HB 346 DE
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
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Summary
Delaware HB 346 updates the state's Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) prevention and control laws to reflect current medical practice and research. The Act treats Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) the same as STDs, removes the requirement for reporting STDs within one working day, and repeals outdated provisions authorizing isolation and quarantine of persons with STDs or suspected STDs. The Act requires health care providers to offer STD and STI testing to patients, while allowing pregnant persons to refuse testing with documentation of their refusal and counseling. The Act also removes the authority of Department of Public Health (DPH) investigators without medical licenses to withdraw blood for testing purposes.
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This Act updates Delaware laws relating to Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) prevention and control, much of which are outdated and do not reflect current research and medical practice. To that end, this Act does the following: (1) Clarifies that Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are to be treated in the same manner as STDs. (2) Removes the requirement that reportable STDs be reported to DPH within 1 working day. (3) Repeals the provision permitting the Director of DPH to examine a person suspected of being infected with an STD and to order that person to isolate or quarantine. (4) Repeals the provision relating to apprehending, committing, mandating treatment, and quarantine of an infected person. (5) Repeals the provision permitting the Director to bring an action in the Justice of the Peace Court when a person suspected of having an STD presents an imminent danger to public health. (6) Removes the provisions concerning the DOC and DPH isolating or quarantining persons with suspected or known STDs. (7) Provides that health care providers must provide STD and STI testing, but that a pregnant person may refuse testing. Documentation of refusal must be retained in the patient’s medical record along with documentation of test counseling. (8) Repeals the provision permitting a DPH investigator without a medical license to withdraw blood for test purposes. (9) Makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Sponsors (7)
- Eric Morrison Democratic · primary
- Marie Pinkney Democratic · primary
- Bryant L. Richardson Republican · primary
- Mara Gorman Democratic · primary
- Ray Seigfried Democratic · primary
- Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic · primary
- Sarah McBride · primary
Action history (7)
- Apr 9, 2026 Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House · lower
- Apr 22, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 2 Favorable, 7 On Its Merits · lower
- May 5, 2026 Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT · lower
- May 5, 2026 Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate · upper
- May 20, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 7 Favorable · upper
- Jun 23, 2026 Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES · upper
- Jul 23, 2026 Signed by Governor · executive
Full text
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