A much-debated Office of Inspector General would be up and running by early 2025, if a new bill passes the Delaware Assembly by the end of June. Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Hockessin, would create the Office of Inspector General, an independent watchdog agency empowered to investigate waste, fraud,and abuse in the executive and legislative branches of state government with Senate Bill …
Despite financial concerns, bill giving free meals to all students moves on
A proposed law in Delaware would provide free breakfast and lunch to all students â with a price tag of $120 million over the next three years â moves on after debate. House Bill 125, sponsored by Rep. Sheraeâa Moore, D-Middletown, sparked a healthy discussion in the House Education Committee meeting Wednesday. The bill points out that during the pandemic, …
Task force redefining âfirearmâ moves closer to decision
A task force charged with updating the stateâs definition of âfirearmâ plans to take one more look next week at the new proposed language. If approved, a bill would be introduced this year proposing the change. One reason for a new definition is because Delaware has a uniquely general and large definition of a âfirearm,â in which any device that …
Education groups costing â of state budget face JFC
Education â what one legislator called the most important investment by the state â consumed Wednesdayâs Joint Finance Committee hearing for a category that makes up about one-third of the stateâs $6 billion budget. Appearing in the morning before the committee that decided how and where the stateâs budget will be spent was The Redding Consortium and the Wilmington Learning …
Marijuana laws come with price tag for 2 state departments
This story has been updated to correct tax and licensing information. Marijuana â and the implications of its legalization in Delaware on certain state agencies â was part of the discussion in Wednesdayâs Joint Finance Committee hearings. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security is set to receive a little over $5 million of the total request is specifically in …
Another alcohol bill kicks off this yearâs General Assembly
Itâs 8 oâclock somewhere! Thatâs what state senator Laura Sturgeon, D-Hockessin, said with exuberance after a law expanding the hours of alcohol sales in Delaware garnered approval from her fellow legislators. House Bill 235, sponsored by Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, allows any individual or business with an alcoholic liquor license to sell at 8 a.m., an hour earlier than …
Educator pay raise proposals to get joint hearing Jan. 11
Delawareâs General Assembly will have its first public look and discussion about proposed educator pay raise recommendations next week. At 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, the House and Senate education committees will come together to listen to a presentation on the final report from the Public Education Compensation Committee. Watch the meeting here. The 15-person compensation committee â made of …
Buckson calls for accountability, discipline in schools
A law establishing a statewide program that provides advocates to students and families facing educational inequity drew discussion in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday. House Bill 188, sponsored by Rep. Sheraeâa Moore, D-Middletown, codifies the Equity Ombudsman program, which provides non-lawyer advocates to assist families. âIn 2018 there was litigation against the state ⊠brought by the NAACP and …
Apprenticeship programs law aims to combat teacher shortage
The most recent plan to attract teachers to Delaware schools was applauded in the Senate Education Committee Wednesday. House Bill 138, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton and chair of the House Education Committee, addresses the ongoing national teacher shortage. The legislation establishes a new tool to recruit and retain educators through an apprenticeship pilot program. This model will build …
Paid leave hasnât started, but changes already suggested
Proposed laws shifting who deals with appeals to the stateâs new paid leave program, which starts in 2026 drew little comment in Wednesdayâs Senate Health and Social Services Committee meeting. Senate Bill 178, sponsored by Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington and committee chair, makes technical changes to private plans under the Family and Medical Leave Program. The new program requires Delaware …