Delaware · House Bill 65 · 152nd General Assembly

Sloane Hajek Act of 2023/Bereavement Leave

HB 65 Sponsored by Debra Heffernan Became law

  1. Introduced Jan 20, 2023
  2. In committee Jan 20, 2023
  3. Passed the House Jun 27, 2023
  4. Passed the Senate Jun 29, 2023
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law Jun 30, 2023

What it does

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

According to the Mayo Clinic, miscarriages occur in about 20% of all pregnancies, and generally, in the first 12 weeks. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 out of every 100 American pregnancies ends in stillbirth. Black women have a significantly higher risk of miscarrying— 43% higher when compared to white women. Black mothers are also more than twice as likely to experience stillbirth compared to…

Read the full title (105 words)

According to the Mayo Clinic, miscarriages occur in about 20% of all pregnancies, and generally, in the first 12 weeks. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 out of every 100 American pregnancies ends in stillbirth. Black women have a significantly higher risk of miscarrying— 43% higher when compared to white women. Black mothers are also more than twice as likely to experience stillbirth compared to Hispanic and white mothers. This bill provides State employees who suffer a miscarriage, stillbirth or other loss, a maximum of 5 days of paid bereavement leave. This Act shall be known as the "Sloane Hajek Act of 2023".

Every action

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

  1. CommitteeIntroduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House · House Health & Human Development
  2. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 7 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits · House Health & Human Development
  3. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 7 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits · House Health & Human Development
  4. HouseAmendment HA 1 to HB 65 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  5. HouseAmendment HA 1 to HB 65 - Defeated In House by Voice Vote
  6. HousePassed By House. Votes: 26 YES 9 NO 5 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT26–9 vote
  7. CommitteeAssigned to Executive Committee in Senate · Senate Executive
  8. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits · Senate Executive
  9. SenateAmendment SA 1 to HB 65 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  10. SenateAmendment SA 1 to HB 65 - Defeated By Senate. Votes: 6 YES 15 NO
  11. SenatePassed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 NO20–1 vote
  12. GovernorSigned by Governor

Roll calls

3 recorded votes: 3 on the floor, 0 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Passed By House. Votes: 26 YES 9 NO 5 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT · Full House

Passed 26–9
Jun 27, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 26 No 9 Not voting 6
Democrats: 26 yes, 0 no Republicans: 0 yes, 9 no
How each member voted

Yes · 26

No · 9

Not voting · 5

Absent · 1

Amendment SA 1 to HB 65 · Full Senate

Failed 6–15
Jun 29, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 6 No 15
Democrats: 0 yes, 15 no Republicans: 6 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 6

No · 15

Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 NO · Full Senate

Passed 20–1
Jun 29, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 20 No 1
Democrats: 15 yes, 0 no Republicans: 5 yes, 1 no
How each member voted

Yes · 20

No · 1

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 15 cosponsors: 14 Democrats, 1 Republican.

All 15 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.