Delaware 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 3 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 196 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

Last action — Signed by Governor

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

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced May 21, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

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

Prognosis

Likely to advance 72% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    5 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 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 requires long-term care facilities to disclose ownership information to residents and the public.

This bill mandates that long-term care facilities disclose their ownership information, both on their websites and in marketing materials. It clarifies the responsibilities for informing residents about ownership changes and disciplinary actions against the facilities.

What this means for you
  • Workers: For workers in long-term care, this means clear information about ownership changes and accountability in the facility management.
  • Families: Families with loved ones in long-term care will have better access to information about facility ownership and history.
  • Consumers: Consumers will have more transparency in choosing long-term care facilities due to publicly available ownership information.

Summary

This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 196. Like Senate Bill No. 196, this Act requires long-term care facilities to fully disclose ownership information for the facility and disclose ownership information to residents prior to the transfer of ownership of a facility. This Act differs from Senate Bill No. 196 in the following ways: 1. It changes the definition of "facility owner" to align with federal regulations. 2. It modifies the requirements for a long-term care facility to include a list of facility owners on marketing and promotional materials, instead requiring that the list of facility owners be found on the long-term care facility's website, and that any marketing or promotional materials include a statement directing recipients of the materials to the facility's website for a list of owners. 3. It amends the timeline for a long-term care facility to disclose a proposed transfer of ownership to no more than 30 calendar days after receiving approval of required modification of ownership and control paperwork from the Department. 4. It clarifies the requirements of both current and proposed new facility owners in disclosing a transfer of ownership to residents and, if applicable, authorized representatives of residents of the long-term care facility. 5. It modifies the requirement that the disclosure of disciplinary actions against the facility to be limited to those actions resulting from incidents that threatened the health, safety, or welfare of a resident. 6. It removes an explicit statement of the Department's authority to delay or deny the transfer of a license due to previous disciplinary actions. 7. It exempts nonprofit corporations from having to disclose certain information. 8. It explicitly exempts the requirements of this Act from applying to certain actions that began prior to the effective date of this Act.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

80 added · 15 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to SB 196 clarifies the requirements for printed informational brochures provided by long-term care facilities. It specifies that these brochures must include the websites of both the facility and the Department of Health and Social Services, directing readers to where they can find information about the facility's ownership. This change aims to ensure that potential residents and their families have easy access to ownership information.

→
Previous
Latest
Mantzavinos DELAWARE STATE SENATE 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE AMENDMENT NO.
Mantzavinos & Rep.
1 TO SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO.
K.
Johnson Reps.
Lambert, Ross Levin, Kamela Smith, Snyder-Hall DELAWARE STATE SENATE 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO.
196 AMEND Senate Substitute No.
196 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
1 for Senate Bill No.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
196 by deleting lines 15 through 19 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
Section 1.
“(g) A long-term care facility must prominently and conspicuously post the current facility owners of the long-term care facility on the long-term care facility’s website.
Amend Chapter 11, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and by redesignating accordingly:
Any printed informational brochures that are provided and used in direct consultation with potential residents and their families must include a statement directing recipients of the materials to the website of the long-term care facility and to the Department’s website for information about the ownership of the long-term care facility.” .
§ 1102.
SYNOPSIS This amendment clarifies the requirements for printed informational brochures used by a long-term care facility.
Definitions.
Specifically, it clarifies that all printed informational brochures must include the website addresses of the long-term care facility and Department of Health and Social Services on all printed informational brochures for more information regarding ownership of the long-term care facility.
( ) “Affiliate” means a person, as defined in § 302 of Title 1, who directly or indirectly through 1 or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified entity or person.
( ) “Facility owner” means any person with direct or indirect ownership or controlling interest in a long-term care facility of 5% or more.
§ 1108.
Posting of inspection summary and other information and public meetings.
(e) A long-term care facility must disclose, in the manner and form determined by the Department, the Facility Owner of the long-term care facility, including all controlling persons of an entity or affiliate that is not a publicly traded corporation or nonprofit corporation.
A long-term care facility must update this disclosure within 30 calendar days of any change to the information previously disclosed.
(f) The Department shall publish the disclosed information of the current facility owner, including any controlling persons, of each long-term care facility on the Department’s website.
(g) A long-term care facility must prominently and conspicuously post the current facility owners of the long-term care facility on the long-term care facility’s website.
Any printed informational brochures that are provided and used in direct consultation with potential residents and their families must include a statement directing recipients of the materials to the website of the long-term care facility or to the Department’s website for information about the ownership of the long- term care facility.
§ 1108A.
Required disclosure for transfer of ownership.
SD :
AVP :
ALW Page 1 of 3 Released:
05/21/2026 02:59 PM (a) In addition to required Modification of Ownership and Control paperwork, the proposed new facility owner of a long-term care facility must disclose to the Department, in the manner and form determined by the Department, information related to any other licensed long-term care facilities owned by the proposed new facility owner, or any affiliates of the proposed new facility owner, seeking to assume ownership of the long-term care facility, including:
(1) Any licensed long-term care facility owned, operated, or managed by the proposed new facility owner, or any affiliates of the proposed new facility owner, in any state or territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia in the preceding year.
(2) Any disciplinary actions related to a material risk to the health, safety, or welfare of a resident imposed during the preceding year against any facility owned, operated, or managed by the proposed new facility owner or any affiliates of the proposed new facility owner in any jurisdiction.
(b) Within 30 days of receiving approval of the required Modification of Ownership and Control paperwork from the Department, the current facility owner of the long-term care facility must disclose to each current resident of the long- term care facility and, if applicable, each authorized representative of a current resident of the long-term care facility the following information:
(1) The name of the proposed new facility owner of the long-term care facility.
(2) Any licensed long-term care facility owned, operated, or managed by the proposed new facility owner, or any affiliates of the proposed new facility owner, in any state or territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia in the preceding year.
(3) Any disciplinary actions related to a material risk to the health, safety, or welfare of a resident imposed during the preceding year against any facility owned, operated, or managed by the proposed new facility owner or any affiliates of the proposed new facility owner in any jurisdiction.
(c) Within 30 days of the Department’s issuance of a new license under the new facility owner, the new facility owner must provide a second notice to each current resident of the long-term care facility, and, if applicable, each authorized representative of a current resident, confirming the information required under subsection (b) of this section and the effective date of the transfer of ownership.
(d) This section does not apply to the transfer of ownership of a long-term care facility when either of the following apply:
(1) A binding agreement of sale has been executed prior to [the effective date of this Act].
(2) An application for licensure, change of ownership, or other required regulatory approval has been submitted to the Department prior to [the effective date of this Act].
SD :
AVP :
ALW Page 2 of 3 Released:
05/21/2026 02:59 PM SYNOPSIS This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No.
196.
Show all 62 changed rows (22 more)
Previous
Latest
Like Senate Bill No.
196, this Act requires long-term care facilities to fully disclose ownership information for the facility and disclose ownership information to residents prior to the transfer of ownership of a facility.
This Act differs from Senate Bill No.
196 in the following ways:
1.
It changes the definition of "facility owner" to align with federal regulations.
2.
It modifies the requirements for a long-term care facility to include a list of facility owners on marketing and promotional materials, instead requiring that the list of facility owners be found on the long-term care facility's website, and that any marketing or promotional materials include a statement directing recipients of the materials to the facility's website for a list of owners.
3.
It amends the timeline for a long-term care facility to disclose a proposed transfer of ownership to no more than calendar days after receiving approval of required modification of ownership and control paperwork from the Department.
4.
It clarifies the requirements of both current and proposed new facility owners in disclosing a transfer of ownership to residents and, if applicable, authorized representatives of residents of the long-term care facility.
5.
It modifies the requirement that the disclosure of disciplinary actions against the facility to be limited to those actions resulting from incidents that threatened the health, safety, or welfare of a resident.
6.
It removes an explicit statement of the Department's authority to delay or deny the transfer of a license due to previous disciplinary actions.
7.
It exempts nonprofit corporations from having to disclose certain information.
8.
It explicitly exempts the requirements of this Act from applying to certain actions that began prior to the effective date of this Act.
ALW Page 1 of 1 Released:
ALW Page 3 of 3 Released:
06/10/2026 03:55 PM 2711530285
05/21/2026 02:59 PM 2711530242
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 1 NO 1 ABSENT

  2. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 10 On Its Merits

  3. Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

  4. Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

  5. Amendment SA 1 to SS 1 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

  6. Amendment SA 1 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  7. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 5 On Its Merits

  8. Adopted in lieu of the original bill SB 196, and Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

5 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 57 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (5)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (57)

57 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 57 →

"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 39 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 27000
Republican 12101
Total 39101
% of votes cast 95%2%0%2%
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 Nay
Jeffrey N. Spiegelman Republican Yea
Jesse R. Vanderwende Republican Not Voting
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 →

SM

Passed 20 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 14001
Republican 6000
Total 20001
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (21)
Member Party Vote
Bryan Townsend Democratic Yea
Daniel Cruce Democratic Yea
Darius J. Brown Democratic Not Voting
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 →

Subjects

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 SB 196 do?
This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 196. Like Senate Bill No. 196, this Act requires long-term care facilities to fully disclose ownership information for the facility and disclose ownership information to residents prior to the transfer of ownership of a facility. This Act differs from Senate Bill No. 196 in the following ways: 1. It changes the definition of "facility owner" to align with federal regulations. 2. It modifies the requirements for a long-term care facility to include a list of facility owners on marketing and promotional materials, instead requiring that the list of facility owners be found on the long-term care facility's website, and that any marketing or promotional materials include a statement directing recipients of the materials to the facility's website for a list of owners. 3. It amends the timeline for a long-term care facility to disclose a proposed transfer of ownership to no more than 30 calendar days after receiving approval of required modification of ownership and control paperwork from the Department. 4. It clarifies the requirements of both current and proposed new facility owners in disclosing a transfer of ownership to residents and, if applicable, authorized representatives of residents of the long-term care facility. 5. It modifies the requirement that the disclosure of disciplinary actions against the facility to be limited to those actions resulting from incidents that threatened the health, safety, or welfare of a resident. 6. It removes an explicit statement of the Department's authority to delay or deny the transfer of a license due to previous disciplinary actions. 7. It exempts nonprofit corporations from having to disclose certain information. 8. It explicitly exempts the requirements of this Act from applying to certain actions that began prior to the effective date of this Act.
Who sponsors SB 196?
SB 196 is sponsored by Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), Dave G. Lawson (Republican), Melanie Ross Levin, Ray Seigfried (Democratic), and Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 196?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced May 21, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 196?
Track SB 196 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 196

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.

Stay ahead of SB 196

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 →