Posts Tagged ‘DE General Assembly’
House Democratic Caucus Leadership Issue Statement on the Passing of Former Rep. John Viola
The members of the Delaware House Democratic Caucus have issued a statement on the passing of former Representative John Viola, who served in the State House of Representatives for 22 years and as Majority Whip from 2013 to 2017. Viola fought for working families, for better wages, stronger protections and fairer working conditions for Delawareans.…
Read MoreDE Senate President Pro Tempore Announces Retirement
As the General Assembly session got underway last week, Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola announced that he would not be seeking re-election when his term ends. Sokola addressed Senate colleagues Thursday afternoon to tell them that he will retire at the end of his 36th legislative session. Sokola was first elected in 1990 during…
Read MoreDE Sen. Hoffner Advocates Push for Post-conviction Reform with Suite of Bills
Delaware State Senator Kyra Hoffner (D-14) and Innocence Project Delaware have announced a suite of three reform bills that push for post-conviction reform. Senate Bills 214, 57 and 58 are aimed at addressing wrongful convictions and cold cases in Delaware. Senate Bill 214 would mandate the proper preservation and retention of biological evidence from crime…
Read More33rd District Representative Charles Postles Not Running for Re-election
Representative Charles Postles from the 33rd District has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026. Postles recently recovered from an illness and has decided that not representing the 33rd will give him more time to deal with personal family issues. The decision did not come easily and after several months of consideration has…
Read MoreUPDATE: House Bill 255 with HA 2 & HA 3; House Substitute 1 for HR 19 Both Pass in Special and Extraordinary Sessions
UPDATED 2:30 p.m.– 11-13-25:Â With 25 votes needed to pass, House Bill 255 with HA 2 & HA 3 crafted to address the projected budget shortfall passed in the House with 26 yes votes, 13 voting no and two absent. The 26 who voted yes were all Democrat legislators. HB 255 now heads to the…
Read MoreNew Law Excluding Medical Debt from Credit Reporting Now in Effect in Delaware
Legislation that protects families from the long-term financial consequences of illness and injury is now in effect in Delaware. Senate Bill 156 prohibits the reporting of medical debt to consumer reporting agencies and prohibits any medical debt from being included on a consumer report went into effect today. The bill was passed unanimously in both…
Read MoreUPDATED: Gov Meyer Signs Several Measures Supporting Delaware Firefighters
UPDATED – 09/09/25 –Â Legislation that support firefighters in Delaware have been signed by Governor Mike Meyer on Tuesday. House Bill 171 updates the Delaware Volunteerism Act to specify that high school students can complete their community service requirements and earn up to one elective credit by volunteering with their local fire departments. The other measure…
Read MoreGov Meyer Signs Sen. Buckson’s Pension Reform Bill to Help Address Staffing Shortages
A bipartisan measure sponsored by Senator Eric Buckson has been signed into law by Governor Matt Meyer. The Governor signed Senate Bill 52 which is aimed at easing staffing shortages in Delaware’s schools and state agencies that operate 24-hour shifts. The bill modernizes employment rules for state pensioners willing to return to work. It removes…
Read MoreLegislation Creating DE State Department of Veterans Affairs Passed by State Senate
The Delaware General Assembly has passed legislation that creates the State Department of Veterans Affairs. The State Senate passed House Bill 1 with a unanimous vote Thursday. The measure will offer comprehensive care, specialized services, and advocacy to the more than 70,000 veterans in Delaware. This new department will be a , and will be…
Read MoreAfter a 2 Hour Floor Discussion, SB 159 Passes in DE State Senate
The Delaware State Senate debated Senate Bill 159 for nearly two hours on the floor of the Senate. Local rule was a primary topic with Senator Brian Pettyjohn reminding the members that lawmakers in Dover pass statewide bills that affect everyone statewide and that the state should not pass this bill just to override a…
Read MoreSS 2 for SB 100 – Right to Marry Bill Passes in State Senate
Legislation sponsored by District 6 Senator Russ Huxtable has passed in the State Senate. SS2 for SB 100 is a proposed amendment to the Delaware Constitution to the right to marry — including race, color, national origin, and sex. This legislation must be passed with a two thirds vote by consecutive General Assemblies, but does…
Read More2 Measures Introduced that Restrict Cooperation with Federal Law Enforcement Officials in Immigration Matters in DE
Legislation has been introduced in the Delaware State House that would restrict school resource officers and school constables from cooperating with federal law enforcement agencies in immigration matters without permission from the Delaware Attorney General. House Bill 93 was introduced by 31st District Representative Sean Lynn on Thursday – and is awaiting a hearing in…
Read MoreLegislation Would Add Military Status as a Protected Class in Delaware
A bill introduced Thursday in the the Delaware General Assembly would add military status as a protected class in Delaware. House Bill 55 would include military status as a protected class under the state’s public accommodations, housing, insurance, education and employment laws. The measure recognizes that military members and their families can face discrimination in…
Read MoreLegislation to Remove DE from RGGI Introduced in DE General Assembly
State Senator Gerald Hocker (R-Ocean View) and Representative Bryan Shupe (R-Milford) have introduced legislation that would remove Delaware from RGGI – the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Senate Bill 65 aims to provide relief to Delaware households and businesses burdened by rising energy costs. Delaware joined RGGI to reduce carbon dioxide emissions – the target was…
Read MoreDE State Sen. Hansen Introduces Utility Oversight Bills to Curb Rising Energy Costs
Three bills sponsored by Democrat Senator Stephanie Hansen and Representative Debra Heffernan would enact guaGuardrdrails for Delaware’s public utility companies regulated by the Delaware Public Service Commission to ensure customers are being protected against unfair, unexpected price increases. Senate Bill 59 would change the standards by which the Public Service Commission is able to determine…
Read MoreDE General Assembly Asks DE Supreme Court for Advisory Opinion on Gubernatorial Nominations
The Delaware Senate and House have approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 16 which requests an advisory opinion of the Delaware Supreme Court regarding the validity of Gubernatorial nominations before the State Senate and whether a Delaware Governor can withdraw nominations submitted by the preceding Governor that otherwise are properly before the State Senate.
Read MoreHB 13 Would Adjust DE Tax Brackets – and Create 2 New Brackets
Legislation introduced in the State House Thursday would adjust the state’s existing tax brackets and create two new brackets. The new brackets are taxed at the highest rates – but by combining some existing brackets this Act also slightly increases or decreases the tax rate for some incomes. House Bill 13 is sponsored by Representative…
Read MoreDE Representative Melissa Minor-Brown Elected Speaker of the House
The Delaware General Assembly returned to Dover Tuesday. The House Majority Caucus elected Representative Melissa Minor-Brown (17th District) as the Speaker of the House for the 153rd General Assembly. She is the first Black Speaker of the House in Delaware’s history. Minor-Brown was elected to the State House in 2018 and in 2022 was elected…
Read MoreMeasure to Change Elections in Selbyville Filed in DE General Assembly
Selbyville is growing and legislation pre-filed by State Senator Gerald Hocker and Representative Rich Collins would change how elections are held in the town. Senate Bill 39 would divide Selbyville into 4 election districts – with each nearly equal in population based on the most recent federal census. The four members of the Town Council…
Read MoreBill to Eliminate DE Death Penalty Waiting for Governor’s Signature
Legislation that will eliminate Delaware’s death penalty has been passed by the General Assembly. House Bill 70 passed Thursday in State Senate with a 14 to 7 vote – Democrat Darius Brown voted against the measure with the Delaware Republicans. This measure will make the penalty for a person who is convicted of first-degree murder…
Read MoreState Senate Approves Process of Reporting and Calculating Funds Distributed to DE Fire Companies/Departments
Legislation that will simplify the reporting process and provide a new way to calculate the funds distributed to fire companies or departments in Delaware has been passed in both chambers. House Bill 371 was approved by the State House in May – and by the State Senate on Thursday. This measure pertains to how the…
Read MoreHB 275 Passes in DE Senate; Updates Definition of “Sexual Orientation”
With just days left before the end of the Delaware 152nd General Assembly – legislation is still being considered and passed. On Thursday the State Senate passed House Bill 275 which updates the definition of ‘sexual orientation’ throughout Delaware Code. This measure, sponsored by Representative Eric Morrison adds the terms asexuality and pansexuality to the…
Read MoreDE End of Life Options Act Passes House & Senate; Waits for Governor’s Signature
The Delaware Senate has approved House Bill 140 – the Ron Silverio/Heather Block Delaware End of Life Options Act. The measure will allow terminally ill adults in Delaware to have the option to obtain prescription medication that they can decide to take if their suffering becomes unbearable – so they can die peacefully in their…
Read MoreGov Carney Vetoes Measure Relating to the State Employee Benefits Committee
Governor John Carney has vetoed House Bill 282 – which would have amended Delaware Code relating to the State Employee Benefits Committee (SEBC). Representative Paul Baumbach, the sponsor of the measure, said it would revise the membership, structure and procedures of the SEBC to increase transparency and accountability. The measure was passed unanimously in both…
Read MoreDeath Penalty Bills Still Waiting for Action in Dover
Legislation to revise Delaware’s death penalty statute to ensure compliance with the US Constitution has been awaiting consideration in the Senate Judiciary committee for over a year. This measure, Senate Bill 118, was sponsored by 16th District Senator Eric Buckson (R). Earlier this week the Delaware Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty held a rally…
Read More