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SB196 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Mantzavinos
Last action
2026-05-21
Official status
Lieu/Substituted 5/21/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties for non-compliance.

Act to Require Ownership Disclosure in Long-Term Care Facilities

This act mandates long-term care facilities to provide full ownership details and disclose them before any change in ownership.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires long-term care facilities to fully disclose ownership information for the facility.
  • Necessitates posting this information on the facility's website and in marketing materials.
  • Requiring new owners to disclose any past violations or issues at other facilities they own before taking over a long-term care facility.
  • Allows the Department to delay or deny licensing if there is evidence of repeated serious problems.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Long-term care facilities in Delaware
  • Residents and their families who are considering moving into these facilities
  • Potential new owners of long-term care facilities

Terms To Know

Affiliate
A company or person that is closely connected to another through ownership or control.
Facility Owner
The individual or entity that owns a long-term care facility and must provide full ownership details.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact penalties for non-compliance with disclosure requirements.
  • It is unclear how this act will be enforced in practice.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-21 Delaware General Assembly

    Substituted in Senate by SS 1 for SB 196

  2. 2025-06-26 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
This Act requires long-term care facilities to fully disclose ownership information for the facility and disclose ownership information to residents prior to the transfer of ownership of a facility.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Mantzavinos & Sen. Walsh & Rep. K. Johnson

Sens. Hansen, Huxtable, Poore; Reps. Burns, Morrison, Snyder-Hall

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 196

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 11, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1102. Definitions.

( ) “Affiliate” means a person, as defined in § 302 of Title 1, who directly or indirectly through 1 or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified entity or person.

( ) “Facility Owner” means the person that owns a long-term care facility and must include all the following information:

a. All owners of the facility and the percentage ownership of each person.

b. All owners and controlling persons of an entity or non-publicly traded corporation that owns the facility.

§ 1108. Posting of inspection summary and other information and public meetings.

(e) A long-term care facility must disclose, in the manner and form determined by the Department, the Facility Owner of the long-term care facility, including all controlling persons of an entity or affiliate that is not a publicly traded corporation.

(f) The Department shall publish the disclosed information of the current Facility Owner, including any controlling persons, of each long-term care facility on the Department’s website.

(g) A long-term care facility must prominently and conspicuously post the current Facility Owner of the long-term care facility, including any controlling persons of any non-publicly traded entity with ownership stake in the facility, on the long-term care facility’s website and on any advertising, marketing, or promotional materials.

§ 1108A. Required disclosure for transfer of ownership.

(a) A person assuming ownership of a long-term care facility must disclose to the Department, in the manner and form determined by the Department, information related to any other licensed long-term care facilities owned by the person assuming ownership of the long-term care facility, including:

(1) Any licensed long-term care facility owned, operated, or managed by the person, or any affiliates of the person, in any state or territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia in the preceding year.

(2) Any enforcement actions imposed during the preceding year against any facility owned, operated, or managed by the person or the person’s affiliates in any jurisdiction.

(b) At least 60 days before the transfer of ownership, the person assuming ownership of a long-term care facility must disclose to each current resident of the long-term care facility and, if applicable, each authorized representative of a current resident of the long-term care facility the following information:

(1) The name of the new facility owner.

(2) Any licensed long-term care facility owned, operated, or managed by the person, or any affiliates of the person, in any state or territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia in the preceding year.

(3) Any enforcement actions imposed during the preceding year against any facility owned, operated, or managed by the person or the person’s affiliates in any jurisdiction.

(c) The Department may delay or deny licensure to a person assuming ownership of a long-term care facility if the Department determines, based on information provided under this section or through independent verification, that the person or their affiliates have a pattern of serious violations or enforcement actions that raise concerns about their ability to operate a facility in compliance with state and federal law.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires long-term care facilities to fully disclose ownership information for the facility and disclose ownership information to residents prior to the transfer of ownership of a facility.

Author: Senator Mantzavinos