AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PETITIONS FOR CHANGE OF NAME.
Do you support it?
Want to know if it passes?
We'll email you when HB 188 moves — a committee vote, a floor vote, or a signature. Nothing else.
Free forever · unsubscribe in one click.
Your answer was recorded either way.
Which district are you in?
Your ZIP is all we need to match you to your own representatives — so we can tell you how they voted on HB 188.
You're tracking HB 188
We'll email you the moment it moves.
HB 188 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PETITIONS FOR CHANGE OF NAME.
Last action — Signed by Governor
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
-
✓Introduced
-
✓In Committee
-
✓Passed House
-
✓Passed Senate
-
✓To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced June 07, 2019. Enacted.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
-
Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
-
3 sponsors
3 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
-
Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 D).
-
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
Currently, Family Court has jurisdiction over name changes for minors when considered in conjunction with establishing parentage, as well as adult name resumption related to divorce proceedings. Outside of that context, a name change must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas. This bill provides for Family Court to assume jurisdiction over all minor name change petitions, as recommended by the Jurisdiction Improvement Committee established by the Delaware Supreme Court Order of November 7, 2017. The bill exempts the name change matters in Family Court from newspaper publication requirements. Under the bill, the Court of Common Pleas retains its jurisdiction over other adult name change petitions.
Bill Text
- Bill Text View text Current pdf
Action History
-
Signed by Governor
-
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
-
Suspension of Rules in Senate
-
Assigned to Judicial Committee in Senate
-
Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT
-
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 1 Favorable, 6 On Its Merits
-
Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
Sponsors
- Kendra Johnson · Primary
- Nicole Poore · Primary
- Valerie Longhurst · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 59 not signed on
Sponsors (3)
- Kendra Johnson Democratic
- Nicole Poore Democratic
- Valerie Longhurst
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (59)
59 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 59 →"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 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (21)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Delcollo | — | Yea |
| Bruce C. Ennis | — | Yea |
| Catherine Cloutier | — | Yea |
| Colin Bonini | — | Yea |
| David B. McBride | — | Yea |
| Ernesto B Lopez | — | Yea |
| Harris B. McDowell | — | Yea |
| Bryan Townsend | Democratic | Yea |
| Darius J. Brown | Democratic | Yea |
| David P. Sokola | Democratic | Yea |
| John "Jack" Walsh | Democratic | Yea |
| Laura V. Sturgeon | Democratic | Yea |
| Nicole Poore | Democratic | Yea |
| S. Elizabeth Lockman | 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 |
| Gerald W. Hocker | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Democratic | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 39 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (41)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 188 do?
- Currently, Family Court has jurisdiction over name changes for minors when considered in conjunction with establishing parentage, as well as adult name resumption related to divorce proceedings. Outside of that context, a name change must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas. This bill provides for Family Court to assume jurisdiction over all minor name change petitions, as recommended by the Jurisdiction Improvement Committee established by the Delaware Supreme Court Order of November 7, 2017. The bill exempts the name change matters in Family Court from newspaper publication requirements. Under the bill, the Court of Common Pleas retains its jurisdiction over other adult name change petitions.
- Who sponsors HB 188?
- HB 188 is sponsored by Kendra Johnson (Democratic), Nicole Poore (Democratic), and Valerie Longhurst.
- What is the current status of HB 188?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced June 07, 2019. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 188?
- Track HB 188 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on HB 188
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 HB 188
Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →