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HB150 • 2025

AN ACT AMENDING TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CIVIL ARRESTS.

AN ACT AMENDING TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CIVIL ARRESTS.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Last action
2026-03-24
Official status
HS 1 for HB 150 - Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide information on enforcement mechanisms or consequences for violations.

Law to Stop Civil Arrests Without Warrants

The law stops people from making civil arrests inside Delaware's courthouses unless they have a special paper called a judicial warrant.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it against the rules to arrest someone for a civil reason in a courthouse without a judicial warrant.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Anyone trying to make a civil arrest in Delaware

Terms To Know

Civil Arrest
When someone is taken by force for reasons that are not criminal, like owing money.
Judicial Warrant
A special paper from a judge allowing something to happen, in this case, making an arrest.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not say what happens if someone breaks the rule and makes a civil arrest without a warrant.
  • It is unclear how this law will be enforced or who will check for compliance.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HA 1

1 • Gorman

PWB 6/17/25

Plain English: This amendment changes parts of HB150 to specify areas around courthouses where certain rules apply and to allow police to make arrests inside courthouses if they give judges advance notice.

  • Changes the description of public areas covered by the bill's restrictions to include specific locations like sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots near a courthouse.
  • Adds new rules allowing police officers to arrest people for civil reasons in a courthouse if they first notify the judge with details about who will be arrested, why, when, and where.
  • The amendment text does not explain how these changes affect existing laws or court procedures beyond what is stated.
HA 2

2 • Gorman

PWB

Plain English: PWB 2 by Gorman

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Delaware General Assembly

    Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 150

  2. 2026-03-24 Delaware General Assembly

    HS 1 for HB 150 - - Passed In House by Voice Vote

  3. 2026-03-24 Delaware General Assembly

    HS 1 for HB 150 - Passed By House. Votes: 25 YES 13 NO 3 ABSENT

  4. 2026-03-24 Delaware General Assembly

    HS 1 for HB 150 - Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

  5. 2026-03-19 Delaware General Assembly

    Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 150

  6. 2025-06-24 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment HA 2 to HB 150 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  7. 2025-06-18 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 6 On Its Merits

  8. 2025-06-17 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment HA 1 to HB 150 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  9. 2025-05-01 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT AMENDING TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CIVIL ARRESTS.
This bill prohibits civil arrests from being made in courthouses without a judicial warrant.