Delaware · Senate Bill 79 · 153rd General Assembly

Parental Rights/Free Legal Counsel/Relatives

SB 79 Sponsored by David L. Wilson Withdrawn

  1. Introduced Mar 25, 2025
  2. In committee Mar 25, 2025
  3. Withdrawn  
  4. Passed the House  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

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

This Act creates a right to free legal counsel for certain relatives seeking to terminate parental rights and adopt a child in the relative’s family who has been in the custody of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (“Department”). The right to free legal counsel applies at all stages of the termination of parental rights and adoption proceedings, including any appeals. This Act also…

Read the full title (119 words)

This Act creates a right to free legal counsel for certain relatives seeking to terminate parental rights and adopt a child in the relative’s family who has been in the custody of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (“Department”). The right to free legal counsel applies at all stages of the termination of parental rights and adoption proceedings, including any appeals. This Act also requires the Department to prepare and file the social study and report that is a required part of the termination of parental rights and adoption process at no cost to the relative. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Every action

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

  1. CommitteeIntroduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate · Senate Judiciary
  2. SenateAmendment SA 1 to SB 79 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  3. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits · Senate Judiciary
  4. CommitteeAssigned to Finance Committee in Senate · Senate Finance
  5. SenateSubstituted in Senate by SS 1 for SB 79

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 11 cosponsors: 7 Republicans, 4 Democrats.

All 11 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.