Larry Lambert
HB 222 status: Enacted — Signed by Governor (updated Sep 16, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
Bill summary
The bill updates the state's fine structure for violations of the Nutrient Management Program by increasing both the minimum and maximum penalty amounts.
Agricultural operations and entities regulated under the Delaware State Nutrient Management Program.
Entities must adhere to state nutrient regulations or risk facing penalties between $125 and $5,000.
The primary cost impact is a potential five-fold increase in maximum fines for violations.
Signed by the Governor on September 16, 2026.
Provides a stronger deterrent against nutrient mismanagement, potentially leading to improved water quality and better environmental outcomes.
Small farms may face increased financial vulnerability if penalized; the bill grants broad discretion to the Commission regarding specific fine amounts.
The criteria used by the Commission to determine specific fine amounts within the new range are not specified.
Modeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Positive outlook
Mixed / Neutral
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Positive outlook
Positive outlook
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
The broader discretion given to the Commission to set fines up to $5,000 could create variability in enforcement.
Analysis scope
Source provided is a summary; full text analysis unavailable.
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