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HB256 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 404 OF VOLUME 83 AND CHAPTER 108 OF VOLUME 84 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE AND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUPIL AND STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS.

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 404 OF VOLUME 83 AND CHAPTER 108 OF VOLUME 84 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE AND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUPIL AND STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS.

Education
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Morrison
Last action
2026-05-21
Official status
Signed 5/21/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms for the new requirements.

Act Requiring Safety Information on Student ID Cards

The act requires public schools serving grades 7 to 12 to include specific safety hotline numbers on student identification cards, and it removes previous application dates for these requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires public schools in grades 7 to 12 that issue pupil identification cards to print the Teen Dating Violence Hotline number (1-866-331-9474 or Text “loveis” to 22522) and the Stop Bullying Now Hotline number (1-800-273-8255(TALK)) on student ID cards.
  • Removes previous application dates for laws related to safety hotline numbers on pupil identification cards, making these requirements permanent starting July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public schools serving grades 7 to 12 that issue student ID cards.
  • Students in grades 7 to 12 who receive identification cards from their public schools.

Terms To Know

Teen Dating Violence Hotline
A hotline providing support and resources for individuals experiencing dating violence, accessible by phone or text message.
Stop Bullying Now Hotline
A hotline offering assistance to those dealing with bullying issues in schools.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a school runs out of old ID cards before the new requirements take effect.
  • It is unclear how compliance will be enforced or monitored by educational authorities.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-21 Delaware General Assembly

    Signed by Governor

  2. 2026-04-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  3. 2026-04-15 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits

  4. 2026-03-26 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT

  5. 2026-03-26 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Education Committee in Senate

  6. 2026-03-11 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 1 Favorable, 11 On Its Merits

  7. 2025-12-18 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 404 OF VOLUME 83 AND CHAPTER 108 OF VOLUME 84 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE AND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUPIL AND STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS.
This Act requires public schools serving grades 7 to 12 that issue pupil identification cards to print on either side of the card the following information, which previously was optional for the public schools:
(1) Teen Dating Violence Hotline:1-866-331-9474 or Text “loveis” to 22522.
(2) Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255(TALK).

Sections 1 and 2 of this Act remove application dates from the previous enactments of laws related to information printed on pupil identification cards for public schools serving grades 7 to 12 and on student identification cards for public institutions of higher learning. These application dates could be interpreted to mean that the previous enactments of these laws were to be effective only during the stated school years. By removing these application dates and establishing the effective date in Section 5 of this Act, these laws will be effective on July 1, 2026.

This Act also makes technical corrections in Sections 3 and 4 of this Act to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Morrison & Sen. Lockman

Reps. Berry, Burns, Gorman, K. Johnson, Ortega, Osienski, Ross Levin, Kamela Smith, Lynn, Harris; Sens. Hoffner, Sokola

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 256

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 404 OF VOLUME 83 AND CHAPTER 108 OF VOLUME 84 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE AND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUPIL AND STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS.

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

Section 1. Amend Section 3, Chapter 404, Volume 83 of the Laws of Delaware by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Section 3. This Act takes effect for the 2022-2023 school year.

Section 2. Amend Section 3, Chapter 108, Volume 84 of the Laws of Delaware by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Section 3. This Act takes effect for the 2023-2024 school year.

Section 3. Amend § 4144, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 4144. Pupil identification cards; publication of safety hotline numbers

[For application of this section, see 83 Del. Laws, c. 404, § 3; and 84 Del. Laws, c. 108, § 3]

.

(a) All public schools serving pupils in grades 7 to 12 that issue pupil identification cards shall have printed on either side of the pupil identification card the following public safety telephone or text numbers:

(1) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text “988”.

(2) National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).

(3) Crisis Text Line:

Text “DE” to 741741.

(4) Teen Dating Violence Hotline:1-866-331-9474 or Text “loveis” to 22522.

(5) Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255(TALK).

(b) All public schools serving pupils in grades 7 to 12 that issue pupil identification cards, in addition to printing the required public safety

numbers,

numbers

listed in subsection (a) of this

section,

section

on the pupil identification cards, may also print the following telephone

or text numbers:

number for the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673(HOPE).

(1) National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673(HOPE).

(2) Teen Dating Violence Hotline:1-866-331-9474 or Text “loveis” to 22522.

(3) Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255(TALK).

(c)

In the event

If

any of the numbers listed in subsection (a) or (b) of this section have been

updated

updated,

the most updated numbers

shall

must

be printed on the pupil identification

card.

card when the card is reissued or reprinted.

(d) If a public school has unissued pupil identification

cards,

cards

that do not comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the school may continue to issue the identification cards until

they are

the school’s supply of identification cards is

depleted.

Section 4. Amend § 9001B, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 9001B. Publication of safety hotline numbers

[For application of this section, see 83 Del. Laws, c. 404, § 3; and 84 Del. Laws, c. 108, § 3]

.

(a) Every public institution of higher learning in this State that issues student identification cards shall have printed on either side of the student identification

cards

card

the following public safety telephone and text numbers:

(1) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text “988”.

(2) National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233(SAFE).

(3) Crisis Text Line:

Text “DE” to 741741.

(4) Local campus police or campus security phone number.

(b) Every public institution of higher learning in this State that issues student identification cards, in addition to printing the required public safety numbers listed in subsection (a) of this

section,

section

on the student identification card, may also print the following telephone

number:

number for the

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673(HOPE).

(c)

In the event

If

any of the numbers listed in subsection (a) or (b) of this section have been

updated

updated,

the most updated numbers

shall

must

be printed on the student identification

cards.

card when the card is reissued or reprinted.

(d) If

an

a public

institution of higher learning has unissued student identification

cards,

cards

that do not comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the institution may continue to issue the identification cards until

they are

the institution’s supply of the identification cards is

depleted.

Section 5. This Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires public schools serving grades 7 to 12 that issue pupil identification cards to print on either side of the card the following information, which previously was optional for the public schools:

(1) Teen Dating Violence Hotline:1-866-331-9474 or Text “loveis” to 22522.

(2) Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255(TALK).

Sections 1 and 2 of this Act remove application dates from the previous enactments of laws related to information printed on pupil identification cards for public schools serving grades 7 to 12 and on student identification cards for public institutions of higher learning. These application dates could be interpreted to mean that the previous enactments of these laws were to be effective only during the stated school years. By removing these application dates and establishing the effective date in Section 5 of this Act, these laws will be effective on July 1, 2026.

This Act also makes technical corrections in Sections 3 and 4 of this Act to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.