Posts Tagged ‘delaware general assembly’
Del. Redistricting Heads Down The Home Stretch
The complicated task of redrawing legislative districts every ten years following the U.S. Census is nearing its close in Delaware. The State Senate and the State House are meeting today (Monday) in a special session devoted to redistricting. The Senate is scheduled to go into session at noon, and the House would follow at 2:00…
Read MoreDel. House Releases Legislative District Maps, With A Few Changes
Final maps of 41 Delaware House of Representative districts have been released, days before the General Assembly meets in a special redistricting session to vote on House and Senate district maps in one combined bill. The maps can be viewed at : https://legis.delaware.gov/Redistricting/2022FinalHouseDistricts. The special session will take place Monday at Legislative Hall in Dover. If…
Read MoreDel. House District Maps Released
New proposed maps for Delaware’s 41 State House districts have been released. The maps are redrawn every ten years following the Census. House leaders said Wednesday that numerous requirements were followed to get to this point: each district should be relatively similar in population and be contiguous while observing natural or political boundaries. The House…
Read MoreHouse, Senate Democratic Leaders Call For Indicted Auditor McGuiness To Take Leave Of Absence
The leaders of the Delaware State Senate and State House Democratic Caucuses are encouraging State Auditor Kathy McGuiness to take a leave of absence as she faces criminal charges. McGuiness was indicted Monday, and has claimed she is innocent of all charges. The following statements were released by the Democratic Caucuses Wednesday evening: Delaware Senate…
Read MoreUpdate: Del. State Senate Confirms 9 Nominations From Gov. Carney
Update: The State Senate confirmed nine of Governor John Carney’s nominees to judgeships, boards and commissions Wednesday afternoon. Carney said he appreciates the Senate’s careful consideration, and is confident each nominee has the good judgement and experience necessary to serve. Theresa Hayes will serve as a Judge on Family Court in Sussex County. Kristine Kellenbenz…
Read MoreDel. Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights Revision Gets Review
Proposed changes to the Delaware Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights will be considered at two virtual public sessions, one of which is today. The Senate bill (SB 149) would make police disciplinary records public and would allow for creation of community oversight boards that would have the power to hear and decide police disciplinary…
Read MorePharmacy Benefits Managers In Del. Subject To Tighter Regulations
The Pharmacy Benefits Manager industry in Delaware is huge – and, it will be more tightly regulated. The PBM acts as the intermediary for prescription drug plans. Their decisions affect reimbursement rates for pharmacies, and ultimately the price paid by consumers for prescription medications. Legislation passed in the Delaware General Assembly (House Bill 219) this…
Read MoreLawmaker Apologizes For Slur Contained In Email
A Delaware state lawmaker is apologizing and Democratic leadership is rebuking State Representative Gerald Brady, D-Wilmington for comments he admitted are embarrassing and shameful. Comments made by Brady in an email that was apparently misdirected used a slur for Asian women, and appeared to make light of human trafficking. In a social media post, Brady…
Read MoreDel. Budgets Enacted For FY ’22
Delaware’s operating budget and capital budget are now law for the fiscal year that starts Thursday. Governor John Carney signed the $4.7-billion FY ’22 budget (House Bill 250) into law Wednesday afternoon, as well as the bond bill (Senate Bill 200), which totals a record $1.3-billion. Carney said the budget also sets aside $286-million in…
Read MoreCapital Budget, Numerous Other Bills Go To Gov. Carney
Delaware’s largest-ever capital budget, known as the bond bill, has passed the General Assembly. The Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Budget (Senate Bill 200) spends $1.3-billion on transportation, school construction, courthouses and other various projects across the state. Money is also allocated to libraries, state building renovations, college campus improvements, clean water projects and state parks.…
Read MoreBill To Tighten Plastic Bag Ban Moves Forward
Delaware lawmakers are strengthening the near-prohibition on single-use plastic bags that took effect at the start of the year. The House approved a bill Wednesday (House Bill 212) that would close a loophole in which many larger stores or chains introduced slightly thicker plastic bags touted as reusable. The new legislation defines a reusable bag…
Read MoreUpdate: FY ’22 Budget Approved, Sent To Gov. Carney
Update as of Thursday, June 24th: The Delaware Fiscal Year 2022 budget is on its way to Governor John Carney for his signature. The Senate Thursday approved an operating budget of 4.77-billion dollars, one day after House approval. Also, the Senate passed a 221-million dollar supplemental measure with one-time expenditures. “This year’s budget process highlights…
Read MoreRally Shows Support For Changes To Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill Of rights
A bill to overhaul the Delaware Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights got support Wednesday at a rally outside of Legislative Hall. Senate Bill 149 would disclose police disciplinary records to the public, and would allow for creation of community review boards that could hear and decide police disciplinary measures. The Delaware Police Accountability NOW…
Read MoreUpdate: Amended Bill To Restrict Magazines Approved In House
Update: Legislation to restrict large-capacity magazines and revise criminal statutes outlined in the original bill has passed in amended form in the House of Representatives. Magazine capacity would now be limited to 20 rounds for a handgun and 30 rounds for a long gun. Also, the crime of ‘selling, purchasing, receiving or transferring a large-capacity…
Read MoreMore Criminal Justice – Police Reform Bills Pass Del. House
Three more criminal justice and police-reform measures have passed in the House of Representatives, two of which developed out of last year’s Delaware Legislative Black Caucus Justice for All Agenda. Law enforcement would be required to electronically record any custodial interrogations involving an adult accused of a crime or a juvenile accused of an delinquent…
Read MoreDel. House Passes Minimum Wage Increase
After a series of failed amendments, the Delaware House of Representatives Thursday gave final legislative approval to an increase in Delaware’s minimum wage, to be phased in over several years until it reaches $15 an hour in 2025. The vote on Senate Bill 15 was 26-15. The minimum wage would rise to $10.50 per hour…
Read MoreDel. Bill Establishes Guidelines For Use Of Opioid Impact Fee
The State Senate has passed legislation to establish a prescription opioid settlement fund and a settlement distribution commission that would allocate collected funds toward addressing the opioid crisis. The measure formalizes a structure for administration of Delaware’s first-in-the-nation opioid impact fee. Senator Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown and House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach are co-sponsors of…
Read MoreDel. Bill Supports Collective Bargaining For Delmar Police
Delmar Police deserve an opportunity to collectively bargain for better pay and safer working conditions, according to the sponsor of legislation that would clear the way for them to unionize. A bill introduced in the State Senate (SB 181) would clarify that the Town of Delmar is a public employer under the Delaware Police Officers…
Read MoreState Senate Approves Use-Of-Force Revisions
Delaware’s first ‘objective use of force’ standard for police officers is a step closer to becoming law. The State Senate Thursday voted 14-7 to approve a bill (SB 147) that would stipulate that the use of deadly and non-lethal force would be legally justifiable only if its use is determined to be reasonable. The word…
Read MoreVoting Amendment Falls Short In Del. House
A vote of 25 yes, 14 no was not enough in the Delaware House of Representatives to pass the second leg of a Constitutional Amendment that would have eliminated limitation as to when a person could vote by absentee ballot. The same bill passed 38-3 in the previous Delaware General Assembly. A two-thirds majority in…
Read MoreMarijuana Legislation Pulled From Thursday House Agenda
A bill that would permit adult recreational use of marijuana in Delaware and regulate production and sale of marijuana has been pulled from Thursday’s House agenda. The lead sponsor, Representative Ed Osienski, D-Newark, said just hours before the session that he and other lawmakers have filed several amendments in recent days that would make significant…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Addresses “Eviction Crisis”
Delaware tenants who face financial hardship and possible eviction would get access to legal help and other services under a bill approved in the State Senate Tuesday. The measure, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 101, also would create a diversion program that would resolve most landlord-tenant disputes before they go to court. Tenants would…
Read MoreElementary School Mental Health Services Could Get A Boost
Improved mental health services in Delaware elementary schools is the goal of legislation approved in the House of Representatives. House Bill 100 would provide resources to allow elementary schools to hire a full time school counselor, social worker or licensed clinical worker for every 250 students. They would also be able to hire a full-time…
Read MoreSenate Votes To Repeal Training – Youth Wage
A youth and training wage that’s below Delaware’s minimum wage is a step closer to repeal. The State Senate Tuesday passed a bill (House Bill 88) 13-8 that sponsors said would ‘restore fairness and equity to Delaware’s labor code.’ The special wage was negotiated during an all-night session of the General Assembly three years ago…
Read MoreLawmaker: Don’t Use Vax Status To Deny Services, Rights
A person’s COVID-19 vaccination status could not be used as a basis for denial of rights and services, under a bill introduced in the Delaware General Assembly. Representative Rich Collins, R-Millsboro said Thursday that people who may not want to be vaccinated due to religious objections or or other reasons have rights equal to those…
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