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

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Ortega
Last action: 2026-05-06
Official status: Introduced and Placed With Bill
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify how much funding can be raised, nor does it provide specific details about which records will remain confidential and under what conditions. Additionally, there are no specifics regarding the frequency or format of meetings for the Advisory Committee.

Amendment to Help New Americans

This amendment gives the Office of New Americans tasks related to immigrant and international students, protecting immigrants from fraud, sharing legal help information, coordinating with the State Refugee Coordinator, raising funds, keeping certain records private, and changing Advisory Committee members.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Office of New Americans to develop strategies to retain immigrant and international students in higher education.
Allows the Office to work with stakeholders to identify and reduce exploitation and fraud against immigrants and disseminate information about legal services available to new Americans.
Gives the Office permission to raise outside funds and enter into agreements as necessary to fulfill its statutory duties.
Provides that certain records of the Office are not public records under the Freedom of Information Act to protect individuals seeking services or resources from the Office.
Changes who is on the Advisory Committee by removing some members and adding new ones.

Who It Names or Affects

The Office of New Americans
Immigrant and international students in higher education
People seeking legal help
Members of the public appointed to the Advisory Committee

Terms To Know

Office of New Americans: A government office that helps immigrants and international students.
Advisory Committee: A group of people who give advice to the Office of New Americans.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money the Office can raise from outside sources.
It is unclear what specific information will be kept private and under what circumstances.
There are no details on how often or in what ways the Advisory Committee must meet.

Bill History

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.