This story has been updated to correct tax and licensing information. Marijuana ā and the implications of its legalization in Delaware on certain state agencies ā was part of the discussion in Wednesdayās Joint Finance Committee hearings. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security is set to receive a little over $5 million of the total request is specifically in …
Another alcohol bill kicks off this yearās General Assembly
Itās 8 oāclock somewhere! Thatās what state senator Laura Sturgeon, D-Hockessin, said with exuberance after a law expanding the hours of alcohol sales in Delaware garnered approval from her fellow legislators. House Bill 235, sponsored by Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, allows any individual or business with an alcoholic liquor license to sell at 8 a.m., an hour earlier than …
Educator pay raise proposals to get joint hearing Jan. 11
Delawareās General Assembly will have its first public look and discussion about proposed educator pay raise recommendations next week. At 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, the House and Senate education committees will come together to listen to a presentation on the final report from the Public Education Compensation Committee. Watch the meeting here. The 15-person compensation committee ā made of …
Buckson calls for accountability, discipline in schools
A law establishing a statewide program that provides advocates to students and families facing educational inequity drew discussion in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday. House Bill 188, sponsored by Rep. Sheraeāa Moore, D-Middletown, codifies the Equity Ombudsman program, which provides non-lawyer advocates to assist families.Ā āIn 2018 there was litigation against the state ā¦ brought by the NAACP and …
Apprenticeship programs law aims to combat teacher shortage
The most recent plan to attract teachers to Delaware schools was applauded in the Senate Education Committee Wednesday. House Bill 138, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton and chair of the House Education Committee, addresses the ongoing national teacher shortage. The legislation establishes a new tool to recruit and retain educators through an apprenticeship pilot program.Ā This model will build …
Paid leave hasnāt started, but changes already suggested
Proposed laws shifting who deals with appeals to the stateās new paid leave program, which starts in 2026 drew little comment in Wednesdayās Senate Health and Social Services Committee meeting. Senate Bill 178, sponsored by Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington and committee chair, makes technical changes to private plans under the Family and Medical Leave Program. The new program requires Delaware …
Allowing abortion workers to mask addresses OK’d by Senate
The Senate passed bills Tuesday pertaining to confidentiality for abortion providers, minority party representation on an emergency health committee and payouts for employment discrimination. Senate Bill 158, sponsored by Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Arden, focuses on confidentiality rights for medical providers.Ā The bill allows anyone who is a reproductive health care services provider or employee to apply for participation in …
Senators unanimously agree on 14 of 15 bills Thursday
It was a day of unanimous votes for the Delaware Senate Thursday, with 14 of the 15 itemsĀ passed without any ānoā votes. Sen. Darius Brown, D-Wilmington, was the only legislator to vote against House Substitute 1 for House Bill 34, a law that would require school boards from district and charter schools to hold public comment on each agenda …
Heated debate ends in vote to raise teacher pay over 4 years
Defying the demands of theĀ state teachers union, a committee formed to make recommendations on educator pay voted Monday to bring teacherās starting salary to $60,000 over four years rather than three.Ā The four-year plan will consist of a 2% salary increase and a flat dollar increase of $1,875 to the base salary for teachers, nurses and administrators each year …
Bill to foster mentoring in schools draws bipartisan support
A bill that would establish a 17-person task force to focus on mentoring and improving literacy rates for Delawareās youth unanimously passed the House Education Committee Wednesday.Ā āWe believe that the 18,222 children in charter schools across our state benefit not just from the educators in the building, but from the village that helps educate them,ā said Kendall Massett, executive …