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HB222 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT.

Agriculture

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Lambert
Last action: 2026-03-12
Official status: Passed 3/12/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

HB222: Updates Fines for Nutrient Management Violations

This bill increases the minimum and maximum fines that officials can charge people who break Delaware's nutrient management rules.

What This Bill Does

Raises the lowest fine from $25 to $125 for each violation of the State Nutrient Management Program.
Increases the highest fine from $1,000 to $5,000 for each violation.
Allows officials to count each day a rule is broken as a separate violation with fines up to $10,000 total per incident.
Requires that money collected from these fines be used by the Department of Agriculture to help people follow the rules or support research.

Who It Names or Affects

People who hold certificates under Delaware's nutrient management laws and break those rules.
The Delaware Nutrient Management Commission, which decides on suspensions and fines.
The Department of Agriculture, which collects and spends the fine money.

Terms To Know

State Nutrient Management Program (SNMP): A set of rules in Delaware that controls how nutrients are used to protect water quality.
Commission: The group of officials who enforce the nutrient management laws and decide on penalties.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not say when it will officially become law or start working.
The text does not explain how often these fines are currently given out before this change.

Amendments

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

SA 1

1 • Pettyjohn

Defeated 3/12/26

Plain English: This amendment lowers both the minimum and maximum fines for nutrient management violations that were originally set by House Bill No. 222.

The lowest fine a person can be charged is changed from $125 to $50 per violation.
The highest fine a person can be charged is changed from $5,000 to $2,000 per violation.

This amendment was defeated on March 12, so these changes did not become part of the final law.
The text does not explain what specific actions cause a person to receive these fines.

Bill History

2026-03-12 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment SA 1 to HB 222 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
2026-03-12 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment SA 1 to HB 222 - Defeated By Senate. Votes: 6 YES 14 NO 1 NOT VOTING
2026-03-12 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 7 NO
2025-06-30 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
2025-06-25 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By House. Votes: 24 YES 15 NO 1 ABSENT 1 VACANT
2025-06-25 Delaware General Assembly
Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
2025-06-24 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Agriculture) in House with 8 On Its Merits
2025-06-18 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Agriculture Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT.
This Act updates the fine structure for violations of the State Nutrient Management Program. Under this Act, the Commission may impose a fine of not less than $125 nor more than $5,000 for each violation. The current fine may be not less than $25 nor more than $1,000 for each violation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Lambert & Sen. Poore

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 222

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT.

WHEREAS, the Delaware General Assembly seeks to modernize penalties imposed on agricultural polluters; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Nutrient Management Commission is charged with adequately holding the regulated community accountable for identified cases of chronic violations of the State Nutrient Management Program (SNMP).

NOW, THEREFORE:

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

Section 1. Amend § 2244, Title 3 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 2244. Certification; applications; suspension, modification; revocation.

(a) The Commission may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, suspend, revoke, or modify any certificate granted under this chapter or fine any person against whom a complaint has been brought, or both, if the Commission finds the person certified has been found guilty of any violation of this chapter or Commission regulations.

(b) The Commission may impose a fine of not less than

$25

$125

nor more than

$1,000

$5,000

for each violation. Each day of continued violation may be considered as a separate violation up to a limit of $10,000.

(c) Any fines collected by the Department of Agriculture under this chapter shall be appropriated to the Department for use in assisting persons in achieving compliance or to demonstrate the application of research that may be of substantial benefit to many individuals seeking compliance with this chapter.

(d) All decisions of the Commission relating to suspension, modification or revocation of a certificate shall be final and conclusive unless the person whose certificate was suspended, modified or revoked appeals according to the provisions of § 2263 of this title.

SYNOPSIS

This Act updates the fine structure for violations of the State Nutrient Management Program. Under this Act, the Commission may impose a fine of not less than $125 nor more than $5,000 for each violation. The current fine may be not less than $25 nor more than $1,000 for each violation.