Bill Sponsor
Delaware Senate Bill 80
Session 153
An Act To Amend Title 10 Of The Delaware Code Relating To The Uniform Public Expression Protection Act.
Became Law
Became Law
Signed by Governor on Sep 15, 2025
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
80
State
Delaware
Session
153
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Republican
Primary
Republican
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Summary
This Act adopts the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act ("the Act") authored by the Uniform Law Commission. The Uniform Law Commission “provides states with non-partisan, well-conceived and well-drafted legislation that brings clarity and stability to critical areas of state statutory law.” The Act was adopted by the Uniform Law Commission in October 2020 and has been adopted in 10 states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is currently pending in 10 states. The Act protects the public’s right to engage in activities protected by the First Amendment without abusive, expensive legal retaliation. Specifically, the Act combats the problem of strategic lawsuits against public participation, also called “SLAPPs.” A SLAPP may come in the form of a defamation, invasion of privacy, nuisance, or other claim, but its real goal is to entangle the defendant of a SLAPP in expensive litigation and stifle the ability to engage in constitutionally protected activities. While Delaware has an “anti-SLAPP” law (see §§ 8136 through 8138 of Title 10 of the Delaware Code), the law received a score of “D-” from the Institute for Free Speech due to limited types of speech it protects and lack of basic protections provided by the Act.
Actions (12)
09/15/2025
Office of the Governor
Signed by Governor
06/26/2025
Senate
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
06/25/2025
House
Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 1 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT 1 VACANT
06/25/2025
House
Amendment HA 2 to SB 80 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
06/25/2025
House
Amendment HA 1 to SB 80 - Stricken in House
06/25/2025
Senate
Amendment HA 2 to SB 80 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
06/18/2025
Senate
Amendment HA 1 to SB 80 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
06/11/2025
House
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 7 On Its Merits
05/15/2025
House
Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
05/14/2025
Senate
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
05/07/2025
Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 5 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
03/25/2025
Senate
Introduced and Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
Sources
Record Created
Mar 26, 2025 12:06:20 AM
Record Updated
Sep 23, 2025 6:20:47 PM