KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Delaware

HB293 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE VICTIMS COMPENSATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE VICTIMS COMPENSATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Crime Healthcare Labor
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Morrison
Last action
2026-05-20
Official status
Out of Committee 5/20/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Expanding Crime Definitions for Victim Compensation

The bill changes the definition of 'crime' in Delaware's Victims Compensation Assistance Program to include acts that have characteristics of hate crimes.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds any act with characteristics of a hate crime to the list of what is considered a crime under the Victims Compensation Assistance Program.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Victims who experience crimes with characteristics of hate crimes will be eligible for support through the Victims Compensation Assistance Program.
  • The Delaware Department of Justice and other agencies involved in victim compensation programs will need to update their procedures to include these changes.

Terms To Know

Victims Compensation Assistance Program
A program that provides financial assistance to victims of crimes, including medical expenses, counseling, and lost wages.
Hate crime
A criminal act motivated by prejudice based on race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the program will be funded for additional cases.
  • It is unclear what specific changes agencies will need to make in their procedures to implement this update.
  • The exact impact on funding and resources for the Victims Compensation Assistance Program remains undefined.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-20 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits

  2. 2026-03-17 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT

  3. 2026-03-17 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

  4. 2026-03-11 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 8 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits

  5. 2026-03-05 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE VICTIMS COMPENSATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
This Act adds any act that contains the characteristics of a hate crime to the definitions of crimes for the purposes of the Victims Compensation Assistance Program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Morrison & Sen. Lockman & Sen. Pinkney

Reps. Osienski, Griffith, K. Johnson, Lambert, Wilson-Anton, Snyder-Hall, Berry, Bush, Cooke, Gorman, Romer, Harris; Sens. Sokola, Hansen, Hoffner, Cruce

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 293

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE VICTIMS COMPENSATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

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

Section 1. Amend § 9002, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 9002. Definitions.

For purposes of this chapter:

(6) “Crime” means any of the following:

i. Any act that contains the characteristics of a hate crime as defined in § 1304 of this title.

SYNOPSIS

This Act adds any act that contains the characteristics of a hate crime to the definitions of crimes for the purposes of the Victims Compensation Assistance Program.