Back to Delaware

HB3 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BREASTFEEDING.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BREASTFEEDING.

Children
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Last action
2025-07-21
Official status
Signed by Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Breastfeeding Support for Women in DOC Custody

This act creates a program within the Department of Correction to support breastfeeding and lactation for women who are under its care.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a new program within the DOC to provide lactation support to women in custody.
  • Allows women in DOC custody to collect breast milk that can be picked up by an approved person for their child.
  • Requires the DOC to give nutrition information and meal plans based on national guidelines to pregnant, post-pregnancy, or nursing women.
  • Needs the DOC to write a yearly report about how many people use the program and what services they get.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Women in custody of the Department of Correction (DOC) who are breastfeeding or lactating
  • Children whose mothers are in DOC custody

Terms To Know

Department of Correction (DOC)
The agency that takes care of people who have broken laws and are being punished by the state.
Lactation
The process of producing milk for a baby after giving birth.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how much money will be used to start or run this program.
  • It is unclear if the program will cover all women in DOC custody who need it.

Bill History

  1. 2025-07-21 Delaware General Assembly

    Signed by Governor

  2. 2025-06-25 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  3. 2025-06-18 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Corrections & Public Safety) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits

  4. 2025-06-17 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT

  5. 2025-06-17 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Corrections & Public Safety Committee in Senate

  6. 2025-01-28 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Corrections) in House with 7 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits

  7. 2025-01-09 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Corrections Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BREASTFEEDING.
This Act creates a breastfeeding and lactation program within the DOC to provide lactation support to women in DOC custody. Among other things, it permits women to collect breast milk for later retrieval and delivery to an infant or toddler by an approved person. It also requires the DOC to provide nutrition information and a meal plan specific to pregnant, post-partum, or lactating women, based on national best practices. This Act further requires that DOC publish an annual report regarding the number of participants in the program and the nature of services provided.