Seventeen organizations throughout the First State are asking for a combined $47,138,560 for construction, upgrades, and additions to their sports complexes to generate more income and attract more athletes and patrons. The requests range from as little as $319,680 from the Sandhill Fields in Georgetown to as much as $10 million from Dover’s First State Aquatic Center. It’s sure to …
2025 grants budget that benefits nonprofits rises 27% over ’24
The record-busting $98.5 million grants-in-aid budget bill for fiscal year 2025 sailed unanimously through the Delaware Senate Sunday, even though it is nearly 27% higher than the last one. The 2024 budget, which ends today, June 30, was $98.5 million. Senate Bill 327 was one of hundreds before the Delaware House and Senate on the final day of the 2024 …
State moves to take Christina School District out of city
The state legislature has stepped in and created a path for the removal of the Christina School District from the city of Wilmington. House Concurrent Resolution 146, sponsored by Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, D-Wilmington, supports Christina’s city students and plans for the eventual withdrawal of the district from the city’s bounds. It’s a result of the recommendation made by the Redding …
Budget blows through Senate; bit slower in the House
The 2025 Delaware state budget quickly passed the Senate Thursday afternoon and the House in the evening. The $6.1 billion budget, outlined in Senate Bill 325, goes into effect July 1, and likely will be signed into law next week by Gov. John Carney before the session ends. Quick budget approval hasn’t always been the case in the General Assembly. …
Delaware 8th state to legalize natural organic reduction
A law that would put Delaware in a class with seven other states offering a unique burial method passed the Senate Thursday. House Bill 162, sponsored by Rep. Sean Lynn, D-Dover, opens the doors for cemeteries to begin offering increasingly-popular natural organic reduction after death. Natural organic reduction is the gentle, respectful process that accelerates the decomposition of human remains …
Delaware won’t have a presidential primary this year.
A bill to eliminate the 2024 Delaware presidential primary on Tuesday passed both the House and Senate with little opposition and was signed into law by Gov. John Carney, all in a matter of hours. Since Donald Trump and Joe Biden are the sole candidates for their parties, there was no need for a primary, said Senate Bill 241 sponsor …
26 amendments later, permit to purchase bill goes to Carney
After 26 proposed amendments and about nine hours of discussion, the permit to purchase bill has passed both the House and Senate and is on its way to Gov. John Carney for signature to become law. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman, D-Wilmington, would require most Delawareans to obtain a permit …
2 senators battle over dueling school safety resolutions
On the day Gov. John Carney preached the impact of working together in his State of the State address, the Senate watched a tense interaction divided by party lines that one legislator called “childish behavior.” The interaction between Sen. Eric Buckson, R-Dover, and Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark/Glasgow, and their similar education task force resolutions were enough to cause comment from …
New bill could penalize those lying about service animal
A proposed law in Delaware would punish residents who lie about their animal being a service or assistance animal. Sponsored by Sen. Dave Lawson, R- Marydel, and Rep. Danny Short, R-Seaford, Senate Bill 219 would create penalties for misrepresentation of a service animal under the Delaware Equal Accommodations Law and misrepresentation of an assistance animal under the Delaware Fair Housing …
Education groups costing ⅓ of state budget face JFC
Education – what one legislator called the most important investment by the state – consumed Wednesday’s Joint Finance Committee hearing for a category that makes up about one-third of the state’s $6 billion budget. Appearing in the morning before the committee that decided how and where the state’s budget will be spent was The Redding Consortium and the Wilmington Learning …