Delaware · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) · Bill
HB 23: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 AND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 23 is a bill introduced in the Delaware House on December 19, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 AND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. Primary sponsor: Kim Williams (Democratic), Debra Heffernan (Democratic), Mike Smith (Republican), Nicole Poore (Democratic), Bryant Richardson (Republican). It lists 16 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (May 7, 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.
This Act makes the following changes to human trafficking law: (1) It adds “patronizing a victim of sexual servitude” and “ trafficking of persons for use of body parts” to the offenses that may serve as a predicate for forfeiture of property under the trafficking statute. (2) It removes an obsolete reference to charging a minor with delinquency for engaging in prostitution. The Criminal Code was revised in 2019 to define prostitution as a crime that may be committed only by a person who is 18 years of age or older. (3) It adds conduct constituting a human trafficking offense to the list of conduct that constitutes “abuse” for purposes of obtaining a protective order in Family Court.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 13 · Republican 8
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Williams | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| Debra Heffernan | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 6 |
| Mike Smith | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 22 |
| Nicole Poore | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 12 |
| Bryant Richardson | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 21 |
| Bill Bush | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 29 |
| Frank Cooke | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 16 |
| Mara Gorman | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 23 |
| Krista Griffith | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12 |
| Stephanie Hansen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 10 |
| Kevin Hensley | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 9 |
| Jeff Hilovsky | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 4 |
| Kyra Hoffner | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 14 |
| Russ Huxtable | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 6 |
| Dave Lawson | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 15 |
| Melanie Ross Levin | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10 |
| Brian Pettyjohn | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 19 |
| Cyndie Romer | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 25 |
| Danny Short | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 39 |
| Dave Sokola | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 8 |
| Dave Wilson | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 18 |
“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: 19 YES 2 ABSENT
- Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
- Passed By House. Votes: 35 YES 6 ABSENT
- Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 3 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits
- Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House