Posts Tagged ‘delaware general assembly’
The Delaware General Assembly has been Served
A lawsuit was filed Friday morning in Wilmington – in the US District Court for the District of Delaware, which is Federal Court, to bring an end to the Delaware General Assembly’s virtual meetings which have been going on since the last session, and return to in-person meetings at Legislative Hall in Dover. Attorney Julianne…
Read MoreUpdate | Quick Action Promised On Del. Gun Bills
Update: The Delaware State Senate is scheduled to take action today on bills that would require a permit to purchase a handgun and limit high-capacity magazines.The measures were debated during a virtual meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday.The day before, the sponsors Senate President pro tempore David Sokola and Majority Whip Elizabeth Tizzy Lockman…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Seeks To Ensure Schools Teach Black History
Delaware public schools would be required to teach about Black history, under legislation filed in the General Assembly. Sponsors of House Bill 198 said Monday that if it’s approved, the requirement to teach about Black history in K-through-12 classes in public and charter schools would take effect with the 2022-23 academic year. 鈥淚solating Black history…
Read MoreDel. Opportunity Funding May Become Permanent
The Delaware State Senate has passed legislation that expands and makes permanent the Opportunity Funding program that boosts schools with a high population of students from lower-income families or who are still learning English. Under the two-year-old Opportunity Funding program, schools have been able to offer additional support through individualized coaching and mentoring, or appropriate…
Read More‘Ghost Guns’ Targeted With Del. Legislation
Manufacturing or possessing a ‘ghost gun’ could become a crime in Delaware. Ghost guns are made at home with kits, can be sold by unlicensed dealers and can be purchased without a background check.They have no serial numbers and cannot be traced, and they can often get through metal detectors. House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst,…
Read MoreDel. Elementary School Students’ Mental Health Addressed With Legislation
The mental health and well-being of Delaware elementary school students is a concern addressed with legislation in the General Assembly. The measure would allow schools to hire counselors, social workers, psychologists or other mental health professionals based on the numbers of students enrolled. House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, is the sponsor of House Bill…
Read More‘Digital Transparency’ Addressed In Del. Bill
As the Delaware General Assembly continues to meet virtually, two lawmakers are introducing legislation that would require audio and video archives of Senate and House sessions and committee meetings, as well as live streaming. Republican Representatives Bryan Shupe of Milford and Mike Smith of Pike Creek are reviving a House Concurrent Resolution that was introduced…
Read MoreDel. Lawmakers To Continue With Virtual Sessions
The Delaware General Assembly will continue to meet virtually when the House and Senate return next Tuesday March 9th. Senate President Pro Tem David Sokola, D- Newark, and House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D- Rehoboth Beach, made the announcement Tuesday. Lawmakers have been meeting virtually since the start of the session, with some choosing to go…
Read MoreDel. Coalition Pushes For Family & Medical Leave
A drive is underway for paid family and medical leave in Delaware, as more than 35 organizations have gotten behind the effort to get the Delaware General Assembly to require 12 weeks of paid leave for Delawareans who face a qualifying event. A qualifying event could could include a new child, a serious medical condition,…
Read MoreWatch / Listen : Del. Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearings
The Delaware General Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee is in the second week of hearings on Governor John Carney’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget proposal. Carney presented the spending plan almost two weeks ago. The JFC spends several weeks conducting hearings during which department heads and officers make presentations and answer questions. To watch JFC hearings live,…
Read MoreVIDEO : Carney Proposes $4.7-B FY ’22 Budget
Governor John Carney Thursday proposed a Fiscal Year 2022 operating budget of just over $4.7-billion, with a record-setting capital budget of $894-million and containing grants-in-aid of $55-million. Despite the challenges of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, Carney said the spending plan continues investments into rebuilding the economy, investing in schools and strengthening communities. Economic development,…
Read MoreWATCH / LISTEN : Gov. Carney Presents FY ’22 Budget
Governor John Carney is delivering his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2022 today. The budget goes before the Joint Finance Committee for several weeks of hearings. Carney’s presentation is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. It can be viewed as follows governor.delaware.gov Facebook YouTube
Read MoreDel. Bill Addresses Hair Discrimination
Hair discrimination is addressed in a bill being considered by a Delaware State Senate Committee Wednesday. The CROWN Act – Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair – would make it clear that Delaware does not accept a person’s appearance as being used as a weapon of harassment and discrimination, according to its…
Read MoreUPDATED: DE General Assembly Passes Resolution Honoring Joseph R. Biden’s Service and Dedication to DE
The Delaware General Assembly has passed House Concurrent Resolution 5, which honors Joseph Biden, Jr. for his service and dedication to the state of Delaware. The measure was passed in both chambers – with six State Senators voting against the resolution (Bonini, Hocker, Lawson, Pettyjohn, Richardson and Wilson). The now President-Elect began his career of…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Would Create 3 New Tax Brackets
Some Delaware lawmakers want to create three more personal income tax brackets for higher wage-earners, an action that would affect Delawareans whose taxable personal income exceeds $125,000. Representative John Kowalko, D- Newark South, said the bill intends to ensure a more fair and equitable progressive tax structure that’s sustainable and not overly burdensome to any…
Read More151st Del. General Assembly Begins
The 151st Delaware General Assembly is underway. New and re-elected lawmakers were sworn in virtually Tuesday. History was made in the State Senate. Sarah McBride (D- Wilmington) became the first openly transgender state Senator in the nation. 鈥淓very one of us is proud of our identities and the historic advancements our being sworn in today…
Read MoreDel. General Assembly Names New Budget Team
Delaware has a new leadership team in the area of fiscal policy with the General Assembly. Ruth Ann Jones has been appointed Controller General, and Bert Scoglietti of the office of Management and Budget has been named Deputy Controller General. 鈥淩uth Ann鈥檚 distinguished career in public service and state government, including serving as a close…
Read MoreDel. General Assembly Will Start 2021 With Virtual Sessions
The 151st Delaware General Assembly will convene Tuesday January 12th with a virtual session when lawmakers will take their oaths of office, formally elect their leaders and adopt rules and procedures for conducting legislative business. That day’s activities will be shown live on the General Assembly YouTube Channel. Provisions are also being made to conduct…
Read MoreDel. Senate Committee Assignments Released
Delaware State Senators have received their committee assignments for the 151st General Assembly that starts in January. The line-up includes a newly-formed Housing Committee. Also, the previously separate Environment And Energy Committees will merge into a single committee. “All policies governing generation and distribution of energy in Delaware should ever carefully weigh the potential impact…
Read MoreDel. House Democrats Introduce 3 Voting Measures
Democrats in the Delaware State House of Representatives have filed three bills that intend to drive up voter turnout and remove barriers to voting. One measure is the second leg of a Constitutional Amendment that would eliminate absentee ballot limitations. Another bill would change the Delaware state primary to coincide with the presidential primary election…
Read MoreDel. African American Task Force Holds Inaugural Meeting Wed.
Delaware鈥檚 African American Task Force is about to meet for the first time this week The panel was established in the final days of the recent Delaware General Assembly session and was proposed originally by the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus. The goal is to study inequities within socioeconomically marginalized African American communities surrounding education, housing,…
Read MoreBond Bill, Grants-In Aid Package Passed By Del. Senate
Two days after several lawmakers withheld voting on the Bond Bill and grants-in-aid package, the State Senate approved both packages Thursday. The Senate voted on grants-in-aid to volunteer fire departments, non-profits, senior centers and other organizations. The package totals about $54.5-million. The Bond Bill totals $708-million and funds transportation projects and investments into public schools,…
Read MoreDivided Del. House Passes Mail-In Vote Bill
Delaware registered voters would be allowed to vote by mail for the September primary and the November General Election under a bill passed in the state House. Registered voters would receive an application in the mail first to send away for a mail-in ballot. The bill passed along party lines, with Democrats in favor and…
Read MoreDelaware bill would require Governor to include lawmakers in state of emergency policy making
When the General Assembly returns to work, State Rep. Jeff Spiegelman, R-Clayton, will introduce a proposed constitutional amendment intended to give citizens a voice in decisions made during an extended state of emergency. Presently, the governor can declare a state of emergency for up to 30-days, and renew that order at his or her discretion.…
Read MoreState Rep. Ruth Briggs-King calls on General Assembly to convene amid coronavirus pandemic
Delaware State Representative Ruth Briggs-King is calling on the General Assembly to convene to address critical issues facing the state amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a letter issued to the public last week, Rep. Briggs-King called on her colleagues to convene amid the crisis, saying “it is time that the Delaware General Assembly meet…
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