HB 187 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 9 AND 22 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SHERIFF'S SALES.
Last action — Signed by Governor
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced May 18, 2017. Enacted.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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7 sponsors
2 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (4 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
With the implementation of land banks in the State of Delaware, an increasing number of vacant and abandoned properties will be brought to sheriff’s sales. Many of these parcels will be dilapidated and require investment to render the house habitable. Blight will only be ameliorated if the bidders upon such property acquire it intending to invest in the property, thereby improving the housing in the neighborhood and eliminating blight. If bidders at a tax lien sale have failed to pay taxes when due and have failed to maintain the condition of other real property they own in the same jurisdiction, it is not likely that they intend to invest in and improve the condition of additional property they acquire. Instead they are speculating on a turnaround in the neighborhood based upon the investment and efforts of others. Under current law, New Castle County, or any municipal government, may disapprove of the winning bid for any tax lien sheriff’s sale, at the election of the governmental entity initiating the tax lien sale, for any public purpose or reason. This bill allows any county or municipality to additionally require that bidders at such tax lien sales certify, prior to bidding, that they do not have a record of failing to maintain other real property in which they own an interest, do not have outstanding liens owed to governmental entities in excess of $1,000 at such other property, and do not hold properties that have been vacant for 18 consecutive months unless there is active construction on the property.
Bill Text
- Bill Text View text Current pdf
Action History
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Signed by Governor
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Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
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Reported Out of Committee (Judicial & Community Affairs) in Senate with 3 On Its Merits
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Assigned to Judicial & Community Affairs Committee in Senate
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Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES
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Amendment HA 2 to HB 187 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
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Amendment HA 1 to HB 187 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
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Amendment HA 2 to HB 187 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
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Reported Out of Committee (Housing & Community Affairs) in House with 8 On Its Merits
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Amendment HA 1 to HB 187 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
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Introduced and Assigned to Housing & Community Affairs Committee in House
Sponsors
- Bryan Townsend · Primary
- Stephanie T. Bolden · Cosponsor
- Daniel B. Short · Cosponsor
- Kimberly Williams · Cosponsor
- Kendra Johnson · Primary
- Joseph E. Miro · Cosponsor
- Margaret Rose Henry · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →2 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 55 not signed on
Sponsors (2)
- Bryan Townsend Democratic
- Kendra Johnson Democratic
Co-sponsors (5)
- Stephanie T. Bolden Democratic
- Daniel B. Short Republican
- Kimberly Williams Democratic
- Joseph E. Miro
- Margaret Rose Henry
Not signed on (55)
55 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 55 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (21)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Delcollo | — | Yea |
| Brian J. Bushweller | — | Yea |
| Bruce C. Ennis | — | Yea |
| Catherine Cloutier | — | Yea |
| Colin Bonini | — | Yea |
| David B. McBride | — | Yea |
| Ernesto B Lopez | — | Yea |
| F. Gary Simpson | — | Yea |
| Gregory F. Lavelle | — | Yea |
| Harris B. McDowell | — | Yea |
| Margaret Rose Henry | — | Yea |
| Robert Marshall | — | Yea |
| Bryan Townsend | Democratic | Yea |
| David P. Sokola | Democratic | Yea |
| John "Jack" Walsh | Democratic | Yea |
| Nicole Poore | Democratic | Yea |
| Stephanie L. Hansen | Democratic | Yea |
| Brian Pettyjohn | Republican | Yea |
| Bryant L. Richardson | Republican | Yea |
| Dave G. Lawson | Republican | Yea |
| Gerald W. Hocker | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (41)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 187 do?
- With the implementation of land banks in the State of Delaware, an increasing number of vacant and abandoned properties will be brought to sheriff’s sales. Many of these parcels will be dilapidated and require investment to render the house habitable. Blight will only be ameliorated if the bidders upon such property acquire it intending to invest in the property, thereby improving the housing in the neighborhood and eliminating blight. If bidders at a tax lien sale have failed to pay taxes when due and have failed to maintain the condition of other real property they own in the same jurisdiction, it is not likely that they intend to invest in and improve the condition of additional property they acquire. Instead they are speculating on a turnaround in the neighborhood based upon the investment and efforts of others. Under current law, New Castle County, or any municipal government, may disapprove of the winning bid for any tax lien sheriff’s sale, at the election of the governmental entity initiating the tax lien sale, for any public purpose or reason. This bill allows any county or municipality to additionally require that bidders at such tax lien sales certify, prior to bidding, that they do not have a record of failing to maintain other real property in which they own an interest, do not have outstanding liens owed to governmental entities in excess of $1,000 at such other property, and do not hold properties that have been vacant for 18 consecutive months unless there is active construction on the property.
- Who sponsors HB 187?
- HB 187 is sponsored by Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Stephanie T. Bolden (Democratic), Daniel B. Short (Republican), Kimberly Williams (Democratic), Kendra Johnson (Democratic), Joseph E. Miro, and Margaret Rose Henry.
- What is the current status of HB 187?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced May 18, 2017. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 187?
- Track HB 187 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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