Posts Tagged ‘general assembly’
DE’s 2024 Presidential Primary Moved to 1st Tuesday in April
Delaware’s Presidential Primary in 2024 will be a little earlier that in the past. Governor John Carney signed House Bill 149 Friday, which will move the 2024 presidential primary election for major political parties from the 4th Tuesday in April to the 1st Tuesday in April. This measure will sunset on May 1st of 2024.
Read MoreLegislation that Updates the Efficient Administration of Elections – Signed by Gov Carney
Legislation has been signed by Governor Carney that updates the efficient administration of elections. House Bill 148 requires ballots and sufficient materials for each election be provided to each polling location and updates the language to reflect the use of electronic scanning and tabulation machinery rather than written tally sheets. Rather than requiring election judges…
Read MoreLegislation Filed to Establish Office of Legislative Ethics for the General Assembly
The first half of the 152nd General Assembly may have ended on June 30th – however legislation continues to be introduced ahead of the second half of the session beginning in January. House Bill 261, sponsored by Representative Michael Smith would establish the Office of Legislative Ethics for the General Assembly – to ensure that…
Read MoreSeveral EV Bills Wait for Governor’s Signature; HB 123 Passes in House – Would Give General Assembly Role in EV Mandate Decision
While an Electric Vehicle mandate that would implement the California Advanced Clean Cars II protocols is still being considered by DNREC, several bills concerning Electric Vehicles were passed in the General Assembly – most in the last month of the session. House Bill 10 deals with the Electric School Bus program and House Bill 12…
Read MoreA Measure Passed in the State House Redefines a Firearm
Legislation passed with a unanimous vote in the Delaware State House redefines a firearm in the First State. Republican Jeff Spiegelman is the prime sponsor of House Substitute 1 for House Bill 224 and says that Delaware is the only state where a firearm is broadly defined. Under the current definition – a parent who…
Read MoreProposed FY 2024 Delaware Budget Passes in State House
With just over a week left of the General Assembly session, state lawmakers introduced House Bill 195 on Tuesday – that is the state’s proposed $5.606-billion FY 2024 operating budget. The measure was passed in the State House Thursday by a 32 to 8 vote. The 8 who voted against the spending plan said in…
Read MoreLimited Use of Styrofoam Containers & Single-Use Plastics Passes DE Senate
Polystyrene, or Styrofoam, containers and many single-use plastics are one step closer to limited use at Delaware food establishments. Senate Bill 51 would bar restaurants from serving ready-to-eat food in styrofoam containers and prohibit the providing of single-use straws, unless requested by the consumer, as well as single-use plastic coffee stirrers, cocktail picks and sandwich…
Read MoreUPDATED: Both Marijuana Bills Pass in DE State Senate – Waits for Gov Carney’s Signature
House Bill 1 – the marijuana bill has passed in the Delaware State Senate. This measure would remove all penalties for use or possession of a personal use quantity of marijuana and marijuana accessories. The vote was 16 to 4 with 1 absent. House Bill 2 – also passed in the State Senate. This is…
Read MoreDE Lawmakers Return to Dover Tuesday; Multiple Bills Already Filed to Start the Session
Delaware lawmakers return to Dover Tuesday. Newly elected and re-elected members of the House and Senate will be sworn in at 2pm. Multiple bills have already been filed ahead of the start of the session. One bill is a bill sponsored by Representative Ruth Briggs King that would give Delawareans the right to repair equipment…
Read MoreDelaware Senate Republican Leadership Re-elected
Members of the Senate Republican Caucus this week selected its leadership heading into the 152nd General Assembly. Senators Gerald Hocker of Ocean View and Brian Pettyjohn of Georgetown were re-elected Republican Leader and Republican Whip, respectively. Senator Hocker will be entering his third General Assembly as the caucus’s leader. Senator Pettyjohn will serve a second consecutive…
Read MoreHB 426 Signed into Law – Expands Use of Realty Transfer Tax Funds
Governor John Carney has signed House Bill 426, which will allow Delaware’s counties to expend Realty Transfer Tax funds for two additional uses. The measure amends Chapter 81, Title 9 of the Delaware code by striking of one word and adds “recreational amenities and land preservation” to how Realty Transfer Tax monies can be used.…
Read MoreGov Carney Signs Package of Bills Related to Maternal & Infant Health
Governor John Carney has signed a package of six measures related to maternal and infant health – aimed a decreasing infant and maternal mortality. The measures also expand services to communities across the state and will improve health outcomes for families and infants throughout Delaware. Representative Melissa Minor-Brown, lead sponsor of all six bills, is…
Read MoreDr. Jeffrey Hilovsky Files To Run In Del. House 4th District
Delaware’s new 4th State House district has another candidate.Dr. Jeffrey Hilovsky is seeking the Republican nomination for the district, that moves south to Sussex County from Wilmington following the redistricting process. Hilovsky is a retired Air Force Active Duty and Reserve veteran and served during three wars. He also is co-founder of Sussex Eye Center,…
Read MoreDel. Legislative Committee Hearings To Be Livestreamed
Delaware General Assembly committee meetings will be livestreamed when lawmakers resume the session in January, according to leaders of the majority Democratic caucuses. While regular sessions have been available virtually since May 2020 – early in the COVID-19 pandemic – committee hearings have continued via Zoom. Citizens will be able to attend in-person or virtually.…
Read MoreDel. Legislative Leaders Announce Formal Review Of Constitutional Powers Regarding Auditor Case
Leaders of the Delaware General Assembly have announced a plan for a formal review of its powers and procedures under two Articles of the Delaware Constitution regarding cause for removal of a public official. The Senate and House last week passed different concurrent resolutions asking for an advisory opinion from the Delaware Supreme Court. Now,…
Read More2nd-Chance Bills Become Law; Expungement Fair Coming To Georgetown
Three ‘restorative justice’ bills have become law in Delaware. Governor John Carney signed legislation Monday that expands second-chance opportunities. What is called the Clean Slate Act (SB 111) automates Delaware’s existing expungement process for thousands of adults and juveniles by eliminating the requirement for them to first file a petition with the State Bureau of…
Read MoreDel. Offers Tuition Waiver Program For Foster Students
Young people who age out of foster care may qualify for a tuition waiver at Delaware public universities and colleges. Governor John Carney signed legislation Thursday (House Bill 123) to create the program, which also waives room and board costs for students in foster care who pursue higher education at the University of Delaware, Delaware…
Read MoreDel. Redistricting Hearings This Week; Some Concern About New Maps
Proposed new legislative districts are drawing some concern, as hearings on new maps of House and Senate districts are about to begin this week. State Representative Bryan Shupe, R-Milford has shared a letter from Slaughter Beach Mayor Kathleen Lock, who said moving from the 18th State Senate District to the 16th District would disrupt the…
Read MoreDE Redistricting Public Hearings Next Week
The General Assembly will host public hearings later this month to allow residents to comment on its proposed legislative redistricting maps. The House will host a hybrid hearing on Monday, October 18. The Senate will host a virtual hearing on Tuesday, October 19, and an in-person hearing at Legislative Hall on Thursday, October 21. All…
Read MoreGov Carney Signs 2 Joint Resolutions into Law
Governor John Carney has signed House Joint Resolution 4 which directs the Criminal Justice Council to establish and publish integrity reports concerning complaints made against police officers in each police agency in the state – as well as create and publish a list of de-certified police officers in the state. The resolution is sponsored by…
Read MoreDel. Expands Mental Health Services In Elementary Schools
Delaware elementary schools will be able to significantly expand mental health services. Legislation signed by Governor John Carney Thursday (House Bill 100) establishes a mental health services unit for elementary schools, allowing them to hire more full-time counselors or social workers. $8-million was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Delaware budget to support additional mental…
Read MoreSen. Stephanie Hansen seeks to Advance Community Solar in Delaware
Thousands of Delawareans currently unable to benefit from the cost savings and low carbon footprint of solar power could soon reap the benefits of renewable energy through a new class of community-solar generating facilities enabled by legislation introduced by Sen. Stephanie Hansen on Thursday. Senate Bill 2 would provide the legal framework for Delmarva Power customers to take…
Read MoreDelaware Legislation Looks To Address Systemic Injustice
Members of the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus Wednesday unveiled a package of legislation that addresses police procedures and systemic injustices the sponsors say have impacted people of color. Lawmakers were joined by Governor John Carney, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, Attorney General Kathy Jennings and others as they discussed the initiative on the steps of Legislative…
Read MoreDelaware Budget-Writers Could Look to Reserves
With Delaware state revenues flagging due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) economic disruption, there is a possibility budget-writers could look to two reserve accounts to bridge a shortfall. The first of these reserves, often referred to as the Rainy Day Fund, is one of the most misunderstood mechanisms in state government. Adopted in 1980, Article 8,…
Read MoreDelaware revenue estimates take another hit
The revenue expected to be available to state budget writers took a major hit Monday, dropping by more than $655 million in Delaware. The Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC) issued their latest forecast Monday afternoon. The group predicted the state would have $4.2149 billion available to be budgeted for Fiscal Year 2021, that…
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