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Senate passes $1.4 billion for capital improvement 

Sam Haut Government, Headlines

The Senate has approved $1.4 billion in capital improvement projects, along with a bill that would ban the LGBTQ panic defense, and a bill that adds more funding for the suicide crisis hotline. Senate Bill 160, sponsored by Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Stanton, would allocate $1,409,448,938 to address capital improvement projects across the state through this year’s bond bill.  Walsh said …

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard laws Wednesday cracking down on child and financial abuse.

Laws punishing child and financial abusers get Senate support

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Government

Three laws seeking to prevent and crack down on child and financial abuse garnered support in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.  They also drew emotional testimonies from victims of abuse or individuals who have had abuse negatively affect their lives.  House Bill 182, sponsored by Rep. Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax, changes child abuse in the third, second and first degree …

lgbtq

Spiegelman talks Nazis in opposing LGBTQ panic defense bill

Sam Haut Government, Headlines

A bill that would ban the use of the LGBTQ panic defense in Delaware courts passed the state House Thursday,  but not before one representative brought up Jews and Nazi Germany. House Substitute 2 for House Bill 142, sponsored by Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow, would not permit a defendant to claim they reacted violently when they realized that someone else …

HB 203 would require high schools to teach financial literacy, and students would need to take a half-credit to graduate.

Financial literacy may become graduation requirement

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Government

Delaware students may soon be required to take a financial literacy class in order to graduate.  House Bill 203, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Hilovsky, R-Millsboro, would require public schools to teach financial literacy, which is essentially how to make smart decisions about money. A unanimous vote in the House Education Committee Wednesday sent it to House ready list for debate …

Two bills pertaining to gun restrictions passed the House Thursday.

Guns in school zones, polling places bills pass House

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Government

Two laws restricting the presence of guns in school zones and election polling places passed the House and are headed to a Senate committee for debate.  House Bill 201, sponsored by Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, aims to enable a police officer to act immediately when they see or suspect a person with a gun in …

A bill that would provide funding for a school resource officer at each Delaware public school was debated Wednesday.

School officers, construction needs focus of House Committee

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

Bills dealing with school construction, junior ROTC, Department of Education background checks and school resource officers were sent to the House ready list Wednesday by the Education Committee. House Bill 169, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton and committee chair, requires the secretary of education – currently Mark Holodick – to publish and deliver a report to the General Assembly …

inspector general

DE Inspector general bill likely to wait ’til next year

Sam Haut Government, Headlines

With some state expenses, such as Medicaid, higher than expected for 2024, legislators who want to create a state office of inspector general plan to wait until next year to introduce a bill to do that. “[I]t does come with a fiscal note, to create a new agency does cost some money,” said Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Hockessin. “It’s not astronomical. …

Rep. Morrison would like to see the tax credit to those that need it most. (Unsplash)

Morrison again calls for senior tax break means testing 

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

Seniors in Delaware may save an additional $350 in school property taxes next year under a bill that drew lots of discussion in the House Education Committee Wednesday. House Bill 29, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Hensley, R-Odessa, increases the Senior Real Property Tax credit to $750 from $400. That’s will counter a raise put in place by the Appropriations Bill …

A bill would make 16 the legal age to vote in school board elections.

Should 16-year-olds be able to vote in school board races? 

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

A bill that would drop the age to vote in school board elections to 16 is drawing strong opposition from one education group. The voting age now is 18. House Bill 96, sponsored by Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow, which would lower that voting age for school board races, is set to be heard Wednesday at the 3 p.m. House Education …

Catalytic converters thefts are on the rise, especially in Delaware.

Catalytic converter theft bill sent to House floor

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Government

A bill that would crack down on the spike in catalytic converter thefts breezed through the House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Tuesday afternoon.  House Bill 78, sponsored by Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow, imposes rules on scrapyards’ purchase or sale of catalytic converters, part of a vehicle’s exhaust pipe.  “Law Enforcement talked about the extreme rise in catalytic converters …