# Delaware SB 171: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF HOUSTON. Delaware SB 171, AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF HOUSTON., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by David L. Wilson (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-06-30 (Signed by Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB171-153 - 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 171 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF HOUSTON. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-06-05 - Last action: 2025-06-30, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: David L. Wilson (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (61 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 21 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Houston bans contracts benefiting elected officials: benefit, low. Houston cannot make Town contracts with the Mayor, a Councilmember, or a business in which either has a financial interest. The ban covers materials, supplies, services, work, and labor. It removes the former $500 threshold and unanimous-Council-approval exception. Contracts that violate the ban ar… - Houston can hire lawyers statewide: benefit, low. Houston’s Town Solicitor can have an office anywhere in Delaware, not just Kent County. The solicitor must remain a member in good standing of the Delaware Bar. - Houston elections move earlier, notice grows: benefit, low. Houston’s annual election moves from the last Saturday in March to the last Saturday in February, with polls open 3–7 p.m. Council chooses a polling place within town, and qualified officials’ two-year terms begin at the next regular Council meeting. Two Councilmembers accept candidate names on a D… - Houston gains options for loose animals: benefit, low. Houston can relocate, rehouse, remove, or dispose of animals running loose. This replaces charter language authorizing their destruction. The law does not guarantee any particular outcome for an animal or its owner. - Houston loses power over Sabbath observance: benefit, low. The law removes Houston Council’s charter power to regulate or control Sabbath observance. - Houston raises fines for ordinance violations: cost, medium. The maximum fine for violating a Houston ordinance rises from $500 to $2,500 per violation. A violation can also bring up to 60 days in jail. A fine, jail time, or both can be imposed. - Houston expands collection of unpaid charges: cost, medium. Delinquent Town fines and property violation charges become first liens on an owner’s real estate. These liens take priority over other liens for 10 years after the charge became due. Charter collection powers also cover unpaid taxes, fees, assessments, and other charges lawfully imposed before the… - Houston expands delinquent property sale rules: cost, medium. Houston can buy, hold, and resell real or personal property sold for unpaid Town charges. Covered debts expressly include fines, property violation charges, trash bills, and other Town charges. For land sold for overdue Town taxes, sale expenses can reduce the proceeds or be charged to owners. Expe… - Houston removes its property tax cap: cost, medium. Houston removes the $500,000 annual cap on taxes raised from real estate and improvements for town purposes. The Town can now raise more than that amount. The law does not set a new tax rate or automatically increase property owners’ bills. - Houston annexations must start with owners: cost, low. Proposals to annex land next to Houston must start with a property-owner petition. The petition must come from all owners, or at least five but fewer than all owners. Council can no longer start an annexation investigation through a majority-vote resolution alone. - Houston financial officers must own property: cost, low. Houston’s appointed Treasurer and Tax Collector must each be a town citizen and resident who owns property in Houston. Each must be at least 21 years old. These office qualifications do not change residents’ tax obligations. - Houston sets stricter elected office qualifications: cost, low. Mayor and Council candidates must be U.S. citizens age 21 or older and bona fide U.S. and Delaware residents. They must have lived in Houston for at least one year before the annual election. They cannot be delinquent on Town taxes, utilities, or other Town debt, have a felony conviction, or have b… - Houston can tax cable infrastructure: cost, low. Houston’s infrastructure taxing power expressly includes cable and fiber-optic installations and no longer lists telegraph installations. Listed infrastructure is exempt when owned or operated by a railroad or railway company engaged in interstate commerce. The law sets no tax rate or household tax… - Property awards get deadlines and safeguards: mixed, low. Owners challenging a street-related compensation award must serve the Mayor notice within 10 days after the award notice is posted or mailed. The notice must state their disagreement and intent to seek a commission, using prepaid certified mail with return receipt requested. They must ask a Superio… - Houston co-owners vote by ownership share: mixed, low. In Houston annexation and town-loan special elections, co-owners share no more than one vote for each property. Each owner’s vote reflects their percentage ownership. For annexations, this replaces the rule giving a married couple one-half vote each. In loan elections, a town citizen age 18 or olde… - Houston keeps existing rules and debts: mixed, low. Houston and Council have powers granted by Delaware laws unless those powers conflict with the charter. Existing Town ordinances stay in force until Council repeals or changes them. Taxes, assessments, license fees, penalties, fines, and forfeitures owed to Houston remain due to the Town. Debts owe… - Houston can borrow more, repay later: mixed, low. Houston’s revenue-anticipation borrowing limit rises from $100,000 to $500,000 in any one year. Total outstanding borrowing is also capped at $500,000, up from $100,000. A Council majority must find the borrowing necessary, and the Town must issue authorized promissory notes. Full repayment, includ… - Houston posts budgets online, fewer places: mixed, low. Houston must post its adopted budget within one week on the Town website and in two public places. Website posting is added, while required public posting locations drop from four to two. The budget must be available to any resident or taxpayer. - Houston raises its no-bid purchase limit: mixed, low. Houston can make purchases or contracts totaling $5,000 or less without competitive bidding. The exemption rises from $500. This gives the Town more buying flexibility while removing required bidding for purchases within the expanded exemption. - Houston requires bonds protecting town money: mixed, low. Before serving, the Treasurer and Tax Collector must each provide a bond equal to the municipal aid account or $10,000, whichever is greater. The Treasurer’s minimum rises from $5,000. Council must approve each bond’s surety. The bonds protect faithful service, transfer of Town funds, payment of co… - Houston changes tax hearings and approvals: mixed, low. At its last regular meeting of the fiscal year, Council uses Kent County’s completed assessment to decide revenue needs. Council no longer completes that assessment itself. Tax-rate changes require two public hearings, with notice 14 days ahead in four public places and one local newspaper. A Counc… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: David L. Wilson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Charles S Postles Jr. (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-06-30 | House | Passed (3/4 required) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-06-24 | Senate | Passed (2/3 required) | pass | 21 | 0 | | ## Actions (7) - 2025-06-30: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2025-06-30: Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 VACANT (House) - 2025-06-25: Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 5 On Its Merits (House) - 2025-06-25: Assigned to Administration Committee in House (House) - 2025-06-24: Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES (Senate) - 2025-06-18: Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits (Senate) - 2025-06-05: Introduced and Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2025-06-05: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142408&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 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=142408&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 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-SB171-153 (as of 2026-10-12).