House Education Committee Meeting

Wednesday, March 11, 2026·35m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Delaware House Education Committee advanced all seven bills on its agenda, including three lead poisoning prevention bills, an adoptive parental leave fix for Title 14 education employees, a student ID crisis hotline bill, and two autism program updates. All motions carried without numerical vote counts recorded.

Key Actions

·HB 264 – Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Committee MembershipNo Vote

+ 6 more actions

Controversies

HB 262 — What constitutes the triggering moment of 'placement for adoption'

An unnamed committee member asked whether foster care placement into a receiving parent's services counts as placement for adoption, or whether it begins when a court starts termination of parental rights. Heffernan stated she was not an attorney and could not answer definitively, prompting K. Williams to call the House Attorney's Office representative forward. The House Attorney's Office representative acknowledged not knowing the full process but stated that foster care placement does not mean placement for adoption and that a formal petition with paperwork is required before it would be considered placement for adoption.

Notable Quotes

“Blood drawn from a vein is a huge barrier for about 70 to 85% of kids and they are not eligible for case management services if a lead test has not been performed.”
K. Williams — K. Williams was explaining why HB 312, which allows confirmed elevated blood lead levels to be established via two finger prick screenings rather than requiring venipuncture, is needed.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

Motion to advance HB 264 — exact motion text unclear from transcriptNo Vote

Yes (2)Representative Ross Levin, Chair Williams

Absent (6)Representative Berry, Representative Bush, Representative Moore, Representative Neal, Representative Ortega, Representative Snyder Hall

Motion to advance HB 259 — exact motion text unclear from transcriptNo Vote

Yes (2)Representative Ross Levin, Chair Williams

Absent (6)Representative Berry, Representative Bush, Representative Moore, Representative Neal, Representative Ortega, Representative Snyder Hall

Motion to advance HB 312 — exact motion text unclear from transcriptNo Vote

Yes (3)Representative Ross Levin, Representative Shute [likely Shupe, Chair Williams

Absent (6)Representative Berry, Representative Bush, Representative Moore, Representative Neal, Representative Ortega, Representative Snyder Hall

Motion to advance HB 262 — exact motion text unclear from transcriptNo Vote

Yes (2)Representative Ross Levin, Chair Williams

Absent (5)Representative Bush, Representative Moore, Representative Neal, Representative Ortega, Representative Snyder Hall

Motion to advance HB 256 — exact motion text unclear from transcriptNo Vote

Yes (2)Representative Ross Levin, Chair Williams

Absent (5)Representative Bush, Representative Moore, Representative Neal, Representative Ortega, Representative Snyder Hall

Motion to advance HB 214 — exact motion text unclear from transcriptNo Vote

Yes (2)Representative Ross Lavin [likely Ross Levin, Chair Williams

Absent (3)Representative Moore, Representative Neil [likely Neal, Representative Ortega

Motion to advance HB 309 — exact motion text unclear from transcriptNo Vote

Yes (2)Representative Ross Lavin [likely Ross Levin, Chair Williams

Absent (4)Representative Moore, Representative Neil [likely Neal, Representative Ortega, Representative Snyder Hall

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TranscriptPreview

It. If everyone could take your seats. We have a. A huge agenda. Oh hi Mary. How are you? And I would like to get move in here. I'm probably just for the members that are here. I'm probably gonna. I may have to walk the bills because there's folks who are not here or they're absent. So I just. But I don't think there's anything on here that would make us be too concerned. So thank you. All right, members, please sit in the seat in which your committee name place card has been placed. Public comment will be limited to one minute. After questions from members, we will first take public comment from in person and then virtual. This meeting will conclude at 5 and any remaining public comments that remain can be submitted to House Committee Commentellaware.gov written comments will be accepted until 24 hours after the meeting has concluded. The House Education committee is located in the House chambers now in session. The public physically present for the meeting may sign up on the speaker list for the bill they would like to speak on which Justin has up front here. The public may also participate…

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