Delaware · House Bill 141 · 152nd General Assembly

Criminal Background Check/Elected Officials

HB 141 Sponsored by Eric Morrison Became law

  1. Introduced May 9, 2023
  2. In committee May 9, 2023
  3. Passed the House Jun 8, 2023
  4. Passed the Senate Jun 28, 2023
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law Aug 31, 2023

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

This Act requires all candidates for statewide office, the General Assembly, and all elected county offices, to request a criminal history background check, no later than the filing deadline, from the State Bureau of Identification. The State Bureau of Identification must, within 10 days of receipt of the request, provide the Commissioner of Elections with a report of the candidate’s criminal history or a statement…

Read the full title (192 words)

This Act requires all candidates for statewide office, the General Assembly, and all elected county offices, to request a criminal history background check, no later than the filing deadline, from the State Bureau of Identification. The State Bureau of Identification must, within 10 days of receipt of the request, provide the Commissioner of Elections with a report of the candidate’s criminal history or a statement that the Bureau’s Repository contains no information relating to the candidate. The Commissioner of Elections must then determine if the candidate is qualified under Section 21 of Article II of the Delaware Constitution to be considered a candidate and have their name appear on the ballot. The candidate will be considered a provisional candidate until the Commissioner of Elections determines the candidate is qualified. The information obtained by the Commissioner of Elections, from the Bureau, will not fall under the definition of public record in Chapter 100 of Title 29. The candidate must pay the cost of the criminal history background check, but the cost may be reimbursed from the candidate’s campaign funds as an authorized campaign expenditure. This Act will take effect January 1 after enactment.

Every action

11 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

  1. CommitteeIntroduced and Assigned to Administration Committee in House · House Administration
  2. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 5 On Its Merits · House Administration
  3. HouseAmendment HA 1 to HB 141 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
  4. HousePassed By House. Votes: 25 YES 7 NO 8 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT25–7 vote
  5. CommitteeAssigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate · Senate Elections & Government Affairs
  6. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits · Senate Elections & Government Affairs
  7. SenateAmendment SA 1 to HB 141 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  8. SenateAmendment SA 1 to HB 141 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENT19–0 vote
  9. SenatePassed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENT
  10. HousePassed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT40–0 vote
  11. GovernorSigned by Governor

Roll calls

4 recorded votes: 4 on the floor, 0 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Passed By House. Votes: 25 YES 7 NO 8 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT · Full House

Passed 25–7
Jun 8, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 25 No 7 Not voting 9
Democrats: 17 yes, 2 no Republicans: 8 yes, 5 no
How each member voted

Yes · 25

No · 7

Not voting · 8

Absent · 1

Amendment SA 1 to HB 141 · Full Senate

Passed 19–0
Jun 28, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 19 No 0 Not voting 2
Democrats: 14 yes, 0 no Republicans: 5 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 19

Absent · 2

Amendment SA 1 to HB 141 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENT · Full Senate

Passed 19–0
Jun 28, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 19 No 0 Not voting 2
Democrats: 14 yes, 0 no Republicans: 5 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 19

Absent · 2

Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT · Full House

Passed 40–0
Jun 30, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 40 No 0 Not voting 1
Democrats: 25 yes, 0 no Republicans: 15 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 40

Absent · 1

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 9 cosponsors: 5 Republicans, 4 Democrats.

All 9 cosponsors

From Delaware's official records (legis.delaware.gov), checked Nov 1, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.