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House Health & Human Development Committee Meeting

Wednesday, March 25, 2026·30m·▶ Watch / Listen

The House Health & Human Development Committee advanced two bills: HB 324, the Ink of Hope Act directing DHSS to provide anti-trafficking training resources for tattoo parlors and body piercing establishments, and SB 226 with Senate Amendment 1, permitting terminally ill medical marijuana patients to use cannabis while receiving care in general acute care hospitals. Both bills were released to the full House body.

Key Actions

·HB 324 – Ink of Hope Act (Tattoo Parlors & Human Trafficking)No Vote

+ 1 more action

Controversies

HB 324: Mandatory vs. voluntary anti-trafficking training for tattoo parlors

Representative Snyder-Hall asked why DHSS does not want the training to be mandatory. Sarah Poore, relaying DHSS's position, stated there is concern that there are already too many mandated trainings and that mandatory requirements would be overburdensome for tattoo parlors and piercing establishments. Poore countered that the establishments she personally contacted 'think opposite of that,' signaling disagreement between DHSS's assumption and actual industry interest. Representative Neal added that DHSS also believed proprietors would not want to take time away from doing their job.

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Notable Quotes

“In Delaware, we've had children as young as 13 be branded with tattoos. So tattooing is very similar to branding livestock. They look at people as commodities. They are not human beings. And when they tattoo our victims, they are shoving in our face that they are owned by them and they are part of the criminal enterprise.”

Sarah Poore, Executive Director, Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council — Poore testified in support of HB 324, which encourages tattoo parlor and body piercing workers to receive training on recognizing human trafficking indicators, explaining why tattooing is a tool used by traffickers.

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Votes

Motion to release HB 324 from committee to the full House bodyNo Vote
Yes (6)Representative Chukwuocha, Representative Neal, Representative Burns, Representative Ross Levin, Representative Postles, Representative Michael Smith
Absent (2)Representative Johnson (vote not recorded in transcript), Representative K. Smith (vote not recorded in transcript)
Motion to release SB 226 with Senate Amendment 1 from committee to the full House bodyNo Vote
Yes (4)Representative Chukwuocha, Representative Neal, Representative Burns, Representative Ross Levin
Absent (4)Representative Johnson (vote not recorded in transcript), Representative K. Smith (vote not recorded in transcript), Representative Postles (vote not recorded in transcript), Representative Michael Smith (vote not recorded in transcript)
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TranscriptPreview
It's. It's. It's. Members, please be aware that there are microphones at your desk that will easily pick up conversations. These microphones are connected to the live stream so that the public may view the proceedings. The health committee is now called the Order. The public can participate virtually by registering through the meeting link on the General Assembly's website. Instructions for providing public comment are available on the website under this committee meeting's notice and will also be shared during the public comment portion of the hearing. Written comments may be submitted to House Committee commentelaware.gov Any comments received within 24 hours after the hearing will be included in the public record. Members of the public physically present for the meeting may sign up on the Speaker's list for the bill that they wish to speak upon. Please note that any votes that will be taken shall be done so in a roll call manner. We will be offering bills for signatures for the absent members of the committee. If it receives enough signatures for release, it will be reported out on the legislative website and announced on the House floor during session. Let's begin today's meeting with a…
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