grown on their own farm or a farm owned by a fa… - Millville can regulate events and gaming: cost, low. Millville can prohibit gaming and fraudulent devices. It can also prohibit, limit, license, or regulate public sports, shows, parades, gatherings, performances, and similar activities. The law grants this power but does not set specific event rules or license fees. - Millville candidates face filing and background checks: cost, low. Council members must be U.S. citizens, residents for at least 90 days before election, and at least 21 by election day. They must owe no overdue Town debts and have no felony conviction or court finding of mental incompetence. Candidates must file an application, certificate, residency proof, Ethic… - Utility infrastructure owners face Town taxes: cost, low. The law removes an older infrastructure-tax clause and authorizes taxes on covered structures within Millville. These include telephone and power poles, pipelines, rail lines, and attached wires or equipment. Railroad or railway lines and poles owned or operated for interstate commerce are exempt.… - Town utilities offer service with charges: mixed, low. Millville can build and run water, sewer, electric, gas, and surface-water drainage systems. The Town can set permitted uses and user charges. For public health, it can require any property within Town to connect to the Town sewer system. It can provide or refuse water, sewer, electric, and gas ser… - Development districts bring limited property assessments: mixed, low. The law removes an older financing clause and authorizes tax-increment financing and special development districts under Delaware law. It includes specified state, county, and other public entities within the entities eligible for district arrangements. District bonds can be repaid only from author… - Millville owners can face sidewalk cleanup duties: mixed, low. Millville can build, maintain, and regulate streets, sidewalks, drainage, parks, and related public works. It can remove public obstructions and require owners or neighboring owners to clear ice, snow, dirt, and other substances from sidewalks and gutters. New authority covers trees and dangerous o… - Millville owners get street-payment appeal deadlines: mixed, low. Owners disputing compensation or damages for a street change must notify the Council in writing within 20 calendar days. They must ask a Superior Court judge for a review commission within 15 calendar days after serving notice. The commission has five property owners who live in Millville. The Coun… - Bidding rules for Millville contract vendors: mixed, low. Millville generally awards contracts to the lowest responsible bidder with a bid that meets requirements. Purchases totaling no more than $10,000 per fiscal year can skip bidding, unless funding or other requirements demand it. Materials or nonprofessional services over $10,000 and up to $20,000 ca… - Millville service licenses cannot be exclusive: mixed, low. Millville can grant and regulate licenses or franchises for providers using public places for utilities, transportation, communications, and other services. This includes vendors selling goods or services in public places. The Council sets the terms and duration, but cannot grant exclusive licenses… - Millville officials face conduct and removal rules: mixed, low. Town officials must follow Delaware’s Code of Conduct and Millville’s Code of Decorum. Council members must affirm the Town code each March when officers are elected. A felony conviction or three consecutive unexcused regular-meeting absences automatically causes loss of office. Residency or expres… - Millville revises weapons and fire controls: mixed, low. Millville can regulate or prevent use of guns, air guns, pistols, slingshots, and similar harmful devices within Delaware law’s limits. This authority does not itself impose a new local restriction. The law removes older weapons language covering fireworks, bombs, and explosives. It also removes ex… - Millville sets police powers and limits: mixed, low. Millville’s Council can create a police department and set its size; the law does not require one. A department’s main jurisdiction covers the Town and annexed properties, and officers can enforce Town and Delaware laws. Officers can make warrantless arrests for observed disorderly conduct or Town… - Millville sets resident voting rules: mixed, low. Bona fide Millville residents age 18 or older can vote once in the annual Town election. Special referenda allow one vote per resident citizen over 18, whether or not they own property. Nonresident property owners cannot vote in those referenda. Election ties remaining after three recounts are deci… - Millville borrowing carries caps and repayment taxes: mixed, low. Replacement borrowing powers let Millville issue debt for Town purposes, backed by its full faith and credit or other security. Total Town debt cannot exceed 25% of assessed real property value; debt certificates are exempt from state, county, and municipal taxes. A Council majority can also approv… - Residents vote on Town improvement borrowing: mixed, low. Millville can issue bonds backed by the Town for listed utility, street, sewage, land, and permanent improvement projects. Council must state the amount, purpose, and security, hold a public hearing, and seek voter approval. The special election must occur 30 to 60 days after the hearing. Town resi… - Millville development contracts can skip bidding: mixed, low. Millville can skip Charter competitive-bidding procedures for contracts tied to Council-created special development or tax increment financing districts. The exception generally does not cover the Council directly buying labor or materials for district public improvements. Development, funding, and… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Ronald E. Gray (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Gerald W. Hocker (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-07-01 | Senate | Passed (2/3 required) | pass | 20 | 0 | | | 2026-06-09 | House | Passed (2/3 required) | pass | 35 | 1 | | ## Actions (6) - 2026-09-16: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-07-01: Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2026-06-18: Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Passed By House. Votes: 35 YES 1 NO 5 ABSENT (House) - 2026-06-04: was introduced and adopted in lieu of HB 376 (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-06-04: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143406&legislationTypeId=6&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 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) - SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. (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=143406&legislationTypeId=6&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 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) - [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) - [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-HS1FORHB376-153 (as of 2026-10-12).