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HB198 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTION FROM ABUSE PROCEEDINGS.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTION FROM ABUSE PROCEEDINGS.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Last action
2025-06-18
Official status
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 6 On Its Merits
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about how courts will handle cases without aggravating factors or the impact on victims' rights.

Changes to Protection from Abuse Orders

This act changes how courts handle protection orders in Delaware by allowing someone accused of abuse to agree to a permanent order without the court needing to find aggravating factors.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows people who are accused of abuse to agree to a permanent protection order.
  • Removes the requirement that the court must find aggravating factors before issuing a permanent protection order.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are accused of abuse in Delaware
  • Courts handling protection from abuse cases

Terms To Know

aggravating factors
Extra serious reasons that make an act worse, like causing severe harm or repeated offenses.
permanent protection order
A court order that lasts for a long time and protects someone from being abused.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how courts will handle cases without aggravating factors.
  • It is unclear what the impact on victims' rights might be under this new rule.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-18 Delaware General Assembly

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

  2. 2025-06-05 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTION FROM ABUSE PROCEEDINGS.
This Act amends the Delaware Code to allow for a respondent in a protection from abuse proceeding to consent to the entry of a permanent protection order without the need for the Court to make a finding as to the presence of the aggravating factors of 1045(f) of Title 10.