Republicans led a charge Thursday to derail a bill that requires new homes and multi-family dwellings to be wired for electric vehicles, a move that Democrats say will help ensure the sale of more cars and help the environment. They failed. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 103, sponsored by Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington, would require all new single family …
Property value must be reassessed every five years, according to a bill passed by the Delaware House Thursday and sent along to the Senate. House Bill 62, sponsored by Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, D-Newark, would require counties to reassess real property values at least once every five years, starting with the next reassessment. That hasn’t been done in New Castle County …
A bill looking to address lead across Delaware passed to the Senate floor with four in favor and one on its merits after a warm reception by the Senate Health & Social Service Committee Wednesday. Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington, creates the Delaware State Lead-Based Paint Program. It would require the Division of Public Health to, …
The Senate voted along party lines 15 to 5 to pass a bill that would amend the Delaware constitution to allow absentee voting for any reason. Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Sen. Darius Brown, D-Wilmington, ultimately would allow absentee voting for any reason. However, it would require voters to sign an oath or affirmation saying they are free from improper …
The Senate on Thursday passed the bill banning the use of single-use foam take containers and plastic items in restaurants, but it will allow customers to request a straw. Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, would ban the use of beverage, cocktail picks and sandwich picks made of plastic, but exempts straws attached to an item such …
The Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would lower licensing fees for casinos that make capital investments. Senate Bill 64, sponsored by Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, would allow the casinos, which under a 2018 bill were required to pay a $3 million license fee to operate table games, to forgo portions of that fee if they pay for …
Bills that would legalize marijuana and set up a state-monitored legal sale industry passed the Delaware Senate and are headed to the governor. Only one Republican voted for House Bill 1, which would legalize marijuana use in Delaware. It passed 16 to 4. Sen. Eric Buckson, R-Dover, partially attributed his vote to his libertarian values of letting his neighbor relax …
A typically commonplace measure that would have added 17 projects to this year’s Bond and Capital Improvements funding got mired in controversy Tuesday over wording that required union and minority participation in four bids. That requirement in a four-project pilot program would mean that some minorities, including Hispanics, would be left out, Senate Republicans maintained. Rep. Jack Walsh, D-Newport/Stanton, sponsor …
Leaders in the Delaware Senate have revealed the body’s committee assignments for the 152nd General Assembly which begins in January. Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect Dave Sokola announced the assignments Monday. “Legislative committees are an essential part of the legislative process where senators gather public input and determine which bills should move forward,” Sokola said in a news release. “The assignments …
Delaware House Republicans will be led by a new pair of officers when the General Assembly reconvenes in January, and they’re both promising to move the caucus in a less divisive and more welcoming direction. The caucus on Tuesday elected Rep. Mike Ramone of Hockessin as minority leader and Rep. Lyndon Yearick of Camden as minority whip. “This is an …
