Courts/Waive Fines and Fees/Discretion
Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Became law
Derived from the official record below.
Officially: “AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINES, FEES, RESTITUTION, AND OTHER COURT-RELATED MONETARY OBLIGATIONS.” Read the full text
153rd General Assembly
What it does
Currently, even when a defendant or individual obviously does not have the means to pay a financial penalty or fee, Delaware Courts are unable to waive certain mandatory minimum fines or fees at sentencing. This can create a constitutional crossroads, as our justice system has long recognized that the Fourteen Amendment prohibits “punishing a person for his poverty.” Bearden v. Georgia, 461 U.S. 660, 671 (1983). This Act gives courts the discretion to waive fines and fees, in whole or in part, i
From the official legislative record, shown verbatim. Not legal advice.
Where it is
Introduced · May 1, 2025
Signed · Sep 10, 2026
Latest official status shown, exactly as the official record states it. The step by step history lives on the official page linked below.
The numbers
1
sponsor on the bill
Sponsors
Recorded votes
Recorded voteSenate · 2026-06-30 · Passed · Yes 16, No 5, NotVoting 0, Conflict 0, Absent 0, Vacant 0
Recorded voteHouse · 2026-03-24 · Passed · Yes 24, No 13, NotVoting 1, Conflict 0, Absent 3, Vacant 0
Roll-call results shown verbatim from the Delaware legislature’s records. A result reflects that roll call’s own motion, not the bill’s overall outcome.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Signed (Sep 10, 2026).