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HB262 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PAID LEAVE.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PAID LEAVE.

Children Labor
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Heffernan
Last action
2026-05-06
Official status
Passed 5/6/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PAID LEAVE.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PAID LEAVE.

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PAID LEAVE.
  • This Act clarifies that paid leave for the adoption of a child may begin at one of the following times: (1) when the child is placed for adoption with the employee; (2) when the employee initiates a petition for adoption; or (3) when the adoption process is completed.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-06 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  2. 2026-04-15 Delaware General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-03-19 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 4 ABSENT

  4. 2026-03-19 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Education Committee in Senate

  5. 2026-03-11 Delaware General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-01-08 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PAID LEAVE.
This Act clarifies that paid leave for the adoption of a child may begin at one of the following times: (1) when the child is placed for adoption with the employee; (2) when the employee initiates a petition for adoption; or (3) when the adoption process is completed.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Heffernan & Sen. Cruce

Reps. Berry, Bolden, Cooke, K. Johnson, Lambert, Morrison, Neal, Ross Levin, Snyder-Hall, Lynn, Harris; Sens. Seigfried, Lockman, Poore, Sokola, Sturgeon, Lawson, Brown, Buckson, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Huxtable, Mantzavinos, Paradee, Pettyjohn, Pinkney, Richardson, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 262

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PAID LEAVE.

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

Section 1. Amend § 1333, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1333. Paid leave for birth of a child or adoption of a child.

(a) Any full-time employee or employee who has been employed by a reorganized school district, charter school or vocational school district for at least 1 year, shall be entitled to 12 weeks of paid leave upon the birth of a child of the employee, or upon the adoption by the employee of a child who is 6 years of age or younger.

(b) The entitlement to leave under subsection (a) of this section shall expire at the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of such birth or adoption.

(c) Without regard to length of employment, a full-time or part-time employee of a reorganized school district, charter school, or vocational school district shall be entitled to use accumulated sick leave upon the birth of a child of the employee, or upon the adoption of a child who is 6 years of age or younger.

(d) The rights and benefits described in this section shall run concurrently with any rights and benefits available under the Family Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. for the birth and adoption of a child and short-term disability benefit pursuant to § 5253 of Title 29 for the birth of a child.

(e) No state agency, board, department, reorganized school district, charter school, vocational school district or other employing officer or agency of this State may alter or terminate the benefits of or terminate the employment of any full-time employee as a result of taking leave pursuant to this section.

(f) For purposes of this section, the entitlement to leave for the adoption of a child may begin at one of the following times, to be determined by the employee:

a. When the child is placed for adoption with the employee under § 904 of Title 13.

b. When the employee initiates a petition for adoption in Family Court.

c. Upon the completion of the adoption process.

SYNOPSIS

This Act clarifies that paid leave for the adoption of a child may begin at one of the following times: (1) when the child is placed for adoption with the employee; (2) when the employee initiates a petition for adoption; or (3) when the adoption process is completed.