The Division of Public Health had its Joint Finance Committee hearing Tuesday. (Photo by tashatuvango/Adobe Stock)

Public Health seeks $3.5 million more in 2025 state budget

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government, Health

Editor’s note: This report has been updated to reflect that Medicaid is not overseen by Public Health The Delaware Division of Public Health wants a 2025 budget of $167.4 million, but about $3.5 million of that is not in the governor’s recommended budget. That puzzled the chair of the state Joint Finance Committee, which writes the state budget. It’s in …

DSU, the third ranked public HBCU, is asking for about $47,000,000 in state funding.

JFC praises DSU aviation, says it should upgrade facilities

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Jokes were cracked, programs were praised and millions state funding was requested from Delaware State University Thursday’s Joint Finance Committee hearing. That committee is responsible for setting the state budget and allocating funding to different programs and organizations throughout Delaware. DSU, the state’s only Historically Black College and University, is asking for about $47,000,000. It started its hearing on a …

The Senate has passed a $71.9 million grant package.

Paramedics, firefighters, vet groups get $71.9M in grants

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

The state Senate voted Friday night to send a $71.9 million grant package to Gov. John Carney to bolster fire companies, ambulance services, senior centers, veterans organizations and other community groups. The Grants-In-Aid bill for fiscal year 2024 includes: $22.7 million for organizations that provide benefits to Delawareans in the areas of health, substance-use disorder treatment, the arts, tourism and …

Bills passed Tuesday would offer rebates for electric vehicles and require some school buses to be electric, too. (Unsplash photo by Cchuttersnap)

Senate passes 5 environment bills, budget

Sam HautHeadlines, Government

On Tuesday, the Senate passed with five bills that relate to the environment, with Republicans offering some resistance, and a budget that had less opposition. House Bill 99, sponsored by Rep. Debra Heffernan, D-Brandywine Hundred South, would require that Delaware meet certain emission reduction requirements, getting to zero net emissions by 2050, and create climate change officers within all nine …

polystyrene

Amended polystyrene ban bill passes House

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A bill banning the use of polystyrene containers, including Styrofoam, passed the House and will head back to the Senate after three amendments were passed with it. Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, would ban the use of polystyrene containers in restaurants, fire companies, and nonprofit organizations, along with single use plastic straws, and beverage, cocktail picks …

budget

State’s 2024 budget of $5.6 billion jumps 10% over 2023

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A 2024 state budget that’s 10% higher than 2023’s led eight Republicans to vote against it Thursday in the House of Representatives, but that didn’t stop it from passing. House Bill 195, sponsored by Rep. William Carson, D-Smyrna, delineated how the $5.6 billion budget will be spent over the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Carson is the vice …

regulation

Republican bills on EV regulation meet committee opposition

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Two Republican bills that would stop DNREC from implementing an unpopular electric vehicle mandate failed in House and Senate committees. Senate Bill 96, sponsored by Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, would forbid the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control DNREC from making any rules or regulations that would restrict the sale of gas-powered vehicles. House Bill 123, sponsored by …

crystal weed marijuana

Marijuana funding approved by finance committee

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

During the mark-up of the state’s operating budget Tuesday, the Joint Finance Committee approved $4.1 million to pay for regulation of a new marijuana industry in Delaware, including 28 new state jobs. Of the $4.1 million allocated, $2.2 million is expected to be ongoing funding and $1.9 million is expected to be for one-time costs, as provided by the bills …

Delaware is moving to ban polystyrene. (Photo by Caleb Lucas on Unsplash)

Polystyrene ban passes House committee

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

On Wednesday, the House Health & Human Development Committee approved a bill that would ban polystyrene containers in most businesses across the state, with seven voting in favor and two voting on its merits. Senate Bill 51, which previously passed the Senate 14 to 5, would ban beverage, cocktail picks and sandwich picks made of plastic, and food packaging made …

Jonas Gerlach

Senate passes ban on restaurant use of plastics

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

The Senate on Thursday passed the bill banning the use of single-use foam take containers and plastic items in restaurants, but it will allow customers to request a straw.  Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, would ban the use of beverage, cocktail picks and sandwich picks made of plastic, but exempts straws attached to an item such …