Delaware legislation · 153rd General Assembly
Delaware HB53: Hearing Assistive Devices/Expand Scope of Special Fund
Status: Signed into law, July 21, 2025
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE AND DEVICES FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE DEAFNESS, HEARING LOSS, OR SPEECH DISABILITIES.
What the bill says
An act to amend title 26 of the delaware code relating to telecommunications service and devices for persons who have deafness, hearing loss, or speech disabilities.
From the introduced text, March 6, 2025:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE AND DEVICES FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE DEAFNESS, HEARING LOSS, OR SPEECH DISABILITIES. Section 1. Amend § 220, Title 26 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: § 220. Telecommunications service for persons who have deafness, hearing loss loss, or speech disabilities for wireline communications service and devices. (a) All telephone corporations or any corporation supplying wireline communications service within this State shall participate in a program to provide telecommunications service for analog communication devices devices, and a telecommunications relay service service, and assistive devices for persons who have deafness, hearing loss loss, or speech disabilities. disabilities related to or resulting from an individual being deaf or hard of hearing. (b) Telephone corporations or corporations supplying wireline telephone service within this State shall impose a surcharge as set forth in this section to recover the cost of providing said service through a separately identified charge on subscribers' bills as further outlined in subsection (e) of this section below. The surcharge shall be subject to adjustment annually with notification to providers required at least 90 days in advance of the effective date of such adjustment. The moneys recovered shall be deposited in a special fund …
Sponsors
- Eric Morrison (D, 27) · primary sponsor
- Elizabeth Lockman (D, 3)
- Edward Osienski (D, 24)
- Krista Griffith (D, 12)
- DeShanna Neal (D, 13)
- Frank Burns (D, 21)
- Melanie Ross Levin (D, 10)
- Richard Collins (R, 41)
- Mara Gorman (D, 23)
- Kendra Johnson (D, 5)
- Shannon Morris (R, 30)
- Cyndie Romer (D, 25)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
- : Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits
- : Assigned to Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee in Senate
- : Passed By House. Votes: 36 YES 5 ABSENT
- : Amendment HA 1 to HB 53 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
- : Amendment HA 1 to HB 53 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- : Reported Out of Committee (Technology & Telecommunications) in House with 3 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
- : Introduced and Assigned to Technology & Telecommunications Committee in House
Votes
- Passed (3/5) (June 17, 2025): 20 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Passed (SM) (March 18, 2025): 36 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB53?
- HB53 is a bill in the Delaware Legislature (153rd General Assembly): Hearing Assistive Devices/Expand Scope of Special Fund.
- What does HB53 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend title 26 of the delaware code relating to telecommunications service and devices for persons who have deafness, hearing loss, or speech disabilities.
- What is the status of HB53?
- Signed into law as of July 21, 2025. Latest action: Signed by Governor (July 21, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB53?
- Eric Morrison (D, 27), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB53?
- On the Delaware Legislature website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141884
Source: official Delaware record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.