Delaware · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) · Bill
SB 80: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE UNIFORM PUBLIC EXPRESSION PROTECTION ACT.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 80 is a bill introduced in the Delaware Senate on March 25, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE UNIFORM PUBLIC EXPRESSION PROTECTION ACT. Primary sponsor: Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic), Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Frank Burns (Democratic), Danny Short (Republican). It lists 7 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (September 15, 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 adopts the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act ("the Act") authored by the Uniform Law Commission. The Uniform Law Commission “provides states with non-partisan, well-conceived and well-drafted legislation that brings clarity and stability to critical areas of state statutory law.” The Act was adopted by the Uniform Law Commission in October 2020 and has been adopted in 10 states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is currently pending in 10 states. The Act protects the public’s right to engage in activities protected by the First Amendment without abusive, expensive legal retaliation. Specifically, the Act combats the problem of strategic lawsuits against public participation, also called “SLAPPs.” A SLAPP may come in the form of a defamation, invasion of privacy, nuisance, or other claim, but its real goal is to entangle the defendant of a SLAPP in expensive litigation and stifle the ability to engage in constitutionally protected activities. While Delaware has an “anti-SLAPP” law (see §§ 8136 through 8138 of Title 10 of the Delaware Code), the law received a score of “D-” from the Institute for Free Speech due to limited types of speech it protects and lack of basic protections provided by the Act.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 9 · Republican 3
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spiros Mantzavinos | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 7 |
| Brian Pettyjohn | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 19 |
| Bryan Townsend | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 11 |
| Frank Burns | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 21 |
| Danny Short | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 39 |
| Mara Gorman | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 23 |
| Krista Griffith | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12 |
| Russ Huxtable | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 6 |
| Cyndie Romer | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 25 |
| Dave Sokola | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 8 |
| Jack Walsh | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 9 |
| 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: 21 YES
- Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 1 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT 1 VACANT
- Amendment HA 2 to SB 80 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
- Amendment HA 1 to SB 80 - Stricken in House
- Amendment HA 2 to SB 80 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- Amendment HA 1 to SB 80 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 7 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
- Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
- Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 5 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
- Introduced and Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate