Delaware · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) · Bill
SB 290: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC BODIES.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 290 is a bill introduced in the Delaware Senate on April 21, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC BODIES. Primary sponsor: Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Ray Seigfried (Democratic), Kerri Harris (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (July 23, 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 clarifies that quorum does not define the identity of a public body. Under rules of parliamentary procedure like Mason’s Manual or Robert’s Rules of Order, quorum is used to determine whether enough of a body is present to conduct business. Under Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), quorum is used to determine whether a public body is holding a “meeting” as defined under FOIA and therefore required to comply with open meeting requirements. However, quorum is not, under parliamentary procedure or FOIA, dispositive to determining the identity of the public body that is meeting. The governing document that creates the body determines the identity of the body under parliamentary law and that, in addition to an examination of the actual public business being conducted, will guide answers to questions about the identity of the public body for purposes of FOIA.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan Townsend | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 11 |
| Ray Seigfried | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 5 |
| Kerri Harris | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 32 |
“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 House. Votes: 39 YES 1 NO 1 ABSENT
- Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 3 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Administration Committee in House
- Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
- Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits
- Introduced and Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate