This story was originally published in August 2022. A committee assembled to draft plans for a potential expansion of Delaware’s state capitol building spent much of its Thursday meeting reiterating the tentative nature of its work. The committee was established after the General Assembly unanimously voted in 2021 to study and recommend a plan to address Legislative Hall’s technological, security …
Legislative Hall expansion far from a done deal
A committee assembled to draft plans for a potential expansion of Delaware’s state capitol building spent much of its Thursday meeting reiterating the tentative nature of its work. The committee was established after the General Assembly unanimously voted in 2021 to study and recommend a plan to address Legislative Hall’s technological, security and space needs. The group appears to have …
Legislative Hall to reopen to the public
The leaders of the Delaware House of Representatives and Senate plan to open Legislative Hall to the public effective immediately, they said during a committee meeting Thursday. Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf and Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Dave Sokola plan to announce the building’s opening later Thursday or Friday. “My intent is open to building up, get …
Delaware House to return to Legislative Hall for hybrid April 29 session
Republicans in the legislature last week issued a press release calling for a return to in-person meetings.
LegHall parking deck designers recommend street crossing
Architects designing the proposed parking deck at Delaware Legislative Hall today recommended using a raised street crossing rather than tunnel or pedestrian bridge for legislators to cross the street there. A raised street crossing would be more economical than the tunnel, which is budgeted at $2 million but could cost $3.7 million, or a skywalk, which could cost $3 million …
Legislative Council discusses plans for Holocaust memorial
Legislative Hall may get a Holocaust memorial, according to discussions in the week’s Joint Legislative Council. The council, made up of the Democratic and Republican leadership in the Senate and House of Representatives, also agreed to re-establish the Legislative Building Committee so it can oversee a $23 million expansion of Leg Hall, including a new wing and a parking garage. …
Legislative Small Business Caucus grills Garvin on EV rules
Delaware will adjust its proposed electric vehicle regulations if sales are less than expected, costs of repairing EVs are comparable to gas vehicles and the state is considering a hybrid public comment meeting. So said Shawn Garvin, secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, during a meeting Thursday with the House Small Business Caucus. Garvin fielded …
Livestreaming of meetings seems set to stay at Leg Hall
As the Delaware General Assembly prepares to reconvene Tuesday for the start of its 152nd session, livestreaming of meetings seems set to stay. Nobody seems sure yet whether members of the House or Senate will be able to continue to vote remotely. After fighting the livestreaming of meetings for years, the General Assembly started doing that when the COVID-19 …
Polarization challenges Return Day traditions
Delaware LIVE News is part of the Delaware Journalism Collaborative, a partnership of local news and community organizations working to bridge divides statewide. Learn more here. You have to wonder: In these days of deep political anger, how wise is it to let opposing politicians stand together near a weapon? That’s what Delaware does after every election. It’s the tradition …
Bonini faces 2 GOP challengers for seat he’s held 27 years
There’s a race to the right in central Delaware’s 16th Senate District, and incumbent Republican Sen. Colin Bonini’s 27 years of experience have become a focal point of the bitter challenge. Bonini has long been regarded as one of the most conservative members of the Delaware General Assembly, but that may not be enough to stave off primary challengers Kim …