Delaware · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) · Bill
HB 158: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EMERGENCY PLANNING.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 158 is a bill introduced in the Delaware House on May 8, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EMERGENCY PLANNING. Primary sponsor: Frank Burns (Democratic), Ray Seigfried (Democratic). It lists 5 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (August 25, 2025): 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.
The Public Health Emergency Planning Commission was established in 2002 and directed to deliver to the Governor a plan for responding to a public health emergency that addressed at least 21 specific provisions. Since then, that single plan has evolved into an overarching Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Plan, which is a strategic plan that provides a broad context for the execution of public health emergency response and recovery. There are over 70 additional “plans” or annexes that provide additional procedural guidance that have been developed by DHSS in partnership with other state agencies and external stakeholders such as hospitals. The Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Plan will still be updated every 2 years by DHSS and other state agency and private partners. The Public Health Emergency Planning Commission will be renamed the Public Health Emergency Planning Council. It will review the Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Plan every 2 years. It will also continue in its advisory capacity to the Governor whenever a public health emergency is declared. It must meet within 30 days of the declaration of a state of emergency due to a public health emergency, and at least every 30 days until the public health emergency is lifted. In the absence of a public health emergency the Council must meet at least once a year. This Act also makes technical corrections to existing statutory language.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 7
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Burns | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 21 |
| Ray Seigfried | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 5 |
| Nnamdi Chukwuocha | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Stephanie Hansen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 10 |
| Larry Lambert | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7 |
| Eric Morrison | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 27 |
| Jack Walsh | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 9 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Signed by Governor
- Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
- Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate
- Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT
- Amendment HA 1 to HB 158 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
- Amendment HA 1 to HB 158 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 5 Favorable, 9 On Its Merits
- Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House