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Senate passes $1.4 billion for capital improvement 

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

The Senate has approved $1.4 billion in capital improvement projects, along with a bill that would ban the LGBTQ panic defense, and a bill that adds more funding for the suicide crisis hotline. Senate Bill 160, sponsored by Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Stanton, would allocate $1,409,448,938 to address capital improvement projects across the state through this year’s bond bill.  Walsh said …

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard laws Wednesday cracking down on child and financial abuse.

Laws punishing child and financial abusers get Senate support

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Three laws seeking to prevent and crack down on child and financial abuse garnered support in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.  They also drew emotional testimonies from victims of abuse or individuals who have had abuse negatively affect their lives.  House Bill 182, sponsored by Rep. Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax, changes child abuse in the third, second and first degree …

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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 …

HB 203 would require high schools to teach financial literacy, and students would need to take a half-credit to graduate.

Financial literacy may become graduation requirement

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Delaware students may soon be required to take a financial literacy class in order to graduate.  House Bill 203, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Hilovsky, R-Millsboro, would require public schools to teach financial literacy, which is essentially how to make smart decisions about money. A unanimous vote in the House Education Committee Wednesday sent it to House ready list for debate …

Two bills pertaining to gun restrictions passed the House Thursday.

Guns in school zones, polling places bills pass House

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Two laws restricting the presence of guns in school zones and election polling places passed the House and are headed to a Senate committee for debate.  House Bill 201, sponsored by Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, aims to enable a police officer to act immediately when they see or suspect a person with a gun in …

A bill that would provide funding for a school resource officer at each Delaware public school was debated Wednesday.

School officers, construction needs focus of House Committee

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Bills dealing with school construction, junior ROTC, Department of Education background checks and school resource officers were sent to the House ready list Wednesday by the Education Committee. House Bill 169, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton and committee chair, requires the secretary of education – currently Mark Holodick – to publish and deliver a report to the General Assembly …

inspector general

DE Inspector general bill likely to wait ’til next year

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

With some state expenses, such as Medicaid, higher than expected for 2024, legislators who want to create a state office of inspector general plan to wait until next year to introduce a bill to do that. “[I]t does come with a fiscal note, to create a new agency does cost some money,” said Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Hockessin. “It’s not astronomical. …

HB 96 would lower the voting age in school board elections to 16.

Bipartisan attacks kill bill lowering school board voting age

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

A bill that would lower the voting age to vote in school board elections from 18 to 16 drew heavy criticism from both sides of the aisle in the House Education Committee Wednesday. After an hour-and-a-half conversation filled with both Democrats and Republicans opposing the legislation, House Bill 96 was tabled Wednesday. That means the committee will take no further …

Leg Hall Lights 7

Legislators, activists hear benefits of inspector general

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

The idea of creating an inspector general for Delaware united multiple advocacy groups that sponsored a Zoom forum on the benefits of such a job. On Monday, 71 people attended a virtual forum hosted by the Delaware Coalition for Open Government and Delaware Press Association. Also sponsoring the call were Common Cause Delaware, Delaware Poor People’s Campaign, Delaware Public Preschool …

Rep. Morrison would like to see the tax credit to those that need it most. (Unsplash)

Morrison again calls for senior tax break means testing 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Seniors in Delaware may save an additional $350 in school property taxes next year under a bill that drew lots of discussion in the House Education Committee Wednesday. House Bill 29, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Hensley, R-Odessa, increases the Senior Real Property Tax credit to $750 from $400. That’s will counter a raise put in place by the Appropriations Bill …