By Bradley Vasoli A government-reform nonprofit is urging Delaware lawmakers to reverse course on their plans for Legislative Hall expansion, renovations, and garage construction. The Delaware Coalition for Open Government (DelCOG), an organization of activists, politicians, and journalists founded in 2006 to advocate state-government accountability and transparency, sees the Dover project as too pricey for too little public benefit. Delaware’s …
DPH Encourages Masking, Other Precautionary Measures For Visitors To Legislative Hall
DOVER, DE (Jan. 30, 2023) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has been notified of multiple positive cases of COVID-19 that could be related to several in-person events last week in and around Legislative Hall. Out of an abundance of caution, DPH is offering recommendations to those planning to attend Joint Finance Committee hearings beginning […] The post DPH Encourages …
2022 Rewind: Legislative Hall expansion far from a done deal
This story was originally published in August 2022. A committee assembled to draft plans for a potential expansion of Delaware’s state capitol building spent much of its Thursday meeting reiterating the tentative nature of its work. The committee was established after the General Assembly unanimously voted in 2021 to study and recommend a plan to address Legislative Hall’s technological, security …
Legislative Hall expansion far from a done deal
A committee assembled to draft plans for a potential expansion of Delaware’s state capitol building spent much of its Thursday meeting reiterating the tentative nature of its work. The committee was established after the General Assembly unanimously voted in 2021 to study and recommend a plan to address Legislative Hall’s technological, security and space needs. The group appears to have …
Legislative Hall to reopen to the public
The leaders of the Delaware House of Representatives and Senate plan to open Legislative Hall to the public effective immediately, they said during a committee meeting Thursday. Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf and Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Dave Sokola plan to announce the building’s opening later Thursday or Friday. “My intent is open to building up, get …
Delaware House to return to Legislative Hall for hybrid April 29 session
Republicans in the legislature last week issued a press release calling for a return to in-person meetings.
Legislative Tracker
2025 Legislative Update This is a profile of legislation moving through the Delaware General Assembly. The report includes early action and insights into Bills, as the Legislature Moves Into Budget/Joint Finance Session. This is the first year of the 2-year, 153rd General Assembly, convening 1/14/2025 and ending 6/30/2025. The legislation is organized by topic following Brent’s Legislative Highlights. Things …
Legislative Wrap-up: animal-related bills passed in 2024
This year’s legislative session had a slew of bills related to animals and domestic pets that passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate. RELATED: Legislative Wrap-up: gun bills passed in 2024 From laws pertaining to financial and legal penalties for owners to laws aiming to prevent dog fighting, here are the animal bills that passed in 2024: House …
Legislative Wrap-up: gun bills passed in 2024
Delaware’s state legislature is not immune to the national discussions on key societal issues, such as firearms. With this year’s legislative session ending Sunday, here’s a look at the bills relating to guns that passed in 2024: House Bill 357 – definition of “firearm” Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Spiegelman, R-Clayton, the bill derives from a task force charged with updating …
Architects: No room for childcare in Leg Hall
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct voting information. Childcare facilities was on the wish list for an expanded Legislative Hall, along with an access-controlled parking lot linked by a tunnel or legislators or staff could use. Philip Conte with architects StudioJAED recommended against the tunnel for a variety of reasons, but the Legislative Building Committee voted in …