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Bentz reverses course: Pot bill to get full public hearing

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Rep. David Bentz, D-Christiana Concerned citizens will have a chance to offer public comment on a marijuana legalization bill after all.  Multiple lawmakers walked out of the House Health and Human Development Committee Wednesday after the majority of the committee’s members voted to release the bill without first hearing public comments.  During the meeting, a House attorney said rules do …

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Bentz, Dems refuse to allow public comment on marijuana bill

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Multiple lawmakers walked out of the House health committee Wednesday in protest of a vote to release a marijuana legalization bill without hearing public comment.  After facing backlash from Republicans, House Democrats announced the bill will be reassigned to the committee and members of the public will be permitted to provide comments after the legislature returns from recess in May. …

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Paid leave bill to be walked through House committee

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Healthy Delaware Families Act is expected to proceed to the House Appropriations Committee despite not receiving the requisite number of votes in the House Health and Human Development Committee Wednesday. Photo/Getty Images. The bill to create a statewide paid family and medical leave program faced a slight hiccup on its journey to becoming law Wednesday. The Healthy Delaware Families …

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Pre-filed bills offer glimpse into legislature’s plans

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The General Assembly will meet in person for the first time on Thursday, Jan. 13. (Getty Images) A list of pre-filed House bills released Thursday offers a glimpse into some of the issues the General Assembly plans to tackle when it reconvenes next week. Proposals included on the list range from a measure to make gun ownership legal for medical …

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Mail-in ballots, paid leave, police reform top 2022 legislative agenda

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

State legislators will be back in session in a little more than a month. Photo by Aimintang/Getty Images Signature In five weeks, Delaware’s 151st General Assembly will kick off its 2022 legislative session with many Democratic legislators looking to advance progressive causes that have previously struggled to gain traction.  Democrats control both chambers of the General Assembly by wide margins.  …

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Absentee ballot bill saved so it can be voted on again in 2022

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

A bill that would take absentee ballots out of the Delaware Constitution and allow people to use them without specifying a reason stays alive until next year.   It’s alive! It’s alive! The bill that would allow absentee ballots to be used for any reason will not die, but will be able to come back before the Delaware House of …

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Dems retaliate for Republican no votes by adjourning before GOP bills hit House floor

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

  After Republican members of Delaware’s House of Representatives voted Thursday against a bill that would allow people to vote absentee for any reason, the Democratic leadership responded by ending the session before three Republican bills came to the House floor. “Those bills were not considered because of and in retribution for the Republican vote against House Bill 75,” said …