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Delaware · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) · Bill

HB 133: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINES, FEES, RESTITUTION, AND OTHER COURT-RELATED MONETARY OBLIGATIONS.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 133 is a bill introduced in the Delaware House on May 1, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINES, FEES, RESTITUTION, AND OTHER COURT-RELATED MONETARY OBLIGATIONS. Primary sponsor: Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), Sean Lynn (Democratic), Larry Lambert (Democratic), Darius Brown (Democratic), Bryan Townsend (Democratic). It lists 23 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (September 9, 2026): Signed by Governor.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Currently, even when a defendant or individual obviously does not have the means to pay a financial penalty or fee, Delaware Courts are unable to waive certain mandatory minimum fines or fees at sentencing. This can create a constitutional crossroads, as our justice system has long recognized that the Fourteen Amendment prohibits “punishing a person for his poverty.” Bearden v. Georgia, 461 U.S. 660, 671 (1983). This Act gives courts the discretion to waive fines and fees, in whole or in part, in appropriate circumstances. It also creates a presumption that fines and fees will not be imposed when a defendant shows evidence of certain conditions, including receiving a public assistance benefit (like Medicaid, SNAP, or veterans’ benefits) or being represented by the Office of Defense Services. It also creates a hearing process for anyone already sentenced to pay a fine or fee. The changes in this Act are based on recommendations of the Criminal Legal System Imposed Debt Study Group created by House Bill 244, as amended by House Amendment No 2, of the 151st General Assembly, in its December 7, 2023, report. This Act takes effect 180 days after its enactment.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 28

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Claire Snyder-HallPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse14
Sean LynnPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse31
Larry LambertPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse7
Darius BrownPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate2
Bryan TownsendPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate11
Alonna BerryCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse20
Stephanie BoldenCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse2
Frank BurnsCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse21
Nnamdi ChukwuochaCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse1
Dan CruceCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate1
Mara GormanCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse23
Krista GriffithCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse12
Kerri HarrisCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse32
Debra HeffernanCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse6
Kyra HoffnerCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate14
Melanie Ross LevinCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse10
Tizzy LockmanCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate3
Eric MorrisonCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse27
DeShanna NealCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse13
Josue OrtegaCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse3
Sophie PhillipsCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse18
Marie PinkneyCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate13
Cyndie RomerCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse25
Ray SeigfriedCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate5
Kam SmithCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse15
Dave SokolaCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate8
Laura SturgeonCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate4
Madinah Wilson-AntonCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse26

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Signed by Governor
  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 16 YES 5 NO
  3. Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
  4. Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
  5. Passed By House. Votes: 24 YES 13 NO 1 NOT VOTING 3 ABSENT
  6. Amendment HA 4 to HB 133 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
  7. Amendment HA 3 to HB 133 - Stricken in House
  8. Amendment HA 2 to HB 133 - Stricken in House
  9. Amendment HA 1 to HB 133 - Stricken in House
  10. Amendment HA 4 to HB 133 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  11. Amendment HA 3 to HB 133 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  12. Amendment HA 2 to HB 133 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

Showing 12 most recent of 16 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source