Delaware lawmakers have moved quickly to close a transparency gap after WHYY News reported that some elected officials had taken free trips to Taiwan and Israel without listing them as gifts in their annual financial disclosures.
In recent days, both the state House and Senate unanimously approved new rules requiring officials to report third-party-paid travel expenses of $250 or more to Delaware’s Public Integrity Commission.
New Law Requires Travel Expense Disclosure
The updated law specifically states that travel expenses paid by outside parties must be disclosed if they are worth at least $250.
Covered travel costs include:
- Transportation
- Lodging
- Entertainment
- Food
- Beverages
The change applies to travel paid for by any third party, except the state government.
Supporters say the update removes confusion and makes it clear that free travel is something of value that must be reported.
WHYY Investigation Sparked New Scrutiny
WHYY News reported in April that since around 2010, a rotating group of about five Delaware lawmakers traveled to Taiwan each year on weeklong trips.
The trips were paid for by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States.
However, WHYY found that none of the lawmakers had reported the free travel in annual financial reports reviewed back to 2020.
Several lawmakers said they had been told by the commission that the Taiwan trips did not need to be reported as gifts, but none could provide written proof of that guidance.
Instead, some said they relied on advice from fellow lawmakers and viewed the trips as fact-finding missions to the home of a U.S. ally.
Israel Trip Also Raised Questions
WHYY News also reported that one of five lawmakers who went on a free trip to Israel last year did not report the $6,500 gift until after the news outlet asked about the nondisclosure.
The trip was paid for by the Consulate General of Israel in New York.
The issue added to broader questions about whether lawmakers were properly reporting gifts and travel paid for by outside groups.
Attorney General’s Trips Also Went Unreported
WHYY also reported last year that Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings had not disclosed free trips since 2022 to South Africa, Colorado, and Arizona.
Those trips were paid for by a legal trade group.
The Public Integrity Commission had reportedly advised Jennings that the trips did not need to be disclosed.
Existing Delaware Gift Disclosure Law
Under longstanding Delaware law, the state’s 62 lawmakers and about 300 other government officials, including judges, must report gifts worth more than $250.
The law defines a gift broadly as any payment, service, money, deposit, subscription, advance, forbearance, or anything of value unless equal or greater value is given in return.
Gifts from close relatives are excluded from the reporting requirement.
Under Delaware’s Code of Conduct, required filers must also disclose creditors, investments, income sources, and business interests.
WHYY News has obtained all financial reports filed for 2025.
Madinah Wilson-Anton Says Voters Deserve Transparency
State Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, a Bear Democrat who sponsored the bill, said she was pleased that lawmakers supported stronger transparency.
Wilson-Anton said voters and constituents deserve to know who is paying for officials’ travel, what countries they are visiting, and what excursions they are taking.
She called the measure reasonable and described it as good government.
Financial Reports Will Be Posted Online
Wilson-Anton’s bill also requires financial disclosure reports to be posted on the Public Integrity Commission’s website for public viewing.
Currently, anyone who wants to inspect a report must file a Delaware Freedom of Information Act request and wait up to 15 days to receive it.
Wilson-Anton said people have a right to know who is giving legislators money, trips, and gifts, and that information should be easy to access.
Travel Language Added by Jeffrey Spiegelman
The travel expense provision was proposed by Rep. Jeffrey Spiegelman, a Middletown Republican.
Spiegelman had previously taken two free trips to Taiwan that he did not disclose.
He also traveled to Israel and did report that trip after receiving advice from the commission to do so.
Spiegelman said the law needed clarification through the legislative process to improve transparency and serve the state’s interests.
Why Wilson-Anton Pushed for More Access
Wilson-Anton said her push for transparency began last year when she wanted to review the financial disclosures of some fellow lawmakers.
She said she had concerns that some lawmakers might have conflicts of interest and had heard claims that certain officials were earning money in specific industries.
When she tried to look at the reports, she was surprised to learn they were not already available online, unlike reports filed by registered lobbyists.
Public Integrity Commission Supports the Change
Public Integrity Commission Chairman Ron Chaney said the commission supports the updated law.
Chaney had previously told WHYY News that lawmakers should disclose all free trips as gifts going forward.
He said the new policy will provide needed clarity by creating a consistent reporting standard.
Transparency Advocate Says Travel Was Already Reportable
Transparency advocate Amy Roe of Newark said she believes the law already required lawmakers and officials to disclose free trips.
Roe had initially alerted WHYY News to Rep. Bryan Shupe’s failure to disclose the Israel trip.
She argued that travel expenses are clearly something of value and should have been reported even before the law was updated.
Roe said lawmakers should not have been able to avoid disclosure under the previous wording.
Concerns Over Accountability
Roe accused lawmakers and other officials of abusing the law for years.
She also criticized the Public Integrity Commission for not holding officials accountable.
Filing a false report can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison, but no Delaware lawmaker has ever been charged with that offense.
Roe also argued that the $250 threshold remains too high and said all travel expenses and gifts should be reported, regardless of value.
Open Government Group Calls Law a Transparency Win
John Flaherty, spokesperson for the Delaware Coalition for Open Government, agreed that gifts and travel expenses of any amount should be disclosed.
Still, he called the revised law a victory for transparency.
Flaherty said posting financial reports online will allow the public to better monitor trips, gifts, and financial disclosures by elected and public officials.
He also credited Wilson-Anton for responding to past reporting abuses and said broader online access could help improve accountability.
Delaware lawmakers have unanimously approved new disclosure rules requiring public officials to report third-party-paid travel expenses of $250 or more. The legislation follows WHYY News reports about lawmakers taking free trips to Taiwan and Israel without reporting them as gifts, as well as questions about other unreported travel by public officials.
Supporters say the updated law removes ambiguity, increases transparency, and makes financial disclosures easier for the public to access online. Critics argue the rules should have been followed already and say all gifts and travel expenses, regardless of value, should be reported to ensure full accountability.