Delaware legislation · 153rd General Assembly
Delaware SB161: DSAMH/Behavioral Health/Issue Licenses
Status: Signed into law, August 31, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
What the bill says
An act to amend titles 16 and 29 of the delaware code relating to behavioral health.
From the introduced text, May 21, 2025:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. Section 1. Amend Chapter 56, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: Chapter 56. Behavioral Health Subchapter I. General Provisions § 5601. Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) "Behavioral health condition" means a diagnosable disorder of sufficient duration to meet the diagnostic criteria within the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, resulting in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits 1 or more major life activities. (2) "Behavioral health treatment provider organization" or "provider organization" means an individual, non-profit, firm, partnership, corporation, association, joint-stock company, limited partnership, limited liability company, other legal entity, or successor seeking to or operating a program. (3) "Behavioral health treatment program" or "program" means the treatment services a provider organization delivers to treat a behavioral health condition. (4) "Behavioral health treatment services" or "treatment services" means efforts to develop, maintain, or restore the functioning of an individual with a behavioral health condition to the maximum extent practicable. The term includes services provided to a client to diagnose, describe, predict, and explain the client's status and individual treatment planning, case review, …
Sponsors
- Marie Pinkney (D, 13) · primary sponsor
- Nnamdi Chukwuocha (D, 1)
Latest actions
- : SS 1 for SB 161 - Signed by Governor
- : SS 1 for SB 161 - Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 2 NO 1 ABSENT
- : SS 1 for SB 161 - Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 9 On Its Merits
- : SS 1 for SB 161 - Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House
- : SS 1 for SB 161 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
- : SS 1 for SB 161 - Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 4 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
- : Substituted in Senate by SS 1 for SB 161
- : Introduced and Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate
Votes
- Passed (2/3) (June 23, 2026): 38 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Passed (2/3) (May 22, 2026): 20 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB161?
- SB161 is a bill in the Delaware Legislature (153rd General Assembly): DSAMH/Behavioral Health/Issue Licenses.
- What does SB161 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend titles 16 and 29 of the delaware code relating to behavioral health.
- What is the status of SB161?
- Signed into law as of August 31, 2026. Latest action: SS 1 for SB 161 - Signed by Governor (August 31, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB161?
- Marie Pinkney (D, 13), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB161?
- On the Delaware Legislature website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142374
Source: official Delaware record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.