Posts Tagged ‘delaware senate’
Delaware Senate Passes Bill Granting Subpoena Powers to Counties to Ensure Fair Market Property Values
The Delaware Senate has passed a bill rounding out the first wave of legislation that officials say was aimed at rectifying the recent statewide property reassessment process that caused property taxes to spike for thousands of Delawareans. Senate Bill 230(S), sponsored by Senator Spiros Mantzavinos, grants subpoena power to all three Delaware counties so finance…
Read MoreDelaware Senate Passes Legislation to Enhance Office of New Americans
The Delaware Senate has unanimously passed Senate Bill 27, sponsored by Senator Darius Brown, which formalizes and expands the state’s Office of New Americans under the Department of State. The legislation builds on the Meyer administration’s launch of the office in November and is intended to centralize and coordinate services related to immigrant integration, workforce…
Read MoreDelaware Senate Passes $6.5 Billion Operating Budget with Bipartisan Support
With bipartisan support, the Senate voted to pass a $6.5 billion operating budget for FY 2026 and a $37 million supplemental budget package today, June 26th. The budget for FY 2026, which spans July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, includes support for state workers, substantial investments in health care, and significant resources to strengthen…
Read MoreUPDATE: Delaware Senate Passes Bill To Provide End of Life Options to Terminally Ill Patients
UPDATE 04/18/25:  Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend and Representative Eric Morrison, legislation providing end-of-life options to terminally ill patients has passed the Senate and will now move to Governor Meyer’s desk for signature. House Bill 140 would provide mentally capable adults in Delaware that have received a prognosis of six months or less to live, the…
Read MoreLegislation that Amends Delaware Medical Marijuana Act Passes Senate
Legislation that has passed the Delaware Senate amends the Delaware Medical Marijuana Act by removing the requirement that a patient have a debilitating medical condition to qualify for a registry identification card. Instead, it allows health-care providers to make the determination of whether a patient has a diagnosed medical condition for which the patient would…
Read MoreDelaware General Assembly Cancels Tuesday’s Legislative Session Due to Inclement Weather
Due to the snowfall in Delaware, Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola and House Speaker Valerie Longhurst have announced that today’s session proceedings in both chambers are canceled. The cancellation includes a House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee meeting that was previously scheduled for noon today. The House is scheduled to reconvene at 2 p.m. tomorrow– Wednesday, January 17th.…
Read MoreLegislation Adds Smoking Restrictions Within Vehicles if Person Under 18 Present; Bill Passes Senate
Legislation that addresses concerns over the negative health effects secondhand smoke will have on youth in Delaware has passed the Senate. This bill adds smoking restrictions within vehicles if a person under the age of 18 is in the vehicle. Also, it makes clear that a police officer will not stop or detain a car…
Read MoreLegislation That Extends Time for Valid Temporary Vehicle Tags Passes Senate
Legislation introduced in April this year and that has passed the Delaware Senate this week increases the length of time for a valid temporary vehicle tag from 60 days to 90 days. This Act also adds a new provision requiring temporary tags be issued through a temporary tag system, approved by the Division of Motor…
Read MoreLegislation Related to Public Health Emergencies Passes DE Senate
Senate Bill 66-Senate Amendment 1, which Delaware Senator Eric Buckson introduced, has passed the Delaware Senate. The bill would require the Public Health Emergency Commission to meet within 30 days after the declaration of a State of Emergency related to public health. The Commission would then meet every 30 days until the termination of the…
Read MoreLegislation Relating to the Employment of Pensioners Passes DE Senate
Legislation relating to the employment of pensioners has passed the Delaware Senate. This bill, which was introduced in March, allows pensioners to earn $50,000 (instead of $40,000) before incurring a $1.00 deduction to their state pension for every $2.00 earned over that amount. The bill is now ready for the Governor for action and will…
Read MoreUPDATED: DE Senate Passes Legislation to Help Paraprofessionals Become Certified Teachers
The Delaware Senate passed legislation today to help ease the path for experienced paraprofessionals to become full-time, certified teachers. Sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman, Senate Bill 156 will both assist Delaware schools resolve ongoing teacher shortages and encourage a more diverse teacher workforce. Senator Lockman says rising student enrollment combined with high…
Read MoreDelaware Senate Passes legislation to Encourage More Investment in Affordable Housing
A record number of Delawareans are experiencing homelessness, and so the Delaware Senate passed legislation today that encourages more public and private investment in the construction of new affordable housing units throughout the First State. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 87 would fully exempt affordable housing projects funded by nonprofits and government entities from…
Read MoreFirst Leg of Constitutional Amendment to Allow No-Excuse Absentee Voting
The Delaware Senate has passed the first leg of a Constitutional amendment that would eliminate limitations on the circumstances in which voters may cast an absentee ballot. Senate Bill 3 would also allow the General Assembly to set new rules and procedures through future legislation, the only path to no-excuse absentee voting permissible under the…
Read MoreLegislation Looks to Provide More Funding to Delaware Tech
Delaware State Senator Harris McDowell, a Democrat of Wilmington along with State Representative Edward Osienski, a Democrat of Newark have unveiled a proposal that would provide funds to Delaware Technical Community College for infrastructure repairs, which they say would not result in the implementation of any new property taxes. Sen. McDowell says “Delaware Tech is…
Read MoreDelaware Senate Passes Bill Raising Tobacco Purchase Age to 21
The Delaware State Senate has approved SB25, which would ban the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products to those under the age of 21 years old. The vote breakdown was 14 yes votes and 6 no votes. Of the Yes votes were 11 Democrats and 3 Republicans. 1 Democrat voted No and 5…
Read MoreFormer Delaware State Senator Has Died – DE Flags to Half-Staff
Delawareans are honoring the life of former State Senator Steven Amick, who passed away on Wednesday. Amick rose to the highest ranks of Delaware politics, beginning his political career as a State Representative in 1986. He was elected to the State Senate in 1994, where he served as Senate Minority Whip and Senate Minority Leader.…
Read MoreState ERA Constitutional Amendment Passes State House
The Delaware House has approved HB 1 – a proposed amendment to the Delaware Constitution relating to equal rights by a 35 to 6 vote. The measure has already been passed in the 149th General Assembly session, but still needs approval in the 150th to amend the state Constitution. In 1972 the US Congress passed…
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