Delaware 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 7 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 341 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT.

Last action — Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

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

This bill has passed the House. Introduced April 09, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    8 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (7 D · 1 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.

In plain language

The bill changes child support obligations for parents with children in state care.

This bill establishes that parents are generally not responsible for child support if their children are in the custody of the Division of Family Services. The Family Court can only require payments if it won't hinder reunification efforts with the child.

What this means for you
  • Families: This bill may relieve some financial pressure on families with children in state care.

Summary

This Act creates a presumption that parents are not liable for the care, maintenance, and support of children committed to DSCYF, or admitted to a service provided by DSCYF. The Family Court may order child support payments only if child support will not pose a barrier to parent reunification.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

27 added · 9 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to HB 341 updates the liability for child support regarding children in the care of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). It establishes that parents are generally presumed not liable for the care, maintenance, and support of children in DSCYF's custody unless the Family Court finds that requiring payments will not hinder reunification efforts. Additionally, the amendment clarifies that child support obligations for these children will be determined by the Delaware Child Support Formula, instead of regulations from the Department of Health and Social Services.

→
Previous
Latest
Chukwuocha HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE AMENDMENT NO.
Chukwuocha & Sen.
1 TO HOUSE BILL NO.
Brown Reps.
341 AMEND House Bill No.
Griffith, Burns, K.
341 on line 11 by deleting “§ 7940 of this title.” and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
Johnson, Ross Levin, Snyder- Hall, Harris HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE BILL NO.
Ҥ 7940 of this title.
341 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT.
§ 514 of Title 13.”.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
SYNOPSIS This Amendment clarifies that child support obligations for a child in DSCYF care are determined by the Delaware Child Support Formula, rather than DHSS regulations as alluded to in § 7940 of Title 29.
Section 1.
Amend § 9019, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 9019.
Liability for maintenance of children in care of Department;
collection remedies.
(a) Any A person liable for the support of a child under any law of this State shall be is not liable for the care, maintenance maintenance, and support furnished to a child committed or admitted to any service provided by the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.
Families, unless the Family Court finds that care, maintenance, and support payments will not pose a barrier to proposed reunification efforts.
(b) The If the Family Court finds a person is liable for care, maintenance, and support of a child under subsection (a) of this section, the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families may collect from any such the person all moneys necessary to discharge and pay all liability of such the child for the child’s care, maintenance maintenance, and support;
provided, however, that such liability is based upon ability to pay and in accordance with § 7940 of this title.
(c) The Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families may also proceed for the recovery of the moneys necessary for care, maintenance maintenance, and support in an action to be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the name of the Department.
(d) All fees collected under this section shall be deposited into the General Fund.
Section 2.
This Act applies to care, maintenance, or support liabilities incurred after the [effective date of this Act] and does not affect the collection, payment, or imposition of liabilities incurred prior to [the effective date of this Act].
SYNOPSIS This Act creates a presumption that parents are not liable for the care, maintenance, and support of children committed to DSCYF, or admitted to a service provided by DSCYF.
The Family Court may order child support payments only if child support will not pose a barrier to parent reunification.
04/16/2026 09:16 AM 3491530127
04/08/2026 11:58 AM 3491530099
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  2. Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits

  3. Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate

  4. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits

  5. Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate

  6. Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT

  7. Amendment HA 1 to HB 341 - Passed In House by Voice Vote

  8. Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 6 On Its Merits

  9. Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House

  10. Amendment HA 1 to HB 341 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  11. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 2 Favorable, 11 On Its Merits

  12. Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

8 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 54 not signed on

Sponsors (8)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (54)

54 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 54 →

"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

2/3

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 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 27000
Republican 12002
Total 39002
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (41)
Member Party Vote
Alonna Berry Democratic Yea
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 Yea
Sean M. Lynn Democratic Yea
Sherae'a Moore Democratic Yea
Sophie Phillips Democratic Yea
Stephanie T. Bolden Democratic Yea
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 Not Voting
Lyndon D. Yearick Republican Yea
Michael F. Smith Republican Yea
Richard G. Collins Republican Yea
Ronald E. Gray Republican Yea
Shannon Morris Republican Not Voting
Timothy D. Dukes Republican Yea
Valerie Jones Giltner Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 341 do?
This Act creates a presumption that parents are not liable for the care, maintenance, and support of children committed to DSCYF, or admitted to a service provided by DSCYF. The Family Court may order child support payments only if child support will not pose a barrier to parent reunification.
Who sponsors HB 341?
HB 341 is sponsored by Kerri Evelyn Harris (Democratic), Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), Ray Seigfried (Democratic), Bryant L. Richardson (Republican), Nicole Poore (Democratic), Darius J. Brown (Democratic), Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha (Democratic), and Melanie Ross Levin (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 341?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced April 09, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 341?
Track HB 341 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 341

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 341

Last checked for changes about 2 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →