Delaware House of Representatives Democrats on Thursday forced an end to a floor debate so they could pass their speaker’s controversial bill to create a state board to oversee hospital budgets. The move came after three hours of head-scratching gamesmanship in which Republicans essentially filibustered with multiple representatives questioning aspects of the bill and Speaker of the House Valerie Longhurst’s …
Two bills moving through the General Assembly officially will ban the death penalty in Delaware. Both are sponsored by Sen. Sean Lynn, D-Dover. The state Supreme Court in 2016 ruled that Delaware’s death penalty was unconstitutional and effectively banned it but state laws are still on the books. House Bill 70 would eliminate the death penalty. Instead, it would establish …
A proposed law in Delaware would provide free breakfast and lunch to all students – with a price tag of $120 million over the next three years – moves on after debate. House Bill 125, sponsored by Rep. Sherae’a Moore, D-Middletown, sparked a healthy discussion in the House Education Committee meeting Wednesday. The bill points out that during the pandemic, …
Delaware’s lawmakers are ironing out the details of an increasingly popular way Americans have dealt with death: allowing the body to naturally return to the soil. It’s one of a variety of ways to deal with bodies other than the modern, and costly, traditional services involving embalming and burial in a big casket. Eco-friendly methods of burial are becoming more …
The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday discussed in detail two bills that look to change how Delaware handles child abuse cases. One was passed; the other tabled. Senate Bill 124, sponsored by Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Arden, would clarify that people have to orally report cases of child abuse, neglect or trafficking to the Department of Services for Children, Youth …
Child booster seats and beer garden workers had two things in common Thursday: Bills involving each were on the Delaware Senate’s agency, and both passed handily. Senate Bill 68, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Arden, would require children under 2 years old and under 30 pounds to be seated in a rear-facing seat with a 5-point harness. Children under …
Calls to consider means testing before granting veteran and senior housing tax breaks shocked a legislative committee last month. Delaware’s secretary of finance doesn’t think an income-based means test for property tax breaks is likely. Even so, Rick Geisenberger did say that a means test based on property values not only could happen, but should. “Seniors get a lot of …
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, …
A bill set to be considered by the Delaware House of Representatives would increase the minimum sentence for those who possess a firearm during the commission of a felony. The crime was created by the 137th General Assembly in 1994 with the minimum required sentence set at three years, or five years for defendants with two prior felony convictions. It …
A bill to recognize certain rights of Delawareans facing homelessness failed in the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday after municipalities and landlords expressed concerns about potential unintended consequences. House Bill 235’s stated purpose is to ensure all individuals, regardless of housing status, have equal opportunity to live in decent, safe, sanitary, and healthful accommodations and enjoy equality of opportunities. The bill, …
