HB280 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 AND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD INFORMATION.

Parental Rights

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Chukwuocha
Last action: 2026-05-19
Official status: House Public Safety & Homeland Security 1/20/26 (Tabled in Committee)
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Although the bill text states it is effective immediately, official status metadata indicates the bill was 'Tabled in Committee' on May 19, 2026. This suggests the law has not yet been enacted or implemented despite the text's language.

HB280: Hidden Disability Notation on Delaware IDs

This bill allows people with nonapparent disabilities in Delaware to add a butterfly symbol and the words 'hidden disability' to their driver's license or ID card, and requires police training on how to interact safely with them.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to offer a notation for licenses showing a person has a nonapparent disability.
Allows applicants to choose whether to include this designation on their driver's license or identification card.
Mandates that police officer training includes instruction on recognizing and responding to these notations during traffic stops.
Directs the Division of Motor Vehicles to consult with advocacy groups about the design of the notation symbol.
Requires public outreach efforts so people know they can request this designation.

Who It Names or Affects

People in Delaware who have nonapparent, intellectual, or developmental disabilities and hold a driver's license or ID card.
Parents or guardians of applicants under the age of 18 who wish to add the notation.
Police officers and people seeking permanent appointment as police officers in Delaware.

Terms To Know

Nonapparent disability: A condition that is not immediately visible, such as an intellectual or developmental disability.
Notation: The butterfly symbol and the words 'hidden disability' placed on a license to indicate the holder has a specific need.

Limits and Unknowns

This designation cannot appear on temporary licenses.
The notation can only be removed upon written notice to the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Written permission from a parent or guardian is required for applicants under age 18.

Amendments

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

HA 1

1 • Chukwuocha

PWB 4/30/26

Plain English: This amendment changes House Bill No. 280 so that people with hidden disabilities can get a butterfly symbol on their driver's license or ID card instead of just written notes.

It requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to add a butterfly symbol for nonapparent (hidden) disabilities rather than making other types of notations.
It updates the law text to specifically use the term 'nonapparent disability' in several places.
It clarifies that this new butterfly symbol cannot be added unless it is for a nonapparent disability.
It requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to talk with advocacy groups about how to teach people about this new designation.

The amendment does not explain what specific rules or medical proof are needed to qualify for the butterfly symbol.
The text does not describe exactly where on the license or ID card the butterfly symbol will be placed.

Bill History

2026-05-19 Delaware General Assembly
Tabled in Committee
2026-04-30 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment HA 1 to HB 280 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
2026-01-20 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 AND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD INFORMATION.
This Act, advocated by Eric Carpenter-Grantham and his mother Linda Carpenter-Grantham, promotes equitable treatment for individuals with nonapparent disabilities in interactions with law enforcement. Also referred to as "Eric's ID Law", this Act establishes the use of a butterfly symbol on state driver's licenses and identification cards to provide individuals with nonapparent disabilities to communicate their needs and circumstances.
This Act requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to make available a notation on a driver’s license or identification card that indicates a person has a disability, including an intellectual or developmental disability. It also requires that police officer training include instruction on the notation and best practices for safe interactions during a traffic stop with a person with a nonapparent disability.
Upon passage of the Act, the Division of Motor Vehicles is directed to consult with disability advocacy groups regarding the design of the notation and to conduct public outreach to make the availability of the notation known.
The Act is effective immediately and to be implemented within 6 months of its enactment.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Chukwuocha & Sen. Brown & Rep. Heffernan

Reps. Harris, Berry, Bolden, K. Johnson, Lambert, Morrison, Neal, Phillips, Romer, Ross Levin, Hensley; Sens. Walsh, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 280

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 AND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD INFORMATION.

WHEREAS, “Eric’s ID Law” was inspired by the advocacy of Eric Carpenter-Grantham, a young Black autistic man, and his mother, Linda Carpenter-Grantham, who sought to promote understanding, safety, and equitable treatment for individuals with disabilities in interactions with law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, “Eric’s ID Law” establishes the use of a butterfly symbol above the words “hidden disability” on state driver’s licenses and identification cards to provide a discreet, voluntary way for individuals with nonapparent disabilities to communicate their needs and circumstances.

NOW, THEREFORE:

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

Section 1. Amend § 2718, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 2718. Information on licenses.

(h) The Division of Motor Vehicles (Division) shall provide a method for permitting a person applying for a license or identification card, or for renewal thereof, to have designated thereon that such person has a nonapparent disability.

(1) Upon such designation, the Division shall in a manner prescribed by the Division make a suitable notation upon the license or identification card indicating that such person has a disability which may require special attention.

(2) At the time a person authorizes the designation to appear on the person’s license or identification card, the person shall be notified that the designation can be removed only upon written notice to the Division.

(3) For purposes of this subsection, “license” does not include a temporary license.

(4) No designation shall be noted upon the license or identification card of any person under 18 years of age unless written permission of a parent or guardian is provided.

(5) For the purposes of this subsection “disability” includes a developmental disability and an intellectual disability.

Section 2. Amend § 8405, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 8405. Mandatory training; exceptions.

(c) All police officers and all persons seeking permanent appointment as a police officer shall undergo training to assist them in identifying symptoms of mental illness, mental disability, and/or physical disability and in responding appropriately to situations involving persons having a mental illness, mental disability, and/or physical disability. The training must include

all of the following:

(1)

instruction

Instruction

concerning the interaction between police officers and minors that have a mental illness, mental disability and/or physical disability.

(2) Instruction concerning the driver’s license notation available to indicate a person has a disability.

(3) Instruction concerning best practices for safe interactions during traffic stops that involve a person with a disability, including developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Section 3. Upon enactment of this Act, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall do all of the following:

(1) Consult with developmental disability and intellectual disability advocacy groups regarding the design of the nonapparent disability notation.

(2) Conduct public outreach efforts to educate the public on the availability of the nonapparent disability designation.

Section 4. This Act is effective immediately and is to be implemented within 6 months of the effective date.

SYNOPSIS

This Act, advocated by Eric Carpenter-Grantham and his mother Linda Carpenter-Grantham, promotes equitable treatment for individuals with nonapparent disabilities in interactions with law enforcement. Also referred to as "Eric's ID Law", this Act establishes the use of a butterfly symbol on state driver's licenses and identification cards to provide individuals with nonapparent disabilities to communicate their needs and circumstances.

This Act requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to make available a notation on a driver’s license or identification card that indicates a person has a disability, including an intellectual or developmental disability. It also requires that police officer training include instruction on the notation and best practices for safe interactions during a traffic stop with a person with a nonapparent disability.

Upon passage of the Act, the Division of Motor Vehicles is directed to consult with disability advocacy groups regarding the design of the notation and to conduct public outreach to make the availability of the notation known.

The Act is effective immediately and to be implemented within 6 months of its enactment.