# Delaware SB 159: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.

Delaware SB 159, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-06-30 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB159-153
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Delaware SB 159
- State: Delaware
- Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)
- Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-05-21
- Last action: 2025-06-30, Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 27
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (55 yes, 26 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Delaware renewable energy substations gain permit protections: benefit, low. Electrical substations on unincorporated land in Delaware counties require a conditional-use permit. Counties cannot deny that permit or directly related project infrastructure when the substation supports a proposed renewable energy project of at least 250 megawatts. The site must be in a heavy in…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Frank Burns (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mara Gorman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kerri Evelyn Harris (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kendra Johnson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Larry Lambert (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: S. Elizabeth Lockman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sean M. Lynn (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Eric Morrison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: DeShanna U Neal (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Josue O Ortega (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Trey Paradee (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sophie Phillips (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nicole Poore (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Cyndie Romer (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Melanie Ross Levin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sherae'a Moore (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ray Seigfried (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David P. Sokola (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Madinah Wilson-Anton (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-06-30 | Senate | Passed (SM required) | pass | 15 | 6 |   |
| 2025-06-30 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 25 | 15 |   |
| 2025-06-10 | Senate | Passed (SM required) | pass | 15 | 5 |   |

## Actions (11)

- 2025-06-30: Signed by Governor (Governor)
- 2025-06-30: Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO (Senate)
- 2025-06-30: Passed By House. Votes: 25 YES 15 NO 1 VACANT (House)
- 2025-06-30: Amendment HA 1 to SB 159 - Passed In House by Voice Vote (House)
- 2025-06-24: Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 4 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits (House)
- 2025-06-11: Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House (House)
- 2025-06-10: Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 5 NO 1 ABSENT (Senate)
- 2025-06-10: Amendment SA 1 to SB 159 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate)
- 2025-06-10: Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits (Senate)
- 2025-06-06: Amendment SA 1 to SB 159 - Introduced and Placed With Bill (Senate)
- 2025-05-21: Introduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate (Senate)

## Bill text

- Current, 2025-05-21: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142363&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=142363&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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB159-153 (as of 2026-10-12).