Bill to Eliminate DE Death Penalty Waiting for Governor’s Signature

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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…

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HB 275 Passes in DE Senate; Updates Definition of “Sexual Orientation”

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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…

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Gov Carney Vetoes Measure Relating to the State Employee Benefits Committee

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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…

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Death Penalty Bills Still Waiting for Action in Dover

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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…

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Human Composting Bill Signed by MD Governor Moore

Last week, Maryland Governor Wes Moore held his third bill signing, which included a measure – Green Death Care Options Act – or human composting. The measure establishes a regulatory system for the performance of natural organic reduction in the disposal of human remains. The measure becomes effective on October 1st. A similar bill in…

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HB 399 Would Create New State-Level Department of Veterans’ Affairs

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Legislation to create new state-level Department of Veterans’ Affairs has been introduced in Dover. House Bill 399 is sponsored by Representative William Carson – and the department would be headed by a cabinet-level Secretary appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. This new department would take over most duties currently…

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HB 357 Would Redefine “Firearms” in Delaware

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Legislation has been introduced to the Delaware General Assembly that would legally define a firearm in the First State. House Bill 357 will go before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday at 11am. Representative Jeff Spiegelman is one of the sponsors of the measure and says this could potentially reform multiple aspects of state law…

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Legislation for Workforce & Affordable Housing Introduced to DE General Assembly

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Delaware State Senator Rex Huxtable (D-6) has introduced several bills to the General Assembly that deal with workforce and affordable housing. Senate Bill 22 establishes the “Delaware Workforce Housing Program” which would allow a qualified workforce housing investor to be reimbursed through a grant up to 20 percent of the capital costs associated with workforce…

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UPDATED: SB 241 Passed & Signed into Law – to Cancel DE Presidential Primary

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UPDATED – 03/19/24 – 11pm – Senate Bill 241 has been signed into law by Governor John Carney. ============================================ UPDATED – 03/19/24 5pm – There will be no Presidential Primary in Delaware once Governor John Carney signs Senate Bill 241. This cancellation is due to the recent withdrawal of Republican Party Presidential Candidate Nikki R.…

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HB 344 Would Eliminate Ballot Bias in Delaware

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Legislation introduced in the Delaware General Assembly would eliminate ballot bias in Delaware elections. Numerous study’s show that the order in which candidates’ names appear on the ballot may impact election outcomes. By law in Delaware one political party always appears in the first column on machine ballots or the first line of absentee ballots.…

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House Bill Would Increase Penalties for Drivers Who Fail to Yield Right-of-Way for Emergency Vehicles with Lights & Sirens Activated

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Legislation sponsored by 4th District State Representative Jeff Hilovsky focuses on protecting police, paramedics and firefighters and facilitating prompt emergency response. House Bill 329 would increase the penalties for motorists who fail to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle with its lights and sirens operating. The fine for a first offense would…

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UPDATED: Amended ‘Permit to Purchase’ Bill Passes DE State Senate

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UPDATED – 03/15/24 – Several amendments by the State House to the “Permit to Purchase” (Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 2) measure have been approved by the State Senate on a partisan vote of 15 to 6. This comes after 15 proposed amendments by Republican Senators were defeated or stricken on Wednesday. The measure…

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Legislation to Provide EMS Care to K9s Signed by Gov Carney

Another bill to provide better care to law enforcement K9s is Senate Bill 117 which is sponsored by Senator Brian Pettyjohn and Representative Lyndon Yearick. This measure allows paramedics and other EMS providers to care for an injured police dog at the scene of an emergency – and allows for transport of an injured K9…

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Legislation Introduced in DE State Senate for DNREC & PJM Interconnection to Study Transmission Impacts of Offshore Wind Development

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A bill sponsored by Democrat Senator Stephanie Hansen would direct DNREC to work with PJM Interconnection, LLC to study the transmission impacts of offshore wind development. Senate Bill 170 would also have DNREC work with neighboring states on offshore wind transmission. DNREC would then report back to the Governor and Delaware General Assembly on a…

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Revisions Proposed for DE Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights

Two bills were filed Friday that would bring revisions to the Delaware Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights. House Bill 205 and House Bill 206 would revamp how officer disciplinary cases are handled and publicly disclosed, give members of the public a role in setting standards for police officers and increase transparency. According to the…

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SB 96 Would Prohibit DNREC’s EV Sales Mandate to be Heard in Committee Wednesday Afternoon

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Legislation sponsored by State Senator Brian Pettyjohn and Representative Michael Ramone is now expected to be heard in the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee next Wednesday. Senate Bill 96 would prohibit DNREC from enacting its electric vehicle sales mandate. The bill would not restrict the sale of fuel-powered cars, trucks and SUVs in Delaware…

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Joint Finance Committee Approves Raises for State Workers & Retirees and More…

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The Joint Finance Committee, which is charged with crafting Delaware’s operating budget, has approved raises for state workers and retirees. This is the first day of mark-up – when the committee takes the Governor’s recommended budget and begins to vote on specific funding requests – essentially writing the budget. The plan approved by the committee…

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