Leg Hall

General Assembly passes largest bond bill in history

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware Senate on Wednesday voted to pass the largest bond bill in state history, weighing in at a whopping $1.4 billion.  The House of Representatives passed the spending package unanimously Tuesday afternoon. The bill allocates $1.4 billion toward roadway enhancements, school construction, courthouse expansion, state building renovations, library upgrades, state park improvements and clean water investments. “For the second …

Realty transfer tax

Bill to lower realty transfer tax sails through House committee

Charles MegginsonBusiness, Headlines

A bill to decrease Delaware’s realty transfer tax from 4% to 3% was released from the House Administration Committee Wednesday. Introduced by Rep. Bill Bush, D-Dover, House Bill 358 would make law of something Rep. Mike Ramone, R-Pike Creek South, has been preaching for years: reducing the cost of Delaware’s real estate transfer tax after it was increased during financially …

6 gun bills expected to earn Delaware Gov. John Carney's signature.

What’s going on with Delaware’s gun bills?

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware’s Democrat-controlled General Assembly has taken swift action to impose gun control measures in the wake of mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y. and Uvalde, Texas.  The bills aim to amend the state’s background check system, ban semi-automatic firearms, Glock switches and large-capacity magazines, prevent individuals under the age of 21 from accessing guns, and allow lawsuits against firearm industry members …

Leg Hall

Senate OKs mail-in voting despite claims it violates Constitution

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware Senate on Thursday passed a controversial bill to cement mail-in voting as an option for voters in all future elections. Senate Bill 320, sponsored by Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Ardens, passed 13 to 8 just before midnight with a last-minute amendment from Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover. “While vote by mail is particularly helpful for those who may find …

Sleepy Cat

Bill to outlaw cat declawing advances to Senate

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

It could soon be illegal to declaw cats in Delaware under a bill passed by the House of Representatives Thursday. House Bill 333, sponsored by Rep. Andria Bennett, D-Dover, would impose a fine of up to $1,000 for those who have the procedure performed for non-therapeutic purposes. The bill also specifies that a veterinarian who is found to have declawed …

High-capacity magazine

High-capacity magazine ban heads to Carney

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A bill aimed at restricting the capacity of firearm magazines passed in the House of Representatives Thursday by a vote of 23 to 18. The bill now heads to Gov. John Carney, who is expected to sign it into law. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Rep. Larry Mitchell, D-Elsmere, bans the possession, sale, purchase, receipt or …

House Administration Committee meeting

Bill to create Delaware inspector general moves forward

Ken MammarellaGovernment & Politics, Headlines

A bill to establish an “independent and nonpartisan” inspector general’s office moved forward Wednesday in a Delaware House committee. The House Administration Committee also moved along a bill to encourage filming in the state by offering tax credits. The committee started discussion to create a constitutional right of a clean environment, but, citing time, continued discussion to Thursday’s committee meeting, …

School Safety Lawmakers

GOP lawmakers: Invest in school safety, not gun control

Charles MegginsonHeadlines, Government

When a wave of mass shootings prompted Democrats in Delaware’s state legislature to introduce a package of sweeping gun restrictions, Republicans responded with a proposal of their own: invest more in school safety. House Bill 388, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Hensley, R-Odessa, would allow school districts, vocational-technical schools and charter schools to use money from the Delaware School Safety and …

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Delaware House votes to ban semi-automatic firearms

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A controversial bill to ban the purchase of semi-automatic firearms in Delaware narrowly passed in the House of Representatives Thursday against the objections of every Republican lawmaker as well as some Democrats. The bill passed 22 to 19 and will advance to the Senate for consideration.  “The intention of this legislation is simple and clear: to make sure that the …

Emissions

Carbon emissions goals released from Senate committee

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A controversial bill setting Delaware’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions was released from the Senate Environment and Energy Committee Wednesday and will advance to the Senate floor for a vote.  Senate Bill 305, the Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act, would require Delaware to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% before 2030 and by 90% before 2050.  Opponents said the …