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.

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HB314 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 28 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETE PROTECTION.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 28 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETE PROTECTION.

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Last action
2026-03-18
Official status
Motion to Release Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The third action item in the bill summary is incomplete ('Requiring the D'), so its specific content cannot be verified or included.

Delaware Student Athlete Protection Act

This law creates new rules to protect student athletes from harassment linked to sports betting.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a criminal offense for harassing student athletes related to gambling interests.
  • Allows student athlete victims to sue people convicted of this type of harassment.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Student athletes in Delaware who face threats or abuse from gamblers.
  • People who harass student athletes because of sports betting interests.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text cuts off before explaining the third requirement starting with 'Requiring the D'.
  • The source does not list specific penalties, such as jail time or fines.
  • The effective date is not listed in the provided material.

Amendments

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

HA 1

1 • Yearick

PWB 3/18/26

Plain English: This amendment requires courts to tell state officials when someone is convicted of harassing student athletes and bans those people from playing lottery games in Delaware.

  • The Superior Court must send a notice to the State Lottery Office whenever an individual is convicted under this law.
  • A person will be placed on a list that stops them from participating if they are convicted of harassing student athletes or similar crimes elsewhere.
  • People who receive reports about harassment involving student athletes will also be banned from playing table games, sports lotteries, video lottery games, and internet lottery games in Delaware.
  • The text does not explain how long the ban lasts or if there is a way for someone to appeal their removal.
  • It is unclear exactly what steps must be taken before a person can return to playing these games after being banned.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-18 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment HA 1 to HB 314 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  2. 2026-03-18 Delaware General Assembly

    Motion to Release Failed

  3. 2026-03-10 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 28 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETE PROTECTION.
Sports betting is legal in at least 39 states, including Delaware. The increase in sports betting has also seen an increase in threats to and harassment of student athletes. A September 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) survey of campus administrators found 10% of Division I respondents said they were aware of student-athletes being harassed online or in person by someone with gambling interests. And, data from the 2024 March Madness indicated 1 in 3 high-profile student athletes received abusive messages from someone with a gambling interest. With the increase in student athlete harassment, the NCAA and others are urging states to take action. To that end, this Act seeks to protect student athletes from harassment by doing all of the following:
(1) Creating a criminal offense of student athlete harassment.
(2) Permitting a student athlete who is the victim of student athlete harassment to sue a person convicted of student athlete harassment.
(3) Requiring the D