Delaware 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 13 D · 5 R cosponsors

HB 85 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 AND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

Last action — Signed by Governor

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 18, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Matt Meyer (Democratic) on September 02, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 19 sponsors

    19 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (13 D · 5 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Under current law, both school board members who are elected and those who are appointed to fill vacancies until the next election are required to complete a background check. However, the statute is currently unclear as to how a background check gets done and who is responsible for reviewing the background check for an appointment. This Act makes clear that a person may not be appointed unless a background check has been completed and the Commissioner of Elections has determined the person is qualified for the seat, in the same manner the Commissioner completes that duty for candidates for school board elections.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor

  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits

  4. Assigned to Education Committee in Senate

  5. Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 4 ABSENT

  6. Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 2 Favorable, 12 On Its Merits

  7. Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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19 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 43 not signed on

Sponsors (19)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (43)

43 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 43 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

SM

Passed 21 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 15000
Republican 6000
Total 21000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (21)
Member Party Vote
Bryan Townsend Democratic Yea
Daniel Cruce Democratic Yea
Darius J. Brown Democratic Yea
David P. Sokola Democratic Yea
John "Jack" Walsh Democratic Yea
Kyra L. Hoffner Democratic Yea
Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic Yea
Marie Pinkney Democratic Yea
Nicole Poore Democratic Yea
Ray Seigfried Democratic Yea
Russell Huxtable Democratic Yea
S. Elizabeth Lockman Democratic Yea
Spiros Mantzavinos Democratic Yea
Stephanie L. Hansen Democratic Yea
Trey Paradee Democratic Yea
Brian Pettyjohn Republican Yea
Bryant L. Richardson Republican Yea
Dave G. Lawson Republican Yea
David L. Wilson Republican Yea
Eric Buckson Republican Yea
Gerald W. Hocker Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SM

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 23003
Republican 14000
Unaffiliated 0001
Total 37004
% of votes cast 90%0%0%10%
How each member voted (41)
Member Party Vote
Stell Parker Selby — Not Voting
Claire Snyder-Hall Democratic Yea
Cyndie Romer Democratic Yea
DeShanna U Neal Democratic Yea
Debra Heffernan Democratic Yea
Edward S. Osienski Democratic Yea
Eric Morrison Democratic Yea
Frank Burns Democratic Yea
Franklin D. Cooke Democratic Yea
Josue O Ortega Democratic Yea
Kamela T Smith Democratic Yea
Kendra Johnson Democratic Yea
Kerri Evelyn Harris Democratic Yea
Kimberly Williams Democratic Yea
Krista Griffith Democratic Yea
Larry Lambert Democratic Yea
Madinah Wilson-Anton Democratic Yea
Mara Gorman Democratic Yea
Melanie Ross Levin Democratic Yea
Melissa Minor-Brown Democratic Yea
Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha Democratic Not Voting
Sean M. Lynn Democratic Not Voting
Sherae'a Moore Democratic Yea
Sophie Phillips Democratic Yea
Stephanie T. Bolden Democratic Not Voting
William Bush Democratic Yea
William J. Carson Democratic Yea
Bryan W. Shupe Republican Yea
Charles S Postles Jr. Republican Yea
Daniel B. Short Republican Yea
Jeff Hilovsky Republican Yea
Jeffrey N. Spiegelman Republican Yea
Jesse R. Vanderwende Republican Yea
Kevin S Hensley Republican Yea
Lyndon D. Yearick Republican Yea
Michael F. Smith Republican Yea
Richard G. Collins Republican Yea
Ronald E. Gray Republican Yea
Shannon Morris Republican Yea
Timothy D. Dukes Republican Yea
Valerie Jones Giltner Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

elections education
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 85 do?
Under current law, both school board members who are elected and those who are appointed to fill vacancies until the next election are required to complete a background check. However, the statute is currently unclear as to how a background check gets done and who is responsible for reviewing the background check for an appointment. This Act makes clear that a person may not be appointed unless a background check has been completed and the Commissioner of Elections has determined the person is qualified for the seat, in the same manner the Commissioner completes that duty for candidates for school board elections.
Who sponsors HB 85?
HB 85 is sponsored by Stell Parker Selby, Nicole Poore (Democratic), John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic), David P. Sokola (Democratic), Lyndon D. Yearick (Republican), Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), Michael F. Smith (Republican), Dave G. Lawson (Republican), Daniel B. Short (Republican), Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), Mara Gorman (Democratic), Bryant L. Richardson (Republican), Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic), Madinah Wilson-Anton (Democratic), Cyndie Romer (Democratic), Eric Morrison (Democratic), Kimberly Williams (Democratic), and Melanie Ross Levin (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 85?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 18, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 85?
Track HB 85 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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