Bill Text: DE HCR76 | 2025-2026 | 153rd General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: Recognizing Significant Health Concerns Regarding Water Bead Toys And Urging The Delaware Department Of Education To Take Regulatory Action.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Engrossed) 2025-06-30 - Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 VACANT [HCR76 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2025-HCR76-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Rep. Heffernan & Sen. Cruce |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 76
RECOGNIZING SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CONCERNS REGARDING WATER BEAD TOYS AND URGING THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO TAKE REGULATORY ACTION.
WHEREAS, a nationwide uproar has ensued due to the health and safety risks posed to children and pets by water bead toys; and
WHEREAS, water beads are tiny balls made out of polymer material that are often sold in children’s toys; and
WHEREAS, if ingested water beads can grow up to 100 times their original size when exposed to water which can cause choking, internal injuries, and death if undetected; and
WHEREAS, some of the symptoms of consuming a water bead are vomiting, dehydration, intestinal blockages, and other life-threatening injuries; and
WHEREAS, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that parents and caregivers take these products away from children aged 3 years or younger, and only allow supervised play for older children; and
WHEREAS, Delaware’s Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) has broad authority to establish reasonable health and safety regulations for licensed child care providers under existing law; and
WHEREAS, education through tools like online microlearning opportunities can help child care providers and families identify water beads, understand the dangers, and take preventive measures to keep children safe; and
WHEREAS, increased education, coupled with specific regulatory guidance, will help ensure a safer environment for Delaware’s youngest children.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the General Assembly urges the Delaware Department of Education and the Office of Child Care Licensing to revise the Early Care and Education Center and School-Age regulations and the Family and Large Family Child Care regulations to include a prohibition on water beads in child care facilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages the Department of Education to develop a microlearning opportunity to educate child care professionals and families about the risks of water beads and other similar hazards.
SYNOPSIS
This Concurrent Resolution recognizes the significant health concerns regarding water bead toys and urges the Delaware Department of Education to take regulatory action to keep children safe.
