AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF FREDERICA.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Postles
Last action: 2026-07-01
Official status: Passed 7/1/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Changes to Town Meeting Rules for Frederica

This bill changes the rules for how often the Town of Frederica holds meetings and when new local laws take effect.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Town Council to hold at least one regular meeting each calendar month instead of two specific weekly meetings.
Allows the Town Council to choose the time and place for these monthly meetings through a resolution or ordinance.
Permits the cancellation, postponement, recessing, or rescheduling of meetings if they fall on legal holidays or during emergencies like bad weather.
Makes every adopted town law effective immediately upon adoption unless a later date is written into it.

Who It Names or Affects

The Town Council of Frederica
Residents and businesses in the Town of Frederica

Terms To Know

Charter: A document that sets out the rules for how a town is governed.
Ordinance: A local law or rule passed by the Town Council.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not state when it will officially become effective.
Emergency meetings may still be held for public safety, but specific limits on how often they occur are not defined in this text.

Bill History

2026-07-01 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
2026-06-30 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 7 On Its Merits
2026-06-25 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By House. Votes: 36 YES 1 NO 4 ABSENT
2026-06-25 Delaware General Assembly
Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
2026-06-23 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 4 On Its Merits
2026-06-17 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Administration Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF FREDERICA.
This Act requires the Town Council to hold at least one (1) regular meeting during each calendar month, as opposed to the previous requirement that two (2) meetings shall be held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. It also adds a provision clarifying that every adopted ordinance shall become effective immediately under adoption unless a date is specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Postles & Sen. Buckson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 476

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF FREDERICA.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend Article I, Section 11, of the Charter of the Town of Frederica by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Section 11: Meetings

The Town Council of The Town of Frederica shall hold two (2) meetings in each month on the first and third Wednesday of each month at seven o’clock p.m. If the first Wednesday of the month shall be a legal holiday, the meeting shall be cancelled and the next meeting shall be on the third Wednesday of the month. Emergency meetings may be held when necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health and safety. Notice of all meetings shall be consistent with Title 29 Chapter 100 of the Delaware Code as amended from time to time.

The Town Council shall hold at least one (1) regular meeting during each calendar month at such time and place as established by resolution or ordinance of the Town Council. Additional regular or special meetings may be held as authorized by law and the rules of the Town Council. If a regular meeting falls upon a legal holiday, or if weather conditions, emergencies, or other circumstances make it impracticable to conduct the meeting as scheduled, the meeting may be cancelled, postponed, recessed, or rescheduled by the Town Council in accordance with applicable law.

Section 2. Amend Article I, Section 21, of the Charter of the Town of Frederica by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

c) Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, every adopted ordinance shall become effective at the expiration of thirty (30) days after adoption or at any later date specified therein.

c) Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, every adopted ordinance shall become effective immediately upon adoption unless a later effective date is specified therein.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires the Town Council to hold at least one (1) regular meeting during each calendar month, as opposed to the previous requirement that two (2) meetings shall be held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. It also adds a provision clarifying that every adopted ordinance shall become effective immediately under adoption unless a date is specified.