HB185 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE SITE READINESS FUND.

Housing Taxes

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: K. Johnson
Last action: 2025-05-20
Official status: House Housing 5/15/25
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status shows a 'Motion to Release Failed,' which may impact its path forward despite passing other legislative steps.

HB185: Allowing Affordable Housing Applicants to Access the Site Readiness Fund

This bill allows applicants creating affordable housing to apply for Site Readiness Funds if they show their project will increase economic development in Delaware.

What This Bill Does

Allows applicants seeking to create affordable housing to be approved for funding under the Site Readiness Fund section of Title 29.
Requires applicants to demonstrate that the affordable housing will increase economic development in the State.
Defines 'affordable housing' as homes available to individuals or families with a household income at or below the median state income.
Sets a cost limit where total rental and utility costs, or combined mortgage, property taxes, and required insurance cannot exceed 30% of a household's gross annual income.

Who It Names or Affects

Applicants who want to create affordable housing in Delaware
Individuals and families with incomes at or below the state median

Terms To Know

Site Readiness Fund: A fund under Title 29 of the Delaware Code that provides funding for site readiness, now including eligible affordable housing projects.
Affordable Housing: Housing available to those earning at or below the state median income where costs do not exceed 30% of gross annual income.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money an applicant can receive.
It does not explain exactly what evidence counts as proof that economic development will increase.
The effective date is not listed in the provided text, and a motion to release the bill failed on May 20, 2025.

Bill History

2025-05-20 Delaware General Assembly
Motion to Release Failed
2025-05-15 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Housing Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE SITE READINESS FUND.
This Act allows an applicant who seeks to create affordable housing to apply for Site Readiness Funds so long as the applicant demonstrates that the affordable housing will increase economic development in the State.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. K. Johnson & Sen. Huxtable

Reps. Chukwuocha, Burns, Snyder-Hall, Gorman; Sens. Hoffner, Buckson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 185

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE SITE READINESS FUND.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 8711A, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 8711A. Site Readiness Fund.

(l)

(1) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), an applicant who seeks to create affordable housing may be approved for funding under this section if the applicant demonstrates that the affordable housing will increase economic development in the State.

(2) For purposes of this section, “affordable housing” is housing that is all of the following:

a. Affordable to individuals or families with a household income at or below the median State income.

b. Costs no more than 30% of a household’s gross annual income, whether in total rental and utility costs or combined mortgage, property taxes, and required insurance.

SYNOPSIS

This Act allows an applicant who seeks to create affordable housing to apply for Site Readiness Funds so long as the applicant demonstrates that the affordable housing will increase economic development in the State.