Delaware 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 10 R · 3 D cosponsors

SB 284 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTING FIRST RESPONDERS.

Last action — Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

  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 June 18, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

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

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 13 sponsors

    13 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (10 R · 3 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote 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 makes it a crime to disrupt first responders' duties.

This legislation criminalizes approaching or interfering with first responders within 25 feet after a warning. It aims to protect first responders performing their duties.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This means that individuals must maintain a safe distance from first responders to avoid legal penalties.

Summary

This Act makes it a crime for any person to either cross a marked barrier established by a first responder, or, after receiving a warning not to approach from a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to violate the warning and approach or remain within 25 feet of the first responder, with the intent to do any of the following: (1) Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform the first responder’s legal duty. (2) Threaten the first responder with physical injury, serious physical injury, or death. For purposes of this Act, a first responder means a law-enforcement officer, volunteer or paid firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, or fire police officer.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill establishes penalties for obstructing or threatening first responders during their duties.

  • Subpart D, Subchapter VI, Chapter 5, Title 11

    § 1244B. Impeding, interfering with, or threatening a first responder during performance of duties; class A misdemeanor.

    This section introduces a new law that criminalizes impeding or threatening first responders.

  • Subpart D, Subchapter VI, Chapter 5, Title 11

    (a) For purposes of this section: ...

    Defines the terms and context applicable to the new law regarding first responders.

  • Subpart D, Subchapter VI, Chapter 5, Title 11

    “First responder” means all of the following: ...

    Clarifies who qualifies as a first responder under this law.

  • Subpart D, Subchapter VI, Chapter 5, Title 11

    (b) It is unlawful for a person to either cross a marked barrier established by a first responder ...

    Establishes the specific actions that violate the law regarding first responders.

  • Subpart D, Subchapter VI, Chapter 5, Title 11

    (c) A violation of subsection (b) of this section is a class A misdemeanor.

    Sets the legal consequences as a class A misdemeanor for violations of this section.

  • Subpart D, Subchapter VI, Chapter 5, Title 11

    (d) The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over a violation of this section.

    Designates the Superior Court as the authority to handle violations under this new law.

Action History

  1. Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

  2. Assigned to Administration Committee in House

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

  4. was introduced and adopted in lieu of SB 284

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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13 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 49 not signed on

Sponsors (13)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (49)

49 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 49 →

"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 20 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 15000
Republican 5001
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 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 Not Voting
David L. Wilson Republican Yea
Eric Buckson Republican Yea
Gerald W. Hocker Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
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 284 do?
This Act makes it a crime for any person to either cross a marked barrier established by a first responder, or, after receiving a warning not to approach from a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to violate the warning and approach or remain within 25 feet of the first responder, with the intent to do any of the following: (1) Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform the first responder’s legal duty. (2) Threaten the first responder with physical injury, serious physical injury, or death. For purposes of this Act, a first responder means a law-enforcement officer, volunteer or paid firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, or fire police officer.
Who sponsors SB 284?
SB 284 is sponsored by Lyndon D. Yearick (Republican), Bryan W. Shupe (Republican), Daniel B. Short (Republican), Shannon Morris (Republican), Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic), Richard G. Collins (Republican), David L. Wilson (Republican), David P. Sokola (Democratic), Bryant L. Richardson (Republican), Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Trey Paradee (Democratic), Timothy D. Dukes (Republican), and Eric Buckson (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 284?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced June 18, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 284?
Track SB 284 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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