Delaware · Senate Bill 159 · 153rd General Assembly

Electric Substation/Permitting/Require/Conditional Use

SB 159 Sponsored by Stephanie L. Hansen Became law

  1. Introduced May 21, 2025
  2. In committee May 21, 2025
  3. Passed the Senate Jun 10, 2025
  4. Passed the House Jun 30, 2025
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law Jun 30, 2025

What it does

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

This Act requires the permitting of an electric substation as an allowed conditional use in a heavy industrial zone under certain conditions set forth in the Act, including that the electrical substation is being constructed to support the operation of a proposed renewable energy generation project of 250 MW or greater. This Act is being given retroactive effect such that, if a county has previously denied an…

Read the full title (98 words)

This Act requires the permitting of an electric substation as an allowed conditional use in a heavy industrial zone under certain conditions set forth in the Act, including that the electrical substation is being constructed to support the operation of a proposed renewable energy generation project of 250 MW or greater. This Act is being given retroactive effect such that, if a county has previously denied an application for an electrical substation that would meet the requirements of this Act, then the application shall be deemed granted provided that the electrical substation meets the requirements of this Act.

Every action

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

  1. CommitteeIntroduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate · Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation
  2. SenateAmendment SA 1 to SB 159 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  3. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits · Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation
  4. SenateAmendment SA 1 to SB 159 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
  5. SenatePassed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 5 NO 1 ABSENT15–5 vote
  6. CommitteeAssigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House · House Natural Resources & Energy
  7. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 4 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits · House Natural Resources & Energy
  8. HouseAmendment HA 1 to SB 159 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
  9. HousePassed By House. Votes: 25 YES 15 NO 1 VACANT25–15 vote
  10. SenatePassed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO15–6 vote
  11. GovernorSigned by Governor

Roll calls

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

Amendment SA 1 to SB 159 · Full Senate

Passed 20–0
Jun 10, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 20 No 0 Not voting 1
Democrats: 14 yes, 0 no Republicans: 6 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 20

Absent · 1

Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 5 NO 1 ABSENT · Full Senate

Passed 15–5
Jun 10, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 15 No 5 Not voting 1
Democrats: 15 yes, 0 no Republicans: 0 yes, 5 no
How each member voted

Yes · 15

No · 5

Absent · 1

Passed By House. Votes: 25 YES 15 NO 1 VACANT · Full House

Passed 25–15
Jun 30, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 25 No 15
Democrats: 25 yes, 1 no Republicans: 0 yes, 14 no
How each member voted

Yes · 25

No · 15

Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO · Full Senate

Passed 15–6
Jun 30, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 15 No 6
Democrats: 15 yes, 0 no Republicans: 0 yes, 6 no
How each member voted

Yes · 15

No · 6

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 25 cosponsors: 25 Democrats.

All 25 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.