Delaware 152nd General Assembly (2023-2024) Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 7 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 426 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 RELATING TO MEDICAL SERVICES.

Last action — Signed by Governor

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced June 06, 2024. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based 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

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    11 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.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

This Act ensures that pregnant women in DOC custody, at Level IV or V, are able to meet with a doula or midwife to create a birth plan surrounding the birth of their child. Among other things, the birth plan must include a statement identifying a preferred childcare provider and whether the new mother wishes to express breast milk for the child. This Act further requires that the DOC publish an annual report regarding the use of doula and midwifery services within the DOC. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

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 Act amends existing law to ensure access to doula and midwifery services for pregnant women in DOC custody at Levels IV or V and mandates the creation of a birth plan and annual reporting on service utilization.

  • § 6536A

    a statement on whether the woman intends to express breast milk and a plan on how the woman will do so. → A statement on whether the woman intends to express breast milk and a plan on how the woman will do so.

    A specific statement regarding breastfeeding plans is clarified in the birth plan requirements.

  • § 6536A

    the department Department shall provide midwifery or doula services → the Department shall provide midwifery or doula services

    Corrects a redundancy in the wording pertaining to the Department's responsibilities.

  • § 6536A

    Services under this section may not supplant health-care services routinely provided to women subject to the custody of the Department at Level IV or V. → Services under this section may not supplant health-care services routinely provided to women subject to the custody of the Department at Level IV or V.

    Reiterates that doula and midwifery services should not replace existing healthcare services.

  • § 6536A

    The Department shall ensure that pregnant women subject to this section are able to meet with a doula or midwife to create a written birth plan surrounding the birth of their child. → The Department shall ensure that pregnant women subject to this section are able to meet with a doula or midwife to create a written birth plan surrounding the birth of their child.

    Confirms the requirement for meeting with a doula or midwife to create a birth plan.

  • § 6536A

    Nothing in this section prevents the Department from adopting policy guidelines for the delivery of midwifery or doula services to pregnant or postpartum women subject to the custody of the Department at Level IV or V. → Nothing in this section prevents the Department from adopting policy guidelines for the delivery of midwifery or doula services to pregnant or postpartum women subject to the custody of the Department at Level IV or V.

    Reaffirms the Department's authority to adopt guidelines for service delivery.

  • § 6536A

    Included some supporting definitions. → Definitions.

    Introduces clarified definitions related to doula and midwifery services.

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor

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

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits

  4. Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

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

  6. Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 3 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits

  7. Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

11 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 51 not signed on

Sponsors (11)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (51)

51 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 51 →

"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 12001
Republican 6000
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 20001
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (21)
Member Party Vote
Kyle Evans Gay — Yea
Sarah McBride — Yea
Bryan Townsend 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 Not Voting
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
Unaffiliated 7000
Democratic 20000
Republican 12002
Total 39002
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (41)
Member Party Vote
Michael Ramone — Yea
Paul S. Baumbach — Yea
Peter C. Schwartzkopf — Yea
Sean Matthews — Yea
Sherry Dorsey Walker — Yea
Stell Parker Selby — Yea
Valerie Longhurst — Yea
Cyndie Romer Democratic Yea
DeShanna U Neal Democratic Yea
Debra Heffernan Democratic Yea
Edward S. Osienski Democratic Yea
Eric Morrison Democratic Yea
Franklin D. Cooke 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
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 Not Voting
Jeff Hilovsky Republican Yea
Jeffrey N. Spiegelman Republican Yea
Jesse R. Vanderwende Republican Yea
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 Not Voting
Valerie Jones Giltner Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare
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 426 do?
This Act ensures that pregnant women in DOC custody, at Level IV or V, are able to meet with a doula or midwife to create a birth plan surrounding the birth of their child. Among other things, the birth plan must include a statement identifying a preferred childcare provider and whether the new mother wishes to express breast milk for the child. This Act further requires that the DOC publish an annual report regarding the use of doula and midwifery services within the DOC. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Who sponsors HB 426?
HB 426 is sponsored by S. Elizabeth Lockman (Democratic), Bryant L. Richardson (Republican), Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Nicole Poore (Democratic), Eric Morrison (Democratic), Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Trey Paradee (Democratic), DeShanna U Neal (Democratic), Paul S. Baumbach, Peter C. Schwartzkopf, and Sherry Dorsey Walker.
What is the current status of HB 426?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced June 06, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 426?
Track HB 426 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 426

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 426

Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

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

Track this bill →