AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, Looking Ahead

As summer draws to a close, AARP Delaware is reflecting on a productive 2026 legislative session and looking ahead to the work still to come.

This year, eight bills supported by AARP Delaware passed the General Assembly, advancing policies that protect older adults, strengthen consumer protections, promote financial security, and help Delawareans remain in their homes and communities as they age.

Several priorities important to older Delawareans moved forward with bipartisan support, while other issues will remain at the forefront of our advocacy in 2027.

 

What We Accomplished in 2026

HB 89 – Home Improvement Dispute Resolution Establishes a state-supported process for resolving disputes with home improvement contractors. This new protection can help older homeowners address problems without having to navigate costly and complicated legal proceedings.

HB 217 – Clearer Rules for Returning Rental Keys Requires residential leases to clearly explain how tenants should return their keys when moving out and establishes a process when the lease does not specify one. This makes the move-out process clearer and helps prevent unnecessary disputes between tenants and landlords.

HB 233 – Protecting Residential Utility Customers Requires regulated utilities to establish a separate rate class for large energy-use facilities so that the costs of expanding infrastructure to serve these facilities are not unfairly shifted to residential and other customers. This is particularly important for older Delawareans living on fixed incomes who are already struggling with rising utility costs.

HB 450 – Hospital Financial Assistance Expands hospital charity care and financial assistance for qualifying Delaware residents, establishes minimum discounts based on household income, and requires hospitals to maintain medical hardship policies. These protections can reduce out-of-pocket medical costs and provide important financial relief for Delawareans facing significant medical expenses.

SB 13 – Hospital Charity Care and Financial Assistance Expands access to hospital financial assistance for lower- and moderate-income Delawareans and establishes protections for people experiencing significant medical expenses. This legislation can provide meaningful financial relief for older adults struggling with health care costs.

SB 116 – Helping Delawareans Avoid Eviction Allows tenants facing eviction for nonpayment of rent to remain in their homes if they pay the full amount owed before the eviction is carried out. For older adults experiencing a temporary financial setback, this provides an important opportunity to avoid displacement and remain in their homes.

SB 326 – Greater Utility Rate Transparency and Oversight Strengthens oversight of utility rates and communications through management audits and regulatory reviews while limiting interim rate collections. Greater transparency and accountability can help protect consumers from unnecessary costs and make utility bills more predictable, especially for people living on fixed incomes.

SB 23 – Expanding Delaware’s Housing Supply The Affordable Housing Act addresses Delaware’s growing housing shortage by requiring counties and municipalities to take meaningful steps to increase and diversify housing options for residents at all income levels. It gives local governments flexibility to develop strategies that meet their communities' needs while encouraging housing production, streamlining approval of qualifying residential projects, and improving coordination with the Delaware State Housing Authority.

 

Looking Ahead to 2027

Our work doesn't stop when the legislative session ends. As we prepare for 2027, AARP Delaware will continue advocating for policies that make Delaware a better place to live and age.

Our priorities will include:

• Fighting cryptocurrency scams. We will continue working to protect Delawareans from scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs, which criminals increasingly use to steal victims' hard-earned savings.
• Supporting Paid Leave and Delaware EARNS. We will assist in implementing these programs, both of which can provide greater financial security for Delaware workers and their families.
• Expanding affordable and accessible housing. We will continue advocating for more housing options that Delawareans can afford and that meet people's needs as they age.
• Promoting “missing middle” housing. We will continue to support more housing choices, including duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and other house-scale, multi-unit housing that provide more options in walkable communities.

 

Add Your Voice

Our advocacy is stronger when Delawareans make their voices heard. AARP Delaware volunteers play an important role in meeting with lawmakers, sharing their stories, attending hearings and events, and speaking up on issues that affect people 50-plus and their families.

Interested in joining us?

Visit AARP's volunteer page to learn more and let us know you're interested in becoming an AARP Delaware advocate.

Together, we can build on the progress of 2026 and keep working toward a Delaware where everyone has the opportunity to live with dignity, security, and choice as they age.