UPDATED: An Amended SB 159 Has Passed in the General Assembly – Signed by Gov Meyer
UPDATED – 06/30/25 – The State Senate, meeting in special session of the General Assembly, discussed the amended Senate Bill 159 for another 40 minutes after the measure was returned to the Senate. Comments from most of the Senate minority turned no votes and the State Senate approved the amended SB 159 with SA 1 & HA 1 with a vote of 15 yes and 6 no. The bill has been signed into law by Governor Meyer.
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UPDATED – 06/30/25 – Senate Bill 159 was brought to the State House floor for consideration and was amended by bill sponsor Claire Snyder-Hall to say that the measure would only affect this one project.
The synopsis for HA 1 to SB 159 reads,
‘This amendment provides that this Act will sunset and no longer be of force and effect beginning January 1, 2027, except with respect to conditional use applications granted, deemed approved, or applied for and therefore subject to this Act prior to that date.’
The amendment was passed unanimously in the State House and followed by discussion on the measure. The amended SB 159 was passed in the State House with a vote of 25 Yes / 15 No and 1 vacancy. Because the measure was amended by the State House – the bill now returns to the State Senate.
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UPDATED – 06/20/25 – It was a packed house last week during the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee meeting on Senate Bill 159, which would permit an electric substation as an allowed conditional use – even though it has been denied by the Sussex County Council. After about 2 hours of comment the measure failed to gain the 8 votes needed to move the measure forward. However absent members can still sign a bill backer form to advance the measure to the full House for consideration.
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Senate Bill 159, which would permit an electric substation as an allowed conditional use – even though it has been denied by the Sussex County Council, was passed by the State Senate last week and now awaits consideration in the State House.
On Wednesday, June 18th SB 159 along with two other energy/utility measures (SB 60 w/ SA 2 and SB 175) will be heard in the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee. The meeting begins at 4pm in the House Majority Hearing Room and will be live streamed.
EMAIL COMMENTS – Written comments are strongly encouraged for all persons who wish to provide public comment during a House Committee meeting. Public comments will be accepted in advance of a committee meeting and by close of business the day after the meeting has adjourned. All public comments are considered part of the official committee record. Bills on the agenda that have not been discussed before the committee concludes shall be deferred to a subsequent committee meeting agenda for consideration.
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UPDATED – 06-16-25 – The Delaware League of Local Governments has responded to the Home Rule challenges and recent legislation introduced during the 153rd General Assembly.