bills

Bills, issues that will be back before the General Assembly

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Since this year’s General Assembly session opened in January, hundreds of bills have passed,  from marijuana legalization to climate change regulations. Plenty are still waiting for the second half of the 152nd session of the Assembly, which begins in January. Minority Leader Mike Ramone, R-Pike Creek, said Republicans had several tax bills that they are going to introduce at the …

Seaford

Seaford, EV bills pass House, so GOP votes to OK bond bill

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Republicans returned to the House Friday to vote in favor of the bond bill after the House passed the change to Seaford’s charter and another bill on electric vehicles. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 121, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Short, R-Seaford, will approve a charter change for the town of Seaford allowing an LLC that owns a business in …

Ramone

Ramone: Pass the Seaford bill, or GOP won’t vote on bond bill

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Minority Leader Mike Ramone, R-Pike Creek, said Republicans who walked out of the House Thursday night will hold the bond bill hostage until the House Democrats agree to pass a charter change for the town of Seaford. “We’re not going to be voting until you pass reasonable bills,” he said. “They have a lot of young people. I guess they …

Retiree subcommittee

Panel: State should make 1% extra retiree funding the law 

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

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 …

Eren Goldman

Legislative Small Business Caucus grills Garvin on EV rules

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

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 …

Taxes

Bill to give low-wage workers lower taxes moves on

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

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 …

Animal shelters to receive grant funding

Bill would set up review of nonprofit grant requests

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

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

Catalytic converter theft focus of newly filed bill 

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

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 …

TSD Review Nov 3

Town Square LIVE Weekly Review – November 3, 2022

Sonja FreyTown Square Live, Weekly Review

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 …

Mental Health

Bills to add mental health help in schools sent to House floor

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

  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 …