DelawareSB 345153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO OFFENSES INVOLVING PUBLIC INDECENCY.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Child welfare protections for exploited minors

Delaware treats prostitution-related conduct by children under 18 as exploitation and presumes exploited children are neglected or abused. Police must immediately report suspected exploitation to the state's child welfare department when they have probable cause. Advancing exploitation includes knowingly arranging, aiding, or running it, but excludes the exploited child and the child's patron. Profiting from exploitation means receiving money or property under an agreement to share its proceeds; the exploited child is excluded.

Supporting evidence required in exploitation cases

Convictions for promoting or trying to promote prostitution require more than testimony from the person allegedly prostituted or exploited. Other evidence must support that testimony when the defendant allegedly helped, tried to help, profited, or tried to profit from the activity.

Felony penalties for exploitation and coercion

Knowingly helping or profiting from a minor's exploitation is promoting prostitution in the second degree, a class E felony. This also covers knowingly managing, supervising, controlling, or owning a prostitution operation involving two or more prostitutes. Knowingly helping or profiting from exploitation of a child under 16 is a first-degree offense, a class C felony. The first-degree offense also covers forcing someone into prostitution through force or intimidation, or profiting from another person's coercion.

Felony penalties for patrons exploiting children

Seeking illegal sexual conduct from an exploited minor is a class E felony. The child's claimed consent or the defendant's belief that the child was an adult is no defense. A qualifying offense on or within 1,000 feet of a school, residence, church, synagogue, or other place of worship carries a mandatory fine of at least $1,000. The fine cannot be suspended, and not knowing the location was nearby is no defense.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Nicole Poore
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

Darius J. Brown
Democratic • Senate
Eric Buckson
Republican • Senate
Daniel Cruce
Democratic • Senate
Stephanie L. Hansen
Democratic • Senate
Debra Heffernan
Democratic • House
Gerald W. Hocker
Republican • Senate
Kyra L. Hoffner
Democratic • Senate
Russell Huxtable
Democratic • Senate
Larry Lambert
Democratic • House
Dave G. Lawson
Republican • Senate
S. Elizabeth Lockman
Democratic • Senate
Spiros Mantzavinos
Democratic • Senate
Trey Paradee
Democratic • Senate
Brian Pettyjohn
Republican • Senate
Sophie Phillips
Democratic • House
Marie Pinkney
Democratic • Senate
Bryant L. Richardson
Republican • Senate
Ray Seigfried
Democratic • Senate
David P. Sokola
Democratic • Senate
Laura V. Sturgeon
Democratic • Senate
Bryan Townsend
Democratic • Senate
John "Jack" Walsh
Democratic • Senate
David L. Wilson
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 62 • No: 0

House vote • 6/30/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 41 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/25/2026