Delaware · House Bill 318 · 152nd General Assembly

Bankruptcy/Exemption Amount/Personal Residence

HB 318 Sponsored by Paul S. Baumbach Became law

  1. Introduced Feb 29, 2024
  2. In committee Feb 29, 2024
  3. Passed the House Apr 23, 2024
  4. Passed the Senate Jun 27, 2024
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law Aug 2, 2024

What it does

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

This Act increases the exemption in bankruptcy and other debt proceedings for a debtor’s personal residence from $125,000 to $200,000. The exemption has been limited to $125,000 since 2012 while home prices have increased dramatically in the intervening years. It also increases the exemption for tools of the trade and for a vehicle to $25,000 from $15,000. This Act also exempts worker’s compensation awards under the…

Read the full title (100 words)

This Act increases the exemption in bankruptcy and other debt proceedings for a debtor’s personal residence from $125,000 to $200,000. The exemption has been limited to $125,000 since 2012 while home prices have increased dramatically in the intervening years. It also increases the exemption for tools of the trade and for a vehicle to $25,000 from $15,000. This Act also exempts worker’s compensation awards under the laws of other states from attachment in bankruptcy or other proceedings in the same manner that a worker’s compensation award made under Delaware law is exempt. The Act takes effect on January 1, 2025.

Every action

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

Show the 5 earlier steps
  1. CommitteeIntroduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House · House Judiciary
  2. HouseNot Worked in Committee
  3. HouseAmendment HA 1 to HB 318 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  4. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 9 On Its Merits · House Judiciary
  5. HouseAmendment HA 1 to HB 318 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
  1. HousePassed By House. Votes: 37 YES 1 NOT VOTING 3 ABSENT
  2. CommitteeAssigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate · Senate Judiciary
  3. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits · Senate Judiciary
  4. SenateAmendment SA 1 to HB 318 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  5. SenateAmendment SA 1 to HB 318 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES21–0 vote
  6. SenatePassed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
  7. HousePassed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT40–0 vote
  8. GovernorSigned by Governor

Roll calls

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

Roll call on HB 318 w/ HA 1 · Full House

Passed 37–0
Apr 23, 2024 · journal entry
Yes 37 No 0 Not voting 4
Democrats: 23 yes, 0 no Republicans: 14 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 37

Absent · 3

Other · 1

Amendment SA 1 to HB 318 · Full Senate

Passed 21–0
Jun 27, 2024 · journal entry
Yes 21 No 0
Democrats: 15 yes, 0 no Republicans: 6 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 21

Amendment SA 1 to HB 318 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES · Full Senate

Passed 21–0
Jun 27, 2024 · journal entry
Yes 21 No 0
Democrats: 15 yes, 0 no Republicans: 6 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 21

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

Passed 40–0
Jun 30, 2024 · 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 5 cosponsors: 4 Democrats, 1 Republican.

All 5 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.