Delaware · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) · Bill
HB 314: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 28 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETE PROTECTION.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 314 is a bill introduced in the Delaware House on March 10, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 28 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETE PROTECTION. Primary sponsor: Lyndon Yearick (Republican), Jack Walsh (Democratic). It lists 3 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (March 18, 2026): Motion to Release Failed.
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.
Sports betting is legal in at least 39 states, including Delaware. The increase in sports betting has also seen an increase in threats to and harassment of student athletes. A September 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) survey of campus administrators found 10% of Division I respondents said they were aware of student-athletes being harassed online or in person by someone with gambling interests. And, data from the 2024 March Madness indicated 1 in 3 high-profile student athletes received abusive messages from someone with a gambling interest. With the increase in student athlete harassment, the NCAA and others are urging states to take action. To that end, this Act seeks to protect student athletes from harassment by doing all of the following: (1) Creating a criminal offense of student athlete harassment. (2) Permitting a student athlete who is the victim of student athlete harassment to sue a person convicted of student athlete harassment. (3) Requiring the Director of the State Lottery Office (“Director”) to exclude a person from participating in the play of any table game, sports lottery game, video lottery game, or Internet lottery game in Delaware if the person is convicted of student athlete harassment. (4) Permitting the Director, on an emergency basis, to exclude a person from participating in the play of a sports lottery game if the Director finds the person threatened violence or harm against a student athlete if the threat is related to a sports lottery game. (5) Requiring the Director and Division of Gaming Enforcement to establish and publicize a method of receiving reports from a student athlete or a coach of an intercollegiate sport relating to student athlete harassment.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2 · Republican 3
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyndon Yearick | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 34 |
| Jack Walsh | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 9 |
| Valerie Giltner | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 37 |
| Brian Pettyjohn | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 19 |
| Dave Sokola | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 8 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Motion to Release Failed
- Amendment HA 1 to HB 314 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House