Delaware legislation · 153rd General Assembly
Delaware HB409: Prostitution Businesses/Promoting 2nd Degree
Status: Signed into law, September 14, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROSTITUTION.
What the bill says
An act to amend title 11 of the delaware code relating to prostitution.
From the introduced text, May 7, 2026:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROSTITUTION. Section 1. Amend § 1352, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as class E felony. (a) A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the second degree when the person knowingly does any of the following : (1) Advances or profits from prostitution by managing, supervising, controlling controlling, operating, conducting, advertising, or owning, either alone or in association with others, a house of prostitution or a prostitution business or enterprise enterprise, including an illicit massage establishment, involving prostitution activity by 2 or more prostitutes; or prostitutes . (2) Advances or profits from prostitution of a person less than 18 years old. (b) Promoting prostitution in the second degree is a class E felony. Section 2. Amend § 1356, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and by redesignating Delaware Code provisions accordingly: § 1356. Definitions relating to prostitution. As used in §§ 1342-1355 of this title: (2) "Illicit massage establishment" means an establishment that facilitates prostitution using the cover of either of the following: a. A massage establishment, as defined in § 5302 of Title 24 . b. …
Sponsors
- Kimberly Williams (D, 19) · primary sponsor
- Krista Griffith (D, 12)
- Nicole Poore (D, 12)
- Cyndie Romer (D, 25)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
- : Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
- : Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
- : Passed By House. Votes: 35 YES 1 NO 5 ABSENT
- : Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 2 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
- : Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
Votes
- Passed (SM) (June 30, 2026): 20 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Passed (2/3) (June 9, 2026): 35 yea, 1 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB409?
- HB409 is a bill in the Delaware Legislature (153rd General Assembly): Prostitution Businesses/Promoting 2nd Degree.
- What does HB409 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend title 11 of the delaware code relating to prostitution.
- What is the status of HB409?
- Signed into law as of September 14, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (September 14, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB409?
- Kimberly Williams (D, 19), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB409?
- On the Delaware Legislature website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143243
Source: official Delaware record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.