HB294 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 21 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO A DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE FOR PREGNANT PERSONS AT STATE BUILDINGS.

Budget

Passed Legislature

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on the number of parking spaces or what happens if there are insufficient spots for all pregnant individuals.

Designated Parking Space for Pregnant People at State Buildings

The bill requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to designate parking spaces for pregnant people at certain state buildings, and it exempts violations from civil penalties.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to create reserved parking spots for pregnant individuals at specific state buildings.
Prohibits anyone except designated pregnant persons from using these special parking spaces.
Exempts violations related to these designated parking spots from existing civil penalties for parking infractions.

Who It Names or Affects

Pregnant individuals who need reserved parking at state buildings.
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, who must designate these spaces.
People who might park in areas designated for pregnant persons.

Terms To Know

Designated Parking Space: A special parking spot set aside for specific people or groups, like pregnant individuals at state buildings.
Civil Penalty: A fine imposed by the government for breaking a law or regulation.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how many parking spaces will be designated.
It is unclear what happens if there are more pregnant people than reserved spots available.
The exact locations and number of state buildings affected by this act have been listed but may change.

Amendments

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

HA 1

1 • Berry

Passed 5/7/26

Plain English: The amendment requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to designate reserved parking spaces for pregnant individuals at state-owned buildings and encourages similar designations at leased locations.

Adds a requirement that the Director must provide designated parking spots for pregnant people at state-owned facilities.
Encourages, but does not require, the designation of parking spots for pregnant individuals at state-leased facilities by working with the lessor.
Includes language to consider designating reserved parking spaces for pregnant persons in future State-owned and leased facilities.

The amendment's encouragement for leased locations is not a strict requirement, which means it may vary based on negotiations between the state and lessors.

Bill History

2026-05-20 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
2026-05-07 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment HA 1 to HB 294 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
2026-05-07 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By House. Votes: 36 YES 5 ABSENT
2026-05-07 Delaware General Assembly
Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate
2026-04-21 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment HA 1 to HB 294 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
2026-03-11 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 4 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable
2026-03-05 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Administration Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 21 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO A DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE FOR PREGNANT PERSONS AT STATE BUILDINGS.
This Act provides that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget must designate 1 or more reserved parking spaces for pregnant persons at certain designated state buildings and facilities. It also prohibits stopping, standing, or parking in the pregnant person’s space.
Violations of this Act are exempted from the civil penalty for parking violations that exists in Title 21.
This Act takes effect 6 months after its enactment into law.
This Act also makes technical corrections 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. Berry & Sen. Lockman & Sen. Pinkney

Reps. Gorman, Griffith, Morrison, Neal, Ross Levin, D. Short, Yearick, Heffernan, Minor-Brown, Harris; Sens. Sokola, Cruce, Richardson, Hansen, Sturgeon

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 294

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 21 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO A DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE FOR PREGNANT PERSONS AT STATE BUILDINGS.

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

Section 1. Amend § 4179, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 4179. Stopping,

standing

standing,

or parking.

(e) No person

shall

may

stop,

stand

stand,

or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device, including all state-owned

and/or

and

state leased property; in any of the following places:

(19) In any area owned by, leased by or under the control of the State, when such area has been designated by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget as a reserved parking space for members of the General Assembly, their staff, state-owned vehicles, specific state

offices

offices,

or state

employees.

employees, unless the person is the person or in the class of persons for whom the parking space is reserved.

Such parking spaces will be conspicuously marked as such;

(20) In any area designated by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget as a reserved parking space under § 6309A of Title 29, unless the person is the person or in the class of persons for whom the parking space is reserved;

(20)

(21)

In any

areas

area

which in any manner restricts access to or ingress or egress from the areas defined in paragraph (19)

or (20)

of this subsection.

(i) A violation of paragraph 20 or 21, with respect to paragraph 20, of this subsection is not subject to a civil penalty under § 4178 of this title.

Section 2. Amend § 6309A, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 6309A.

Human Resources Management [Repealed].

Designated Parking Space.

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget must designate 1 or more reserved parking spaces for a pregnant person at the following locations or a successor location that serves the same function:

(1) Delaware City Division of Motor Vehicles.

(2) Greater Wilmington Division of Motor Vehicles.

(3) Dover Division of Motor Vehicles.

(4) Georgetown Division of Motor Vehicles.

(5) Appoquinimink State Service Center.

(6) Belvedere State Service Center.

(7) Claymont State Service Center.

(8) DeLaWarr State Service Center.

(9) Floyd I. Hudson State Service Center.

(10) Northeast State Service Center.

(11) Winder Laird Porter State Service Center.

(12) Division of Social Services’ Canby Park Office.

(13) Churchman’s Corporate Center.

(14) Robscott Building.

(15) James W. Williams State Service Center.

(16) Blue Hen Corporate Center.

(17) Smyrna State Service Center.

(18) Bridgeville State Service Center.

(19) Edward W. Pyle State Service Center.

(20) Laurel State Service Center.

(21) Milford State Services Center Campus.

(22) Thurman Adams State Service Center.

(23) Anna C. Shipley State Service Center.

Section 3. This Act takes effect 6 months after its enactment into law.

SYNOPSIS

This Act provides that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget must designate 1 or more reserved parking spaces for pregnant persons at certain designated state buildings and facilities. It also prohibits stopping, standing, or parking in the pregnant person’s space.

Violations of this Act are exempted from the civil penalty for parking violations that exists in Title 21.

This Act takes effect 6 months after its enactment into law.

This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.