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HCR76 • 2025

RECOGNIZING SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CONCERNS REGARDING WATER BEAD TOYS AND URGING THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO TAKE REGULATORY ACTION.

RECOGNIZING SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CONCERNS REGARDING WATER BEAD TOYS AND URGING THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO TAKE REGULATORY ACTION.

Children Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Heffernan
Last action
2025-06-30
Official status
Passed House 6/30/25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official digest states the bill passed the House and is sent to the Senate, but the metadata label says it reached final enrollment; this creates uncertainty about whether the full legislative process was completed at the time of data collection.

Resolution on Water Bead Toy Safety in Child Care

This resolution asks state education officials to ban water beads in child care facilities and create training about their dangers.

What This Bill Does

  • Recognizes that water bead toys pose health risks to children and pets.
  • Urges the Delaware Department of Education and the Office of Child Care Licensing to change rules for licensed child care providers.
  • Requests a ban on keeping water beads in early care centers, school-age programs, family child care homes, and large family child care homes.
  • Encourages officials to create online microlearning tools about water bead safety.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Delaware Department of Education
  • The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL)
  • Licensed child care providers in Delaware
  • Families with children who use or attend these facilities

Terms To Know

Water beads
Tiny balls made of polymer material that can grow up to 100 times their size when they get wet.
Concurrent Resolution
A formal statement passed by both the House and Senate that expresses an opinion or urge but does not create a new law with penalties.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This resolution urges action but does not automatically change existing laws.
  • The text does not state when any rule changes will take effect if officials agree to them.
  • It is unclear how much funding or time the Department of Education has for creating training materials.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-30 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 VACANT

  2. 2025-06-26 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 8 On Its Merits

  3. 2025-06-25 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

Official Summary Text

RECOGNIZING SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CONCERNS REGARDING WATER BEAD TOYS AND URGING THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO TAKE REGULATORY ACTION.
This Concurrent Resolution recognizes the significant health concerns regarding water bead toys and urges the Delaware Department of Education to take regulatory action to keep children safe.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Heffernan & Sen. Cruce

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 76

RECOGNIZING SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CONCERNS REGARDING WATER BEAD TOYS AND URGING THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO TAKE REGULATORY ACTION.

WHEREAS, a nationwide uproar has ensued due to the health and safety risks posed to children and pets by water bead toys; and

WHEREAS, water beads are tiny balls made out of polymer material that are often sold in children’s toys; and

WHEREAS, if ingested water beads can grow up to 100 times their original size when exposed to water which can cause choking, internal injuries, and death if undetected; and

WHEREAS, some of the symptoms of consuming a water bead are vomiting, dehydration, intestinal blockages, and other life-threatening injuries; and

WHEREAS, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that parents and caregivers take these products away from children aged 3 years or younger, and only allow supervised play for older children; and

WHEREAS, Delaware’s Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) has broad authority to establish reasonable health and safety regulations for licensed child care providers under existing law; and

WHEREAS, education through tools like online microlearning opportunities can help child care providers and families identify water beads, understand the dangers, and take preventive measures to keep children safe; and

WHEREAS, increased education, coupled with specific regulatory guidance, will help ensure a safer environment for Delaware’s youngest children.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the General Assembly urges the Delaware Department of Education and the Office of Child Care Licensing to revise the Early Care and Education Center and School-Age regulations and the Family and Large Family Child Care regulations to include a prohibition on water beads in child care facilities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages the Department of Education to develop a microlearning opportunity to educate child care professionals and families about the risks of water beads and other similar hazards.

SYNOPSIS

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes the significant health concerns regarding water bead toys and urges the Delaware Department of Education to take regulatory action to keep children safe.