# Delaware SB 4: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. Delaware SB 4, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-08-14 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB4-153 - 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 4 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-01-10 - Last action: 2025-08-14, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 24 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (50 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Delaware creates an independent state watchdog: benefit, low. The law immediately creates an independent, nonpartisan Office of Inspector General to investigate fraud, waste, corruption, and misuse of state resources. Lawmakers must provide enough funding for effective, independent work, but the law sets no dollar amount. Oversight covers state bodies, includ… - Public findings require state agency follow-up: benefit, low. After each complaint investigation, the Inspector General must publish findings and recommendations and send the decision to the complainant and agency. Agencies and affected employees or contractors get a chance to respond first, but cannot block or delay publication. Decisions must protect confid… - Delaware watchdog gets protections and limits: mixed, low. A 12-member public selection panel sends 3 candidates to the Governor, who selects 1 for Senate confirmation. Confirmation requires a majority of elected senators; the panel follows state open-records and open-meeting law. The Attorney General chairs the panel, which includes legislative, state, ci… - Free state complaints with investigation limits: mixed, low. Anyone can file a complaint about state resource abuse, business dealings, or whistleblower retaliation; filing and investigation are free. The office must provide a toll-free number, website, email, mailing address, and procedures for handling complaints. The Inspector General must remain impartia… - Private investigations protect identities, limit access: mixed, low. Investigation records and related communications are confidential and exempt from Delaware's public-records law. The Inspector General must protect complainants and people who provide information and adopt confidentiality procedures. Sharing is allowed only as reasonably needed for authorized purpo… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Frank Burns (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Timothy D. Dukes (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Mara Gorman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Gerald W. Hocker (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Russell Huxtable (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Kamela T Smith (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Larry Lambert (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Dave G. Lawson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: S. Elizabeth Lockman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Eric Morrison (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Sophie Phillips (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Bryant L. Richardson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Cyndie Romer (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Melanie Ross Levin (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Ray Seigfried (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: David P. Sokola (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Madinah Wilson-Anton (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lyndon D. Yearick (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-07-01 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 30 | 1 | | | 2025-05-22 | Senate | Passed (SM required) | pass | 20 | 0 | | ## Actions (17) - 2025-08-14: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2025-07-01: Passed By House. Votes: 30 YES 1 NO 9 ABSENT 1 VACANT (House) - 2025-06-25: Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 4 On Its Merits (House) - 2025-06-20: Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House (House) - 2025-06-18: Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 2 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits (House) - 2025-06-05: Assigned to Administration Committee in House (House) - 2025-05-22: Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2025-05-22: Amendment SA 3 to SB 4 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2025-05-22: Amendment SA 2 to SB 4 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2025-05-22: Amendment SA 1 to SB 4 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2025-05-21: Amendment SA 3 to SB 4 - Introduced and Placed With Bill (Senate) - 2025-05-20: Amendment SA 2 to SB 4 - Introduced and Placed With Bill (Senate) - 2025-05-20: Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits (Senate) - 2025-03-26: Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate (Senate) - 2025-03-26: Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 7 Favorable (Senate) - 2025-03-24: Amendment SA 1 to SB 4 - Introduced and Placed With Bill (Senate) - 2025-01-10: Introduced and Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2025-01-10: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=141724&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=141724&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) - [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-SB4-153 (as of 2026-10-12).