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Paid leave bill to be walked through House committee

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Healthy Delaware Families Act is expected to proceed to the House Appropriations Committee despite not receiving the requisite number of votes in the House Health and Human Development Committee Wednesday. Photo/Getty Images. The bill to create a statewide paid family and medical leave program faced a slight hiccup on its journey to becoming law Wednesday. The Healthy Delaware Families …

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Bill ordering K-12 mental health curriculum on way to Senate

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

A bill that would require a statewide mental health curriculum has passed the House. Photo by Unsplash     A bill that will require the state to provide mental health education in every grade level passed the House and is headed to the Senate Education Committee. House Bill 301 would require the Delaware Department of Education to establish a statewide  …

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Senate committee hears Fairness in Women’s Sports Act

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Sports

  A bill to require Delaware student-athletes to compete on athletic teams or in sports associated with their biological sex was the subject of a raucous Senate committee hearing Wednesday.  Senate Bill 227 specifically aims to prohibit transgender girls — or girls who were born as boys — from playing on girls’ sports teams.  Under the bill, cisgender female athletes, …

a large brick building with Delaware Legislative Hall in the background

Paid leave passes in Senate, heads to House

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Paid family and medical leave in Delaware moved one step closer to becoming a reality Tuesday after the Senate passed a bill to create the program along party lines. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington North, will now advance to the House of Representatives. The Healthy Delaware Families Act would create a statewide insurance program to provide up …

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Paid leave bill is a product of compromise, sponsor says

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The paid family and medical leave bill expected to be considered by the General Assembly this year includes changes from the original proposal that the sponsor says reflect compromises with stakeholders. The Healthy Delaware Families Act, more commonly referred to as the paid leave bill, would create a statewide insurance program to provide up to 80% of wages for eligible …

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GOP legislators file bill to ban transgender girls on women’s teams

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Sports

Two Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to prohibit Delaware students from playing on sports teams that do not correspond with the gender they were assigned at birth. Senate Bill 227, sponsored by Sen. Bryant Richardson, R-Seaford, and Rep. Tim Dukes, R-Laurel, would require students to play according to the biological gender indicated on their birth certificate or other government record …

Healthcare 1

Dem. bill would guarantee health insurance for undocumented children

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Health

Left: Rep. Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax. Right: Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington North. Democratic lawmakers plan to file a bill in the General Assembly Friday that would guarantee health insurance for all Delaware children who are not otherwise covered, including undocumented immigrant children. House Bill 317, sponsored by Rep. Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax, and Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington North, would direct the Department …

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Paid family leave bill lands in the hands of lawmakers

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A bill to give Delaware workers up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave was heard by the Senate Health and Social Services Committee Wednesday. It is expected to be released and head to the Senate for consideration. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington, would create a statewide insurance program to …

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Curbside residential EV charger bill released from House committee

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A bill heard by the House Energy Committee Tuesday would require Dover, Wilmington and Newark to set up a permitting process for curbside residential EV chargers/Getty Images A bill released from the House Energy Committee Tuesday could soon require Delaware’s three largest cities to make it easier for residents to install personal electric vehicle charging stations.  Senate Substitute 1 for …

a small clock tower in front of a house

Mail-in ballots, paid leave, police reform top 2022 legislative agenda

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

State legislators will be back in session in a little more than a month. Photo by Aimintang/Getty Images Signature In five weeks, Delaware’s 151st General Assembly will kick off its 2022 legislative session with many Democratic legislators looking to advance progressive causes that have previously struggled to gain traction.  Democrats control both chambers of the General Assembly by wide margins.  …