Delaware · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) · Bill
HB 337: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FOLIC ACID FORTIFICATION.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 337 is a bill introduced in the Delaware House on April 9, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FOLIC ACID FORTIFICATION. Primary sponsor: Josue Ortega (Democratic), Marie Pinkney (Democratic). It lists 21 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (September 30, 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.
This Act requires that effective amounts of folic acid be added to corn masa flour and corn masa which are staples in many minority diets. Under this Act, corn masa flour sold or used in the State must contain folic acid at a level of .7 mg of folic acid per pound of corn masa flour. Wet corn masa product must contain .4 mg of folic acid per pound of end product. These products must include a declaration of folic acid on the nutrition label in accordance with applicable federal law. Minority communities in the United States face a greater risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), which are serious birth defects that occur during early pregnancy. NTDs include spina bifida, characterized by an opening along the spine that can cause mild to severe nerve damage and disability, and anencephaly, a fatal condition where parts of the brain or skull are missing in newborns. Research has shown that daily intake of folic acid can reduce the risk of NTDs by over half. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandated folic acid fortification in enriched cereal grain products in 1998, resulting in a 35% reduction in NTD cases. However, this policy did not include corn masa flour, a staple in many minority diets.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 22 · Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josue Ortega | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 3 |
| Marie Pinkney | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 13 |
| Alonna Berry | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 20 |
| Stephanie Bolden | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2 |
| Frank Burns | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 21 |
| Nnamdi Chukwuocha | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Dan Cruce | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 1 |
| Mara Gorman | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 23 |
| Krista Griffith | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12 |
| Stephanie Hansen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 10 |
| Kerri Harris | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 32 |
| Debra Heffernan | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6 |
| Jeff Hilovsky | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 4 |
| Kendra Johnson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 5 |
| Larry Lambert | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7 |
| Melanie Ross Levin | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10 |
| Eric Morrison | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 27 |
| DeShanna Neal | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 13 |
| Nicole Poore | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 12 |
| Cyndie Romer | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 25 |
| Kam Smith | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15 |
| Claire Snyder-Hall | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 14 |
| Laura Sturgeon | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 4 |
“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 5 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate
- Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 4 ABSENT
- Amendment HA 1 to HB 337 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
- Amendment HA 1 to HB 337 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 9 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
- Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House