Posts Tagged ‘delaware general assembly’
Raises Approved For Del. State Employees, Retirees
Members of the Delaware General Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee have approved pay increases for state workers and retirees.State employees on the lower end of the pay scale could receive raises of up to 9%. Raises are at least 2.3%. Education employees would receive a 2% increase.Also, state pensioners would receive an increase of 2-to-3%, depending…
Read MoreDel. State Senate Advances Protections For Manufactured Home Community Residents
Delawareans who live in manufactured housing communities would get new legal protections, under legislation (Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 9) that has passed the State Senate.One part of the measure would close a loophole that allows owners of manufactured home communities to increase rents, even when they refuse to address outstanding health or safety…
Read More2nd Del. Recreational Cannabis Bill Stalls In House
Legislation to set up the regulatory and operations framework for legalized sales of marijuana in Delaware failed to pass in the House of Representatives. It is the second of two bills that are designed to clear the way for legalized recreational use of marijuana by adults.The measure (House Bill 372) requires a three-fifths vote of…
Read MoreDel. Bill Seeks To Set Standards Of Care At Recovery Houses
New Delaware legislation seeks to set a standard of care for recovery houses… places people turn to for treatment for substance use disorder.The bill (HB 421) would codify standards for recovery houses to be designated ‘certified.’ Non-certified recovery houses would be able to continue to operate, but would be subject to restrictions in getting state…
Read MoreDel. State Senate Advances Marijuana Legalization Bill
The Delaware State Senate has passed legislation that removes any penalties for adults who possess small amounts of marijuana, giving the bill final legislative approval and sending it to Governor John Carney for his consideration. The vote on House Bill 371 came one week after approval from the House of Representatives. It would take away…
Read MoreDel. Takes Step Toward Creating Inspector General Position & Office
Legislation to establish the office of an independent inspector general has been introduced in the Delaware General Assembly.Under the bipartisan-sponsored bill (House Bill 405), the IG office would investigate management and operation of state agencies to look for waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, corruption or other conduct harmful to the public interest.The position would be non-partisan.…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Seeks To Better Protect Students From Sexual Predators
New Delaware legislation seeks to better protect school students from sexual predators.The measure is an expansion of an existing law that requires all publicly funded schools to train employees and educate students about personal safety, sexual abuse, an dhow to maintain appropriate interactions between children and volunteers. “Our communities rightfully expect the schools of this…
Read MoreHB 411 Would Amend the DE Constitution to End General Assembly’s Annual Late Night Finale
Lawmakers have filed a bipartisan measure that would effectively end the mandatory tradition of extending legislative business past midnight on the final day of session each year. The Delaware Constitution spells out that the regular session of the General Assembly begins each calendar year on the second Tuesday in January and closes on the last…
Read MoreDel. Senators Pass New Phase Of Bail Reform
People charged with certain offenses would not be eligible for bail, under a bill (SS 1 for SB 11) approved in the Delaware State Senate Thursday.The first leg of a proposed constitutional amendment would allow the General Assembly to add crimes and circumstances where preventative detention would protect public safety.Currently, courts are permitted to hold…
Read MoreDel. House Votes 26-14 To Advance Recreational Marijuana Bill (Part 1)
Legislation to remove all penalties for an adult who possesses less than one ounce of marijuana has been approved in the Delaware House of Representatives. The vote was 26-14 in favor of House Bill 371. The bill now goes to the State Senate. It is part of a two-pronged effort to legalize and regulate recreational…
Read MoreTeachers’ Compensation, Court Fines, Fees… And Bedbugs: Del. General Assembly Resumes Session
New Delaware legislation is designed to make the teaching profession more attractive by ensuring that compensation for public educators is competitive with other school districts in the region.The bill (SB 100) would establish the 13-member Public Education Compensation Committee. It would work with educators, school administrators, local school boards and parents to examine current rates…
Read MoreDel. Living Donor Protection Act Becomes Law
Delawareans who have donated an organ or tissue will be protected from discrimination by insurance companies, under a bill signed by Governor John Carney. “The Delaware General Assembly has done important work attempting to prevent discriminatory practices and this bill further protects Delawareans,” State Senator Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes said. “Having to pay a higher rate…
Read MoreSchool Tax Hike Without A Referendum? Del. Legislation Addresses That Possibility
Delawareans could face increases in their school property taxes without a referendum being held, but legislation to be introduced in the General Assembly would address that scenario.The state’s three counties have been reassessing their properties in compliance with terms of a lawsuit settlement over the fairness of Delaware’s school funding formula. In Sussex County, there…
Read MoreDel. Family Leave Bill Gets Final Approval In General Assembly
The House of Representatives and the Delaware State Senate gave final approval Thursday to legislation that would provide eligible full-time workers with up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave a year and up to six weeks of paid family caregiving, medical or military leave every two years. The measure, SS2 for SB1, has been…
Read MoreDel. Bill Addresses Access To Abortion Medications
Physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses would be permitted to prescribe approved medications for termination of a pregnancy in Delaware, under a bill that has passed the State Senate.The sponsors said this legislation addresses a provision in the state code that allows only qualified physicians to prescribe and administer abortion medications. Requirements surrounding these…
Read MoreDel. Realty Transfer Tax Could Be Reduced Under New Legislation
Delaware’s realty transfer tax would be reduced by 25-percent under a bill with bipartisan sponsorship in the General Assembly. (HB 358)The transfer tax, which is typically split between the buyer and seller of a home, was increased five years ago during difficult economic times that faced the state.The measure has 15 Republican sponsors and 13…
Read MoreDel. Rebate Program Advances In General Assembly
A program to make direct one-time payments to Delawareans of $300 is halfway through being approved by the General Assembly.The 2022 Delaware Relief Rebate Program (HB 360) was overwhelmingly approved in the House of Representatives Thursday. It was introduced just a few days earlier, with the goal of helping hundreds of thousands of people meet…
Read MoreDel. Civics Education Bill Gets Hearing In Senate Committee
Legislation to require that Delaware students in grades ten and twelve be assessed in US history, government and civics will be considered in the Senate Education Committee today (Wednesday).The bill (SB 232) is sponsored by State Senator Bryant Richardson, R-Seaford. The requirement would take effect with the 2023-24 academic year.The civics assessment would cover: The…
Read MoreLegislation Would Create Office of Inspector General in DE
Legislation soon to be introduced in the General Assembly aims to create the Office of Inspector General in The First State. “The inspector general would be charged with investigating complaints of waste, fraud, abuse or corruption regarding state employees or state agencies,” said the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Mike Smith (R-Pike Creek Valley). “While we…
Read MoreRevised Del. Police Accountability Bill Introduced, Draws Early Criticism
A revised bill to revise the Delaware Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights has been introduced in the Delaware General Assembly.Sponsors of SS 1 for SB 149 said Monday that it would be a step toward opening serious and substantial police misconduct records to public view, something Delaware has lacked for more than 25 years.…
Read MoreRetired Army General Enters Race For Del. House 20th District
A lifelong Delawarean and long-time Sussex Countian is stepping up to try to keep State House District 20 in Republican hands. Retired Army Colonel Dallas Wingate told WGMD’s Mike Bradley Monday that that his military career matters in this election. “My last post of importance was with the Delaware National Guard as the Operations Chief.…
Read MoreDel. Senate Advances Tax Relief Bills For Retired Military, Active Fire-EMS
Thousands of retired military service members and Delaware first responders could get relief on their taxes. One measure passed by the State Senate Tuesday would exclude up to $12,500 worth of military pension income from state tax calculations for all retired service members, regardless of age, starting in 2023. “Our nation’s retired service members, each…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Would Direct Surplus State Funds To Adults & Children
A gas tax holiday does not look possible in Delaware, but several Republican lawmakers are proposing to allow each Delawarean to get a share of the state’s growing revenue surplus.GOP lawmakers Monday said they are floating a proposal to direct about $100-million from the budget surplus and provide $100 rebates to every Delaware adult and…
Read MoreDel. Marijuana Bill Fails To Clear Hurdle In House
For the first time in nearly four years, a bill that would regulate and legalize recreational use of cannabis (marijuana) by adults in Delaware received a vote in the House of Representatives Thursday. And, like in 2018, it did not get enough votes to pass. House Bill 305 would have required a two-thirds super majority,…
Read MoreDel. State Sen. Bruce Ennis Announces Retirement
A longtime Delaware state lawmaker plans to step down at the end of his current term in November.State Senator Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, a lifelong Smyrna resident, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1982.He won a special State Senate election in 2007 for the seat held by the late James T. Vaughn Senior.…
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