A subcommittee exploring state retiree health plans on Monday voted to recommend that the General Assembly codify putting 1% of the state budget into a fund that pays retiree benefits to lower the billions of dollars of deficit. The State Employee Benefits retiree subcommittee asked Cheiron, a consulting firm, to look into additional ways for the state to lower the …
Legislative Small Business Caucus grills Garvin on EV rules
Delaware will adjust its proposed electric vehicle regulations if sales are less than expected, costs of repairing EVs are comparable to gas vehicles and the state is considering a hybrid public comment meeting. So said Shawn Garvin, secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, during a meeting Thursday with the House Small Business Caucus. Garvin fielded …
Bill to give low-wage workers lower taxes moves on
A House finance committee released a bill that ultimately will allow low-wage earners to keep more of their money, a move that will cost the state 10s of millions every year. House Bill 89, sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, would do three things: Increase the amount of refunded tax from 4.5% to 7.5% for low-wage earners who meet the …
Bill would set up review of nonprofit grant requests
A bill that would create a new committee to oversee nonprofit grant requests for state appropriations was unanimously voted out of the House Administration committee Wednesday. The state spends a substantial amount of money on aiding nonprofits with projects and programs. Last year’s $69.4 million grant-in-aid package included more than $14 million to paramedic program operations, $6.3 million for neighborhood …
Catalytic converter theft focus of newly filed bill
A new bill filed in the General Assembly aims to put a dent in the sale of stolen catalytic converters by changing rules and increasing the penalty for stealing them. House Bill 78, sponsored by Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow, would update the definition of catalytic converters, limit who is able to buy and sell them, increase the penalties for taking …
Town Square LIVE Weekly Review – November 3, 2022
Click on the image below to view the PDF This Week’s Top Headlines Include: Community Polarization challenges Return Day traditions Some question need for one-way traffic in Rockford Park WilmU law school to start with 100 students, be accredited by 2025 Firefly ’23 canceled to ‘recharge lights,’ whatever that means History favors Ramone, numbers favor Burns in Pike Creek race …
Bills to add mental health help in schools sent to House floor
Two bills moving to the House floor would put millions into mental health positions in Delaware’s middle school and high school. The House Education Committee on Wednesday unanimously voted to release two bills focused on putting additional mental health resources into Delaware schools. House Bills 300 and 301 serve as an extension of House Bill 100, legislation passed …