House session

Climate bill passes House after vote on two amendments

Sam Haut Government, Headlines

Rep. Rich Collins on Tuesday begged House Democrats to join him in opposing a bill that set greenhouse gas emission limits in Delaware. “I have begged you to stand up one time and not just take this direction that apparently is so overwhelmingly powerful in this chamber,” the Millsboro Republican said. “And I know I’ve lost. I tell you it’s …

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 …

The House voted for a bill that would speed up aspects of school board elections.

Bill aims to rectify school board candidacy delays

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

A bill that would eliminate delays to school board candidates’ names appearing on Delaware’s Department of Elections website was passed by the Delaware House Tuesday. House Bill 88, sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, would require the state to publicly list school board candidates who are waiting for their background checks to be completed as a “provisional candidate.” Due to …

The Public Education Compensation Committee will recommend a four-year timeline to increase teacher's starting salary. (Pexels)

Heated debate ends in vote to raise teacher pay over 4 years

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Defying the demands of the  state teachers union, a committee formed to make recommendations on educator pay voted Monday to bring teacher’s starting salary to $60,000 over four years rather than three.  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 …

Members of the House Education Committee agreed Wednesday about the importance of mentoring and literacy. (Unsplash)

Bill to foster mentoring in schools draws bipartisan support

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

A bill that would establish a 17-person task force to focus on mentoring and improving literacy rates for Delaware’s youth unanimously passed the House Education Committee Wednesday.  “We 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,” said Kendall Massett, executive …

Osienski marijuana

Marijuana legalization bill passes House, sent to Senate

Sam Haut Government, Headlines

The Delaware House of Representatives on Tuesday once again sent a bill to legalize the use of marijuana in the First State to the Senate, this time on a 28 to 13 vote. House Bill 1 is sponsored yet again by Rep. Edward Osienski, D-Newark, who managed to get a similar bill passed last year, only to see it vetoed …

Delaware Senate mini-Bond bill Ruth Briggs King

Mini-Bond bill heads to Carney; pilot labor projects intact

Betsy Price Government, Headlines

Despite four attempts by Republicans to amend it, the mini-Bond bill was voted out of the House Thursday and will head to Gov. John Carney to be signed into law. Passing the bill usually is  a routine matter, will add 17 projects to the state’s Bond and Capital Improvement fund. Nobody objected to that. What did draw a lot of …

All education workers will get a 3% raise, and all school teachers and specialists will get a 9% raise in Gov. John Carney's budget recommendations for next year. (Unsplash)

Carney’s education raises cause stir in compensation committee

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Gov. John Carney’s announcement last week of a 9% pay raise for teachers caused a lot of comment in Monday night’s Public Education Compensation Committee. Also discussed was a proposal to keep teachers in their Delaware jobs by giving them full pension benefits at 25 years of service instead of making them wait until they reach 30 years. Carney said …

State Sen. Eric Buckson bills moving too quickly through Assembly

Bill to stop school boards hiking property tax is tabled

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

A bill that would ban a local school tax increase after the statewide property reassessment is completed was tabled Wednesday in the House Educaiton Committee after a lengthy discussion. House Bill 42, sponsored by Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, would remove the up-to-10% increase in school property taxes that current law would allow schools boards to levy. Rep. Rich Collins, …