A bill to change Seaford's charter has been pulled from the Legislature's agenda. (Wikimedia photo by Nyttend)

Seaford charter change in jeopardy after backlash

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Seaford officials were planning on making what they thought was a simple change to the city charter, something that several other Delaware municipalities had already done. That change would allow someone who lives outside the city — but owns a business in Seaford that is registered through an LLC —  to vote in municipal elections. The change needed to be …

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Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act introduced

Sam HautEducation, Government, Headlines, Sports

With only a week left in this year’s legislative session, a Seaford Republican plans to introduce a bill that would only allow trans athletes to participate in sports against players who match their biological sex. Sen. Bryant Richardson said he filed Senate Bill 191, which he dubbed the Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act, because it is unfair to allow transgender …

Bills passed Tuesday would offer rebates for electric vehicles and require some school buses to be electric, too. (Unsplash photo by Cchuttersnap)

Senate passes 5 environment bills, budget

Sam HautHeadlines, Government

On Tuesday, the Senate passed with five bills that relate to the environment, with Republicans offering some resistance, and a budget that had less opposition. House Bill 99, sponsored by Rep. Debra Heffernan, D-Brandywine Hundred South, would require that Delaware meet certain emission reduction requirements, getting to zero net emissions by 2050, and create climate change officers within all nine …

A few Republicans are speculating that Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, plans to step down.

Democrats may elect a new speaker, GOP reps believe

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A few Republicans have heard there’s a possibility that Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, plans on stepping down by the end of the week. Rep. Kevin Hensley, R-Odessa, said during a Zoom meeting with the Delaware GOP that there is speculation that a new speaker will be elected by Friday. “So the speculation, just keep in …

A few Republicans have heard there’s a possibility that the Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, plans on stepping down.

Democrats may elect a new speaker, GOP reps believe

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A few Republicans have heard there’s a possibility that Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, plans on stepping down by the end of the week. Rep. Kevin Hensley, R-Odessa, said during a Zoom meeting with the Delaware GOP that there is speculation that a new speaker will be elected by Friday. “So the speculation, just keep in …

A new committee is continuing to hear more options on changing healthcare for state retirees. (File)

More options, no decisions on state retiree healthcare plans

Sam HautDelaware Live, Government, Headlines, Health

The State Employee Benefits Committee retiree subcommittee is considering more options to save the state money on healthcare over the next 20 years. It met Monday and may meet on July 10 and July 20 to discus options. The options presented relate to the “Other Post-Employment Benefits” that the state is trying to cut back on and close the unfunded …

polystyrene

Amended polystyrene ban bill passes House

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A bill banning the use of polystyrene containers, including Styrofoam, passed the House and will head back to the Senate after three amendments were passed with it. Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, would ban the use of polystyrene containers in restaurants, fire companies, and nonprofit organizations, along with single use plastic straws, and beverage, cocktail picks …

police

House  passes updated police bill of rights by large margin

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware House of Representatives this week overwhelmingly passed a bill that would establish new standards for reporting police misconduct allegations, hailed by sponsors as a giant leap toward transparency. After the bill passed, the Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, thanked the people who helped get the bill passed. “I also want to thank the police …

doulas

Reps share personal experiences with doulas as bill passes House

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Two Delaware House of Representative members talked up the benefits of their doulas before a bill requiring Medicaid to cover their services passed unanimously Thursday. A doula is someone who provides physical and emotional support to pregnant women. The bill would require the state to cover their services for three prenatal and postpartum visits, both up to 90 minutes, as …

budget

State’s 2024 budget of $5.6 billion jumps 10% over 2023

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A 2024 state budget that’s 10% higher than 2023’s led eight Republicans to vote against it Thursday in the House of Representatives, but that didn’t stop it from passing. House Bill 195, sponsored by Rep. William Carson, D-Smyrna, delineated how the $5.6 billion budget will be spent over the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Carson is the vice …