HA1TOSB27 • 2025

This Amendment does all of the following: (1) Requires the Office of New Americans (“Office”) to develop strategies to retain immigrant and international students in higher education, convene stakeholders to identify and reduce exploitation and fraud against immigrants, disseminate information about legal services available to new Americans, and coordinate with the State Refugee Coordinator.

Education Housing

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Ortega
Last action: 2026-06-25
Official status: Passed 6/25/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status shows the bill passed the House on June 25, 2026, but no effective date is provided in the metadata.

Amendment Strengthening the Office of New Americans

This amendment gives new duties to the Office of New Americans, changes who sits on its advisory committee, and protects private records about people using its services.

What This Bill Does

Requires the office to create plans that help immigrant and international students stay in college or university.
Asks the office to bring together groups to find ways to stop fraud and exploitation of immigrants.
Directs the office to share information about legal services for housing, family issues, and community life.
Allows the office to accept money from outside sources and sign agreements with other organizations.
Changes the rules so that records containing personal details about service users are not open public records.

Who It Names or Affects

The Office of New Americans
Immigrant residents seeking legal services or resources
International and immigrant students in higher education

Terms To Know

Office of New Americans: A state office that helps immigrants integrate and access services.
Advisory Committee: A group that gives advice to the Office, now made up of specific government officials and public members appointed by leaders.

Limits and Unknowns

The text does not state when the new rules will officially start.
The amendment removes old committee members but does not list their names or titles in this document.

Bill History

2026-06-25 Delaware General Assembly
Passed In House by Voice Vote
2026-05-06 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Placed With Bill

Official Summary Text

This Amendment does all of the following:
(1) Requires the Office of New Americans (“Office”) to develop strategies to retain immigrant and international students in higher education, convene stakeholders to identify and reduce exploitation and fraud against immigrants, disseminate information about legal services available to new Americans, and coordinate with the State Refugee Coordinator.
(2) Authorizes the Office to raise outside funds and enter into memonanda of understanding and other agreements as necessary to fulfill its statutory duties.
(3) Provides that certain records of the Office are not “public records” under the Freedom of Information Act to protect the privacy of individuals that may seek services or resources from the Office.
(4) Removes certain members from the Advisory Committee to the Office of New Americans (“Advisory Committee”) and replaces them with the Secretary of State, Attorney General, a member of the public appointed by the Governor, a member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a member of the public appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(5) Removes a provision requiring the Advisory Committee to hold 1 public hearing each year to receive public comment because § 10004(a)(2) of Title 29 requires each public body to provide an opportunity for public comment at each meeting.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Ortega

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

SENATE BILL NO. 27

AMEND Senate Bill No. 27 on line 48 by inserting “

; records

” after “

duties

” and before the period therein.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 27 on line 49 by inserting “

(a)

” before “

The

” therein.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 27 by inserting the following after line 60 and before line 61:

“

(7) Disseminate information about legal services available to immigrant residents in civil legal matters, including housing, family, and integration into the community.

(8) Convene college and university officials to foster strategies for immigrant and international student retention.

(9) Convene stakeholders in State agencies, immigrant-serving organizations, and the public to identify and reduce exploitation and fraud against immigrants.

”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 27 on line 61 by deleting “

(7)

” and inserting in lieu thereof “

(10)

”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 27 on line 63 by deleting “

(8)

” and inserting in lieu thereof “

(11)

”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 27 on line 64 by deleting “

(9)

” and inserting in lieu thereof “

(12)

”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 27 on line 65 by deleting “

(10)

” and inserting in lieu thereof “

(13)

”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 27 by inserting the following after line 65 and before line 66:

“

(14) Coordinate as necessary with the State Refugee Coordinator within the Department of Health and Social Services.

(b) The Office may do all of the following:

(1) Receive, administer, and disburse federal, state, local or private funds, including grants and gifts.

(2) Subject to other law of this State, enter into memoranda of understanding, contracts, or other agreements to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

(c) A record owned, made, used, retained, received, produced, composed, drafted, or otherwise compiled or collected by the Office, including an electronic communication sent or received by the Director or other individual employed or contracted by the Office is not a “public record”, as defined under § 10002 of this title, if the record contains information provided by or otherwise related to an individual who has sought services from or resources provided by the Office.

”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 27 by deleting lines 79 through 87 and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“

(7) The Secretary of State.

(8) The Attorney General.

(9) One member of the public, appointed by the Governor.

(10) One member of the public, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(11) One member of the public, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 27 by deleting lines 116 through 117 in their entirety.

SYNOPSIS

This Amendment does all of the following:

(1) Requires the Office of New Americans (“Office”) to develop strategies to retain immigrant and international students in higher education, convene stakeholders to identify and reduce exploitation and fraud against immigrants, disseminate information about legal services available to new Americans, and coordinate with the State Refugee Coordinator.

(2) Authorizes the Office to raise outside funds and enter into memonanda of understanding and other agreements as necessary to fulfill its statutory duties.

(3) Provides that certain records of the Office are not “public records” under the Freedom of Information Act to protect the privacy of individuals that may seek services or resources from the Office.

(4) Removes certain members from the Advisory Committee to the Office of New Americans (“Advisory Committee”) and replaces them with the Secretary of State, Attorney General, a member of the public appointed by the Governor, a member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a member of the public appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(5) Removes a provision requiring the Advisory Committee to hold 1 public hearing each year to receive public comment because § 10004(a)(2) of Title 29 requires each public body to provide an opportunity for public comment at each meeting.