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Two lawmakers storm out of rushed committee hearing

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Two Republican lawmakers stormed out of a House committee hearing Wednesday after being asked to limit their questions and public comments were restricted to one minute each.  The committee met to discuss five bills with just an hour allotted for the meeting before lawmakers were due on the House floor for a short session.  Two of those bills – Senate …

Weed, taxes, police reform likely to dominate end of GA session

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

With the year-long campaign to pass paid family and medical leave in the rearview mirror, the General Assembly returns to work Tuesday with two months left to focus on the rest of its progressive agenda. When the House of Representatives and Senate reconvene, they will be kicking off a two-month stretch to the end of the 151st General Assembly on …

Legislative Hall to reopen to the public

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

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 …

Paid family leave bill lands in the hands of lawmakers

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A bill to give Delaware workers up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave was heard by the Senate Health and Social Services Committee Wednesday. It is expected to be released and head to the Senate for consideration. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington, would create a statewide insurance program to …

Pre-filed bills offer glimpse into legislature’s plans

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The General Assembly will meet in person for the first time on Thursday, Jan. 13. (Getty Images) A list of pre-filed House bills released Thursday offers a glimpse into some of the issues the General Assembly plans to tackle when it reconvenes next week. Proposals included on the list range from a measure to make gun ownership legal for medical …

General Assembly committee meetings to stay virtual

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

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 …

Dem. leadership stops short of inviting public to in-person hearings

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

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, …

General Assembly eases restrictions, allowing 25 people in gallery for sessions

Betsy PriceGovernment & Politics, Headlines, Health

A few members of the public will be allowed to sit in the gallery during General Assembly Sessions.   With the Delaware General Assembly in the last month of its regular session, rules have been changed to open Legislature Hall in Dover to the public in a limited way. The statehouse will require the public to sign up to reserve …