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Read. Follow. Verify.Delaware establishes independent Office of the Inspector General to investigate state waste and fraud
Last action · August 14, 2025: Signed by GovernorSponsors: Laura Sturgeon and 20 others
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What This Bill Does
This Act establishes an independent, nonpartisan Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in Delaware to investigate and prevent fraud, waste, mismanagement, and corruption across state agencies and the General Assembly's administrative operations. The Inspector General serves a 5-year term after appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate, with the selection process starting within 60 days of enactment.
Creates a new investigative body with subpoena-like evidence-gathering powers and civil enforcement authority that can independently target state-level mismanagement, impacting all state agencies, administrative branches of the General Assembly, and state employees.
- State offices of the inspector general are independent oversight bodies commonly established to audit and investigate executive branch operations, procurement, and administrative integrity. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
State agencies and employees
State agencies and their administrative operations are subject to oversight, investigations, and corrective action recommendations by the new Office of the Inspector General.
General Assembly
The General Assembly's administrative operations, including employment practices and procurement, are subject to OIG investigations while its legislative functions remain protected.
Department of Justice
Receives referrals of potential crimes from the Inspector General and faces independent civil action by the OIG if it declines to act on a referral.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Office of the Inspector General do?
How is the Inspector General chosen and how long is their term?
Can the Inspector General investigate the General Assembly's lawmaking activities?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
17 actions- Aug 14, 2025Office of the GovernorEnrolledSigned by Governor
- Jul 1, 2025HouseFloorPassed By House. Votes: 30 YES 1 NO 9 ABSENT 1 VACANT
- Jun 25, 2025HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 4 On Its Merits
- Jun 20, 2025HouseIntroducedAssigned to Appropriations Committee in House
- Jun 18, 2025HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 2 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
- Jun 5, 2025HouseIntroducedAssigned to Administration Committee in House
Show 11 earlier actions
- May 22, 2025SenateFloorPassed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
- May 22, 2025SenateCommitteeAmendment SA 3 to SB 4 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
- May 22, 2025SenateCommitteeAmendment SA 2 to SB 4 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
- May 22, 2025SenateCommitteeAmendment SA 1 to SB 4 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
- May 21, 2025SenateCommitteeAmendment SA 3 to SB 4 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- May 20, 2025SenateCommitteeAmendment SA 2 to SB 4 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- May 20, 2025SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
- Mar 26, 2025SenateIntroducedAssigned to Finance Committee in Senate
- Mar 26, 2025SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 7 Favorable
- Mar 24, 2025SenateCommitteeAmendment SA 1 to SB 4 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- Jan 10, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced and Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
SM
Total
31
- Yes
- 30
- No
- 1
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (31)
Show 1 earlier roll call
SM
Total
20
- Yes
- 20
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (20)
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 16 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Independent Watchdog
Shifts Delaware from relying solely on traditional audits and law enforcement agencies to having a dedicated, independent investigative agency focused entirely on government waste, fraud, and abuse.
Connected Entities
Sources
legis.delaware.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy35Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment15Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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