DE Governor Matt Meyer Signs Delaware Criminal Justice Reform Package
State of DE - Governor Matt Meyer signed three criminal justice reform bills into law today at Legislative Hall in Dover. Legislators, advocates, and impacted Delawareans joined him for the ceremony. The new laws focus on fairness in the courts, digital privacy, and support for people returning to their communities after incarceration.
House Bill 133 gives Delaware courts the power to waive fines and fees when someone cannot afford to pay them. Courts will now start with a presumption against charging these fees to people on public assistance or represented by the Office of Defense Services. People who already owe court debt can apply for relief under the new process.
Representative Claire Snyder-Hall sponsored the bill with Senator Darius Brown. "Right now, even small offenses can leave someone with hundreds of dollars in court debt. For some people, that might not seem like much, but for others, it can be overwhelming. It can turn a one-time mistake into a life sentence of debt and poverty," Snyder-Hall said.
House Bill 145 limits how law enforcement can use reverse keyword warrants. These warrants let police search for everyone who has typed a certain phrase online. Under the new law, police can only use this method in Class A felony cases where the search returns five or fewer results.
Senator Marie Pinkney sponsored the bill with Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton. "No Delawarean should be subjected to the invasive surveillance of reverse keyword warrants. These methods show no regard for individuals' consent and create a slippery slope that infringes on people's privacy," Pinkney said.
Senate Bill 292, called the Grace Peterson Act, requires landlords to create a discharge plan before removing someone from state-funded reentry housing. The plan must connect the person to services before they lose their housing. The law is named for Grace Peterson of Seaford, Delaware who survived a violent attack in 2023 after a man was evicted from a Seaford, Delaware halfway house with no reentry plan in place.
Senator Stephanie Hansen sponsored the bill with Representative Kendra Johnson. "This bill will help ensure that no Delawarean has to endure what Mrs. Peterson did and puts in place proper procedures that help individuals in their reentry journey," Hansen said.
Governor Meyer recognized Peterson and her family during the ceremony. He thanked her for turning a personal tragedy into a law meant to protect others.
"For too long, our criminal justice system has criminalized poverty, treated privacy as optional, and abandoned people at the exact moment they needed our support the most," Meyer said. "These bills recognize that public safety and justice go hand in hand in a system that values fairness, dignity, and second chances alongside accountability. That's how you build a stronger, safer, and more just Delaware."
Meyer also thanked the legislators, legal advocates, public defenders, reentry organizations, and directly impacted Delawareans who helped shape the legislation.
Photo Credit: Governor Matt Meyer's Office
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