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

SCR167 • 2025

REQUESTING THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF THE ARTS, IN COOPERATION WITH THE DIVISION OF SMALL BUSINESS, TO PREPARE A REPORT DETAILING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEVELOPING AN ARTS, CULTURAL, OR CREATIVE DISTRICT PROGRAM.

REQUESTING THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF THE ARTS, IN COOPERATION WITH THE DIVISION OF SMALL BUSINESS, TO PREPARE A REPORT DETAILING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEVELOPING AN ARTS, CULTURAL, OR CREATIVE DISTRICT PROGRAM.

Small Business
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Huxtable
Last action
2026-05-20
Official status
House Administration 5/20/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify how much funding will be provided for completing the task.

Requesting Report on Arts District Program

This resolution asks the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Division of Small Business to create a report with recommendations for starting an arts, cultural, or creative district program in Delaware.

What This Bill Does

  • Asks the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Division of Small Business to work together on creating a report about how to start an arts, cultural, or creative district program.
  • The report should include information about essential elements for success, goals, eligibility criteria, application process, designation criteria, support needed, and evaluation criteria.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Delaware Division of the Arts
  • The Division of Small Business

Terms To Know

Arts District Program
A program that helps create areas in a state where artistic, cultural, and economic activities are focused and supported.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This resolution does not create a new law but asks for a report with recommendations.
  • It is unclear how much funding will be provided to complete this task.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-20 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Administration Committee in House

  2. 2026-05-14 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced in Senate

  3. 2026-05-14 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

Official Summary Text

REQUESTING THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF THE ARTS, IN COOPERATION WITH THE DIVISION OF SMALL BUSINESS, TO PREPARE A REPORT DETAILING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEVELOPING AN ARTS, CULTURAL, OR CREATIVE DISTRICT PROGRAM.
This Concurrent Resolution requests the Delaware Division of the Arts, in cooperation with the Division of Small Business, prepare for consideration by the 154th General Assembly a report detailing recommendations for developing an arts, cultural, or creative district program and submit the report to the 154th General Assembly not later than April 2, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Huxtable & Sen. Lockman & Rep. Gorman

Sens. Cruce, Hoffner, Pinkney; Reps. Berry, Morrison, Osienski, Shupe, Snyder-Hall

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 167

REQUESTING THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF THE ARTS, IN COOPERATION WITH THE DIVISION OF SMALL BUSINESS, TO PREPARE A REPORT DETAILING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEVELOPING AN ARTS, CULTURAL, OR CREATIVE DISTRICT PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, in speaking on the importance of the arts President John F. Kennedy said: “Above all, we are coming to understand that the arts incarnate the creativity of a free people. When the creative impulse cannot flourish, when it cannot freely select its methods and objects, when it is deprived of spontaneity, then society severs the root of art.”; and

WHEREAS, over the last several years at least 19 of our sister states have taken action to nurture the root of art by establishing programs to create arts, cultural, or creative districts; and

WHEREAS, these arts, cultural, or creative districts are designated areas of a state where artistic, cultural, and economic activity is centered and supported; and

WHEREAS, states that have established arts, cultural, or creative districts have found numerous benefits, including that these districts do all of the following:

(1) Celebrate and preserve the culture and heritage of the state.

(2) Support redevelopment of historic areas and general revitalization efforts.

(3) Attract visitors and increase tourism.

(4) Improve a city’s ability to attract and keep investment in its community.

(5) Serve as an important economic and business development tool to support both the creative sector of the state’s economy and the overall economy; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly finds that the creation of arts, cultural, or creative districts in this State will serve as a mechanism to foster the spirit, culture, and economic vitality of this State.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Delaware Division of the Arts, in cooperation with the Division of Small Business, is requested to prepare for consideration by the 154

th

General Assembly a report detailing recommendations for developing an arts, cultural, or creative district program (“program”), including regarding the following:

(1) The elements essential to a successful program.

(2) The goals of the program.

(3) The methods for defining the area to be included in an arts, cultural, or creative district and the eligibility for the program.

(4) The application process.

(5) The criteria for designating an area as an arts, cultural, or creative district.

(6) The support needed for the program to succeed.

(7) The criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report requested under this Concurrent Resolution be submitted to the following not later than April 2, 2027:

(1) The President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the Senate, for distribution to all Senators.

(2) The Speaker and Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, for distribution to all Representatives.

(3) The Director and Librarian of the Division of Legislative Services.

(4) The Director of the Delaware Public Archives.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly directs that, after final passage, the Secretary of the Senate deliver a copy of this Concurrent Resolution to the Delaware Division of the Arts.

SYNOPSIS

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Delaware Division of the Arts, in cooperation with the Division of Small Business, prepare for consideration by the 154th General Assembly a report detailing recommendations for developing an arts, cultural, or creative district program and submit the report to the 154th General Assembly not later than April 2, 2027.

Author: Senator Huxtable