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.

Back to Delaware

SB127 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE RELATING TO RENTS.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE RELATING TO RENTS.

Housing Taxes
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Poore
Last action
2025-05-15
Official status
Laid On Table in Senate
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status as 'Laid On Table in Senate' means further action is pending and uncertain.

Amending Rent Tax Rules for New Castle

This act allows the city council of New Castle to collect a tax on gross rents within the city limits but exempts properties subsidized by federal, state, or city rental assistance funding.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the City Council of New Castle to impose and collect a tax of no more than 5% on gross rents within city boundaries.
  • Exempts rental properties that receive direct subsidies from federal, state, or City of New Castle rental assistance programs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Renters and landlords within New Castle city limits
  • The City Council of New Castle

Terms To Know

Charter
A set of rules that govern how a city operates.
Gross rents
Total rent collected before any deductions or expenses are taken out.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the purpose for which the tax money will be used.
  • It is unclear if and when this bill will become a law after being laid on table in the Senate.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-15 Delaware General Assembly

    Laid On Table in Senate

  2. 2025-05-14 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits

  3. 2025-05-06 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE RELATING TO RENTS.
This Act amends the New Castle City Charter to provide that the New Castle City Council may impose and collect a tax of no more than 5% on the gross rents within city boundaries. The tax may not apply to rental properties that are directly subsidized by federal, state, or City of New Castle rental assistance funding.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Poore & Rep. Minor-Brown

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 127

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE RELATING TO RENTS.

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 Section 11 of the Charter of the City of New Castle by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Section 11. Municipal Power

(ab) To impose and collect a tax of no more than five percent (5%) on the gross rents within the boundaries of the City of New Castle. This tax may not apply to rental properties that are directly subsidized via Federal, State, or City of New Castle rental assistance funding.

SYNOPSIS

This Act amends the New Castle City Charter to provide that the New Castle City Council may impose and collect a tax of no more than 5% on the gross rents within city boundaries. The tax may not apply to rental properties that are directly subsidized by federal, state, or City of New Castle rental assistance funding.

Author: Senator Poore