Delaware legislation · 153rd General Assembly
Delaware HB444: Delaware Johnson Lewis Voting Rights Act/Establish
Status: Signed into law, August 6, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
What the bill says
An act to amend title 15 of the delaware code relating to the delaware john lewis voting rights act.
From the introduced text, June 4, 2026:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT. WHEREAS, there is a history in Delaware of public and private discrimination against individuals who are members of race, color, or language minority groups; and WHEREAS, electoral systems that deny race, color, or language minority groups an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice are inconsistent with the right to free and equal elections and the promise that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged on account of race, color, national origin, or sex established under Article 1 Sections 3 and 21 of the Delaware Constitution; and WHEREAS, there are significant racial disparities in political participation and voter registration in Delaware, which are an indication of barriers to the franchise. For example, according to data published by the United States Census Bureau, 80.2 percent of non-Hispanic white citizens in Delaware were registered to vote as of the November 2024 election, whereas only 65.7 percent of Black citizens in Delaware were registered to vote as of that election. According to the same Census Bureau data, 73.5 percent of non-Hispanic white citizens in Delaware voted in 2024 election, whereas 60.5 percent of Black citizens in Delaware voted in 2024 election; and WHEREAS, in recognition of these findings …
Sponsors
- Larry Lambert (D, 7) · primary sponsor
- Krista Griffith (D, 12)
- Stephanie Bolden (D, 2)
- Melissa Minor-Brown (D, 17)
- Kyra Hoffner (D, 14)
- Marie Pinkney (D, 13)
- Daniel Cruce (D, 1)
- Alonna Berry (D, 20)
- Nnamdi Chukwuocha (D, 1)
- Mara Gorman (D, 23)
- Eric Morrison (D, 27)
- Melanie Ross Levin (D, 10)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
- : Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
- : Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate
- : Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
- : Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate
- : Passed By House. Votes: 29 YES 11 NO 1 ABSENT
- : Amendment HA 1 to HB 444 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
- : Amendment HA 1 to HB 444 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- : Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 3 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
Votes
- Passed (SM) (June 30, 2026): 21 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Passed (SM) (June 18, 2026): 29 yea, 11 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB444?
- HB444 is a bill in the Delaware Legislature (153rd General Assembly): Delaware Johnson Lewis Voting Rights Act/Establish.
- What does HB444 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend title 15 of the delaware code relating to the delaware john lewis voting rights act.
- What is the status of HB444?
- Signed into law as of August 6, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (August 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB444?
- Larry Lambert (D, 7), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB444?
- On the Delaware Legislature website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143415
Source: official Delaware record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.