lgbtq

Spiegelman talks Nazis in opposing LGBTQ panic defense bill

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A bill that would ban the use of the LGBTQ panic defense in Delaware courts passed the state House Thursday,  but not before one representative brought up Jews and Nazi Germany. House Substitute 2 for House Bill 142, sponsored by Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow, would not permit a defendant to claim they reacted violently when they realized that someone else …

housing

Bill to reduce mobile home rent seems headed to House

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A bill that would lower rent for people living in manufactured housing communities seems headed to the House floor. House Bill 212, sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, would prohibit manufactured home community owners from increasing rent by more than 5% each year and require community owners to submit annually to the The Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation …

offshore wind

Offshore wind bill sent to Senate; will it hike power bills?

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A bill that requires DNREC to investigate offshore wind as a power source and work with electric companies to analyze its impact will head to the full Senate. Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, passed the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee meeting Wednesday. SB 17 0 would require the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control …

child

House Judiciary OKs one child abuse bill, tables another

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

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 …

house

House approves bills on tenants, solar panels, theft

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

On Tuesday, the House approved bills ranging from a tenant bill of rights to making certain buildings ready for solar panels. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, would give tenants below 200% of the federal poverty line free legal representation if they are evicted. The bill would create a Right to …

ev

EV bills inch closer to law as GOP continues opposition

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Several energy-related bills waltzed through the House Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday, despite Republican opposition. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, would update the responsibilities of the State Energy Office to include developing the State Energy Plan, the state’s Climate Action Plan, and transitioning Delaware towards more renewable energy. The bill is a …

wildfire

State: Complicated to ask Feds to tag smoky days as unusual

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A conservative institute wants Delaware to move to make sure that it’s not tagged by the feds with several bad air days because of last week’s smoky, hazy days caused by wildfires in Canada. David Stevenson, director of the Center for Energy & Environment at the Caesar Rodney Institute, has urged Delaware’s Department of National Resources & Environmental Control to …

committee

Committee to seek pay hikes for school food workers, others

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

On Monday, the Public Education Compensation Committee voted unanimously to recommend an increase in wages for school food service employees and paraprofessionals. The increase for general workers, cooks, and food service managers would amount to a 2.5% increase in 2025, which is on top of the 3% increase from the general budget that is still being voted on in the …

commissioners

Carney names marijuana commissioner, other cabinet officers

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Delaware is putting a name to the role of state marijuana commissioner. On Monday, Governor John Carney nominated Robert Coupe as marijuana commissioner. He will serve within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, a division he once headed. Coupe was among a group of nominations released by Carney. They included: Josette Manning as Secretary of the Department of Health …

opioid settlement

Delaware to get $68.9 million from opioid settlement

Sam HautHeadlines, Government

Delaware is set to receive $68.9 million out of a $17.3 billion settlement from drug makers Teva and Allergan and pharmacies CVS and Walgreens. The money will be spread out over the next 15 years, according to a press release by the Delaware Department of Justice. The defendants will start releasing funds to a national administrator later this summer, with …