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DelawareSS 1 for SB 142153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)Senate

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 AND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SEXUAL EXTORTION.

Sponsored By: Brian Pettyjohn (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Sexual extortion education for Delaware students

Beginning August 1, 2027, Delaware districts and charter schools must expand personal-safety and child-abuse education, including sexual extortion. Students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 receive age-appropriate lessons covering dangers, consequences, online-safety resources, and detecting and reporting abuse. Employees receive training on body safety, child safety, sexual extortion, and sexual misconduct by adults in schools. Training must explain appropriate and inappropriate conduct; lessons and training must build on prior years. Programs must use evidence-based approaches, with employee training using them whenever available. Parents receive information upon request about discussing sexual extortion and spotting warning signs. Each district or charter school must designate an administrator, nurse, or counselor for additional evidence-based training. That training covers coordinating suspected civil or criminal violations with law enforcement and Title IX coordinators. The Child Protection Accountability Commission and Division of Family Services work with the Department of Education to identify and maintain programming. Programming must be reviewed at least every three years and updated as needed; the law provides no new funding.

Broader sexual extortion crimes, tougher penalties

Effective upon enactment, Delaware law broadens sexual extortion to cover intentionally using threats to force sexual acts or the creation of nude or sexual images. Covered threats include physical injury, property damage, other crimes, criminal accusations, exposing secrets, and sharing sexual images. They also include falsifying or withholding legal testimony or information, and acts intended to seriously harm health, safety, finances, work, reputation, or relationships. Sexual extortion becomes a Class B felony when an adult offender targets a child or vulnerable adult. The same penalty applies when the offense causes serious physical injury or death, regardless of the offender’s age. These cases carry 2–25 years in prison; other cases remain Class E felonies.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Brian Pettyjohn

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Eric Buckson

    Republican • Senate

  • William Bush

    Democratic • House

  • Daniel B. Short

    Republican • House

  • Krista Griffith

    Democratic • House

  • Stephanie L. Hansen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jeff Hilovsky

    Republican • House

  • Gerald W. Hocker

    Republican • Senate

  • Kyra L. Hoffner

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kimberly Williams

    Democratic • House

  • Dave G. Lawson

    Republican • Senate

  • Spiros Mantzavinos

    Democratic • Senate

  • Edward S. Osienski

    Democratic • House

  • Nicole Poore

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bryant L. Richardson

    Republican • Senate

  • Melanie Ross Levin

    Democratic • House

  • David L. Wilson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 57 • No: 0

House vote • 6/30/2025

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/12/2025

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 19 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    9/19/2025Governor

  2. Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 2 ABSENT 1 VACANT

    6/30/2025House

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 9 On Its Merits

    6/18/2025House

  4. Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

    6/12/2025House

  5. Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENT

    6/12/2025Senate

  6. Amendment SA 1 to SS 1 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 18 YES 3 ABSENT

    6/12/2025Senate

  7. Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits

    6/11/2025Senate

  8. Amendment SA 1 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

    6/10/2025Senate

  9. Adopted in lieu of the original bill SB 142, and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

    6/5/2025Senate

Bill Text

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