Several bills that have been making their way through the legislature are still in limbo despite being passed by committees and either the Delaware Senate or House of Representatives earlier in the session. House Bill 80, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, D-New Castle, would require doula services to be covered by Medicaid starting Jan. 1, 2024. A doula provides support …
Earn more than $100,000? Bill will raise your income taxesÂ
A bill that raises how much income tax must be paid by those who make more than $100,000Â drew frustration from Republicans Wednesday, but passed to the full House. House Bill 128, sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, chairman of the House Revenue and Finance Committee, creates a new tax bracket requiring those who make more than $100,000 a year …
Legalizing assisted suicide sparks debate in Dover. Again.
Moral, ethical and religious opinions were at the heart of a lengthy debate on assisted suicide that had nearly 40 public commentors in the House Health & Human Development Committee Tuesday. House Bill 140, sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, permits a terminally ill adult resident of Delaware to request and self-administer medication to end the individual’s life in a …
Bill aims to rectify school board candidacy delays
A bill that would eliminate delays to school board candidates’ names appearing on Delaware’s Department of Elections website was passed by the Delaware House Tuesday. House Bill 88, sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, would require the state to publicly list school board candidates who are waiting for their background checks to be completed as a “provisional candidate.” Due to …
Landlords could not require cats to be declawed under new bill
Photo: Pixabay A bill released from the House Housing and Community Affairs Committee Wednesday would make it illegal for landlords to require tenants to have their cats declawed. Landlords would still be able to choose not to rent to tenants with pets. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, said the bill is necessary because the act of declawing is …
Medical aid in dying bill narrowly advances to House floor
A bill to allow mentally competent adult patients with terminal illnesses to request a prescription for life-ending medications was narrowly released from the House Health and Human Development Committee Tuesday. The practice is often referred to by supporters as “right to die” or “death with dignity” and by opponents as “physician-assisted suicide.” “Medical aid in dying” is a neutral term …
Dems, others call for McGuiness to resign or take leave of absence
State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives won’t pursue the impeachment of State Auditor Kathy McGuiness or encourage her to step down in the wake of her criminal indictment. That hasn’t stopped mounting calls for her resignation from fellow elected officials, community members and party leaders. McGuiness was indicted Monday on a slew of felony …