SB 116 DE
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RIGHT OF REDEMPTION.
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Summary
The bill allows tenants facing eviction for non-payment of rent to remain in their homes by paying all amounts owed, including all rent due under the lease terms, past due rent, and per diem rent, before the eviction is finalized. The bill extends the lookback period for limiting how often tenants can use the redemption right from 12 to 24 months. If payment is made after a writ of possession has been posted, the tenant must file a request with the court for a stay of the writ, and payment only stays the writ until the payment clears. The bill allows landlords to restrict payment methods to those specified in the lease and to require certified checks or money orders for payments made after judgment is entered.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill (from the OpenStates abstract — no full text available yet) — neutral, and may be imperfect.
Official abstract
This Act allows tenants who are being evicted for failure to pay rent to remain in their homes if they pay all amounts owed prior to being evicted. It also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Drafting Manual. This Substitute differs from the original Act by incorporating the changes from Senate Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill No. 116 which includes the following changes: - Increased the time from 12 to 24 months for the lookback period for restricting the number of times the right of redemption is available to a tenant. - Puts a requirement to proactively file with the court a request for a stay of the writ if payment is made after the writ of possession has been posted. - Makes clear that payment after posting of the writ only stays the writ until the payment has cleared and dismissal is not required until such time. This Substitute also adds the following changes based on further input from stakeholders: - Makes it clear that this Act only applies to evictions based on failure to pay rent. - Clarifies that any rent that is due under the terms of the lease must also be paid, in addition to any demanded past due and per diem rent, for redemption to apply. - Adds language that the landlord may restrict any payments to methods accepted under the terms of the lease, and the landlord may further restrict any payments made after judgment is entered to certified checks or money orders.
Sponsors (10)
- S. Elizabeth Lockman Democratic · primary
- Ray Seigfried Democratic · primary
- Sarah McBride · primary
- Claire Snyder-Hall Democratic · primary
- Stell Parker Selby · primary
- Mara Gorman Democratic · primary
- Nicole Poore Democratic · primary
- Spiros Mantzavinos Democratic · primary
- Josue O Ortega Democratic · primary
- Cyndie Romer Democratic · primary
Action history (11)
- Jun 17, 2025 was introduced and adopted in lieu of SB 116 · upper
- Mar 17, 2026 Amendment SA 1 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
- Mar 18, 2026 Amendment SA 1 to SS 1 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 1 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT · upper
- Mar 18, 2026 Passed By Senate. Votes: 18 YES 1 NO 1 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT · upper
- Mar 19, 2026 Assigned to Housing Committee in House · lower
- Apr 14, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Housing) in House with 4 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits · lower
- Jun 30, 2026 Amendment HA 1 to SS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote · lower
- Jun 30, 2026 Amendment HA 2 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
- Jun 30, 2026 Amendment HA 2 to SS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote · lower
- Jun 30, 2026 Passed By House. Votes: 25 YES 14 NO 1 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT · lower
- Jul 1, 2026 Passed By Senate. Votes: 16 YES 4 NO 1 NOT VOTING · upper
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