House Judiciary Committee Meeting

Wednesday, March 11, 2026·21m·▶ Watch / Listen

The House Judiciary Committee advanced two victims' rights bills without opposition — one extending compensation eligibility to hate crime victims and one providing limited immunity for minor drug and alcohol offenses when a sexual assault is reported — while a third bill was pulled from the agenda by its sponsor before the hearing.

Key Actions

·HB 293 – Hate Crimes Added to VCAP EligibilityPassed

+ 2 more actions

Controversies

Whether fear of police constitutes a barrier to sexual assault reporting (HB 265)

Representative Cook, while voting yes on HB 265, pushed back on what she characterized as framing that police are scaring people from reporting, stating 'we need not beat ourselves up saying, oh, the police are scaring everybody. I don't believe in that,' and drawing on her ten years as a domestic violence liaison for New Castle County. No named individual directly responded to or challenged her statement on the record; Chair Griffith said only 'Thank you for saying that. It is a great bill.'

Notable Quotes

“Hate crime victims are targeted specifically for who they are based on race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, sex, age, gender identity, national origin or ancestry. Victims of hate crimes tend to have high rates of severe, lasting mental health issues, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse and chronic fear.”
Representative Morrison — Morrison was explaining to the committee why hate crime victims have distinct and serious needs that justify adding hate crimes to the VCAP eligibility list under HB 293.

+ 2 more quotes

Votes

Motion to release HB 293 (made by Representative Bush, seconded by Representative Cook)Passed

Yes (9)Representative Bush, Representative Cook, Representative Gorman, Representative Phillips, Representative Jones Giltner, Representative Poloski, Representative Hostels, Vice Chair Cindy Romans, Chair Krista Griffith

Absent (1)Representative Lynn

Motion to release HB 265 (made by Representative Gorman, seconded by Representative Phillips)Passed

Yes (9)Representative Bush, Representative Cook, Representative Corbin, Representative Phillips, Representative Jones Giltner, Representative Polofsky, Representative Postles, Vice Chair Cindy Romer, Chair Krista Griffith

Absent (1)Representative Lynn

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TranscriptPreview

Welcome to the Judiciary committee meeting of March 11, 2026. It's my son's 18th birthday today. I don't know, I just see the date and it's like, oh, my God, it's there. Here it is. Felt like yester. Before we get started on. We're going to start with Representative Morrison's bill, but I just want to do some introductions and welcomes. First, I'd like to introduce my friend and constituent, Frank Holiday. Frank is a sophomore at the University of Delaware. He's studying economics and public policy, and so happy to have him here. And you might see him around a little bit. He's going to be shadowing me throughout the session. I thank you, Frank and Frank. Representative Cook, you and I worked with Frank's mom, Commissioner Sedvic, when she was at the Department of Justice. Yes. Not to embarrass you, but I knew you when you were Frankie, and you were like that. All right. Also, we have our friends from the aclu. Can you give a big wave? The ACLU has brought two groups, are bringing two groups down today to see what the see their house, our house, what it looks like, what we do here.…

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