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 …
GOP bill to change civics curriculum stalls in committee
A Republican-backed measure that would require Delaware schools to teach that communism and totalitarianism conflict with freedom and democracy was shot down by the Senate Education Committee Tuesday. Senate Bill 206, sponsored by Sen. Bryant Richardson, R-Seaford, would have required school districts and charter schools to provide instruction in comparative political ideology for students in tenth grade. The bill specifically …
General Assembly committee meetings to stay virtual
Delaware House and Senate committee meetings will be held virtually throughout the month of January. Delaware House and Senate leaders announced Friday that all legislative committees will meet virtually throughout the month of January when the General Assembly returns to session Tuesday, Jan. 11. House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, and Senate President Dave Sokola, D-Newark, said the decision was …
Despite acquittal, Brown will still face Senate ethics inquiry
Brown was found not guilty Thursday on charges of offensive touching and disorderly conduct. Despite being acquitted Thursday on charges of offensive touching and disorderly conduct, State Sen. Darius Brown will still face a Senate Rules and Ethics Committee review when the General Assembly reconvenes. In a statement following news that the jury found the Wilmington Democrat not guilty on …
Dem. leadership stops short of inviting public to in-person hearings
House and Senate committee hearings will be held in “hybrid format” in 2022. When the General Assembly reconvenes in January, it will begin to hold all of its committee hearings in a hybrid fashion, with legislators attending in-person and members of the public having the opportunity to watch and provide comments online. But in a press release announcing the move, …
House, Senate seek advice on McGuiness removal, but fail to finish job
Two separate resolutions passed in the House and Senate requesting the Delaware Supreme Court issue an advisory opinion on the General Assembly’s authority to remove indicted State Auditor Kathy McGuiness. The auditor was indicted in October on a slew of felony and misdemeanor corruption charges alleging nepotism, fraud, theft and witness intimidation. She has pled not guilty to all charges. …
General Assembly passes redistricting bill; new district lines take effect next election
Delaware Legislative Hall by Brian K. Leonard. September 2021. When Delawareans vote for their state representatives and senators a year from now, they could find out that they live in a new legislative district. That’s because during a special session of the General Assembly on Monday, both chambers approved Senate Bill 199, which redraws those district boundaries. The bill passed …
House Democrats publish final plan for House districts
A look at the final proposed House Districts in New Castle County. Democratic leaders in the Delaware House of Representatives have published their final proposed House district maps in advance of a Nov. 1 special session to consider a redistricting bill. The special session comes just six days before the deadline for both parties to agree on redrawn districts, given …
Delaware Senate publishes final proposed redistricting maps
Slaughter Beach was returned to District 18 in Sussex County rather than being grouped into a largely Kent County district. Democratic leaders in the State Senate have published their final proposed Senate maps in advance of a Nov. 1 special session to consider a redistricting bill. The special session comes just six days before the deadline for both parties …
Slaughter Beach mayor asks Dems to rethink moving town to new Senate district
Slaughter Beach’s mayor said she’s fearful the town will lose progress it’s made on climate and infrastructure issues if it’s moved into a district that’s mostly Kent County. If Senate Democrats have their way, the town of Slaughter Beach could become part of the 16th Senate District — and the mayor is not happy about it. Democratic leaders in …