Posts Tagged ‘House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf’
Bill to Increase Minimum Age to Buy a Gun Passes Del. State Senate, House
Legislation that would increase the age to legally purchase any firearm from 18 to 21 has passed the Delaware State Senate by a vote of 14-7. The measure (House Bill 451) also passed in the House. Delaware’s current law mirrors federal requirements that a handgun buyer be at least 21 years old, while someone who…
Read MoreUpdate: Sussex GOP Files Ethics Complaint With House Democratic Leadership; Staff Responds
Story update: A member of the House Majority Caucus legal staff responded to what was characterized as an ethics complaint filed by the Sussex County Republican Committee. The response refers to House ethics rules which state that an ethics complaint may only be filed by a member of the House of Representatives. GOP Chair Marilyn…
Read MoreDel. General Assembly Passes Age Restriction For Buying Most Firearms, Adjusting Background Check Program
A bill to increase the legal age for buying most firearms in Delaware from 18 to 21 has passed in the House of Representatives.Currently, state law mirrors federal law which does allow someone who is 18 to purchase long guns, including rifles and shotguns. Someone must be 21 to purchase a handgun. “We already prohibit…
Read MoreGov. Carney, Del. Democratic Legislative Leaders Unveil Gun Legislative Package
With four weeks to go in this Delaware General Assembly session, Governor John Carney, D-Del. and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Thursday said they would push for passage of several gun-related bills. Recent mass shootings at an elementary school in Texas and at a supermarket in Buffalo were highlighted by the supporters of…
Read MoreDel. House Continues Hybrid Committee Hearings
House committee meetings in the Delaware General Assembly will continue in a hybrid format indefinitely. The House has moved away from holding committee meetings over Zoom and is using a new system.Committees themselves are meeting in person. Residents are again able to attend House committee meetings in person at Legislative Hall. However, space in committee…
Read MoreDel. Restaurants, Bars May Be Able To Keep Expanded Outdoor Spaces
Delaware bars and restaurants that expanded outdoor seating during the COVID-19 pandemic would no longer face a sunset provision, under a bill introduced in the General Assembly. The measure would also allow for continuation of to-go sales of alcohol. Representative Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach and State Senator Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes are sponsoring a bill that…
Read MoreDel. Legislative Committee Hearings Will Take Place Virtually At Least Through Jan.
When Delaware lawmakers resume the General Assembly session Tuesday, House and Senate committees will meet virtually in January utilizing Zoom. The actions are being taken by House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach and Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola, D-Newark in response to increasing COVID-19 cases and the spread of the omicron variant. “While I…
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 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 MoreApologetic Rep. Gerald Brady To Retire After ’22
State Representative Gerald Brady, D-Wilmington, announced Monday that he would not seek reelection in 2022 as he again apologized for an email that contained a slur against Asian women and that seemed to make light of human trafficking. Brady had previously been reprimanded by the leadership of the House Democratic Caucus, which also ordered him…
Read MoreVIDEO | Gov. Carney, In Lewes, Signs Clean Water Initiative
Governor John Carney was in Lewes Thursday to sign the Clean Water for Delaware Act (House Bill 200), which sets up a process and a source of funding to improve the quality of Delaware’s water supply and to address issues that affect the state’s waterways. Carney also announced a plan to address wastewater and drinking…
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 MorePossible Breakthrough In Dewey Beach 5G Poles Dispute
Some of the 5G poles placed along the sand in Dewey Beach that have caused a ruckus and generated a lawsuit will start to be relocated as early as this fall. State Senator Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes said he and House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach will continue to work with Verizon towards a full relocation…
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. 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. House Sets Date For In-Person Meetings
The Delaware House of Representatives plans to conduct session “physically” at Legislative Hall for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic later this month. House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D- Rehoboth Beach, said Friday that an in-person hybrid session is planned April 29th for floor votes and party caucuses. It’s expected that the…
Read MoreDemocratic Leaders Respond To GOP Calls To Reopen Legislative Hall
Leaders of the Republican caucuses in the Delaware House of Representatives and State Senate Wednesday pressed for the resumption of in-person meetings at Legislative Hall, which has been closed to the public for a year. Democratic leaders, in their responses, said they will reopen when it’s safe and science will guide the decision. A Senate…
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. Special Sessions Planned To Deal With Redistricting
The Delaware General Assembly will hold several special session days in the fall to deal with redistricting, which happens every ten years after the U.S. Census. House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D- Rehoboth Beach and Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola, D- Newark said Thursday that reports indicate Delaware might not receive its 2020 census data…
Read MoreDel. Bill Extends To-Go Alcohol Sales At Restaurants, Bars
Delaware establishments will be able to continue to sell alcohol to go, one of the innovations restaurants came up during the COVID-19 pandemic. A bill passed by the House of Representatives and sponsored by House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D- Rehoboth Beach, would extend the allowance of alcohol sales to go as well as expanded outdoor…
Read MoreDC Riot Prompts Concerns About Protection At State Capitols
Delaware legislative leaders said Thursday that with the start of the new legislative session just days away, they are reviewing security protocols with Capitol Police and the Office of Safety and Homeland Security. In response to the invasion at the US Capitol, House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf (D- Rehoboth Beach) and Senate President pro tem David…
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…
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