A bill requiring the state to conduct an annual workforce study of early childhood professionals and help the pool of workers earn more unanimously passed the House Education Committee. House Bill 377, sponsored by Sherae’a Moore, D-Middletown, would have the Department of Education do the annual study, with the first due by Nov. 15, 2022, along with a …
Ruh-roh: Bill filed to fine barking dogs in Delaware
Image: Getty Images Pro Delaware dog owners could soon be slapped with barking tickets if their pups don’t shut up. A bill filed in the House of Representatives would ban dogs from terrierizing communities by barking, whining or howling for a period of 15 minutes — or intermittently for 30 minutes or more. The bill is set to be considered …
Bentz, Dems refuse to allow public comment on marijuana bill
Multiple lawmakers walked out of the House health committee Wednesday in protest of a vote to release a marijuana legalization bill without hearing public comment. After facing backlash from Republicans, House Democrats announced the bill will be reassigned to the committee and members of the public will be permitted to provide comments after the legislature returns from recess in May. …
Full-time substitute teacher bill could add 208 permanent subs
Delaware schools are one step closer to being able to hire permanent substitute teachers. House Bill 315, which would provide funding for schools to hire substitute teachers as full-time employees, has been released with bipartisan support by the House Education Committee. Dozens of subs are needed each day across the state. The issue became critical in December and January when …
Republican lawmakers to Carney: ‘End the mandates, restore normality’
Twelve Republican state representatives on Tuesday sent an open letter to Gov. John Carney asking that he reconsider mask mandates in state buildings and schools and stop advocating for COVID-19 booster shots. They encouraged the Democratic governor to promptly end all pandemic-related restrictions, return state workers to their normal places of employment, and “restore normality” for all Delawareans. The legislators …
Female lawmakers launch Delaware Legislative Women’s Caucus
A group of female legislators on Wednesday announced the formation of a new caucus to focus on issues affecting women. The Delaware Legislative Women’s Caucus will include lawmakers from both parties and both chambers of the General Assembly and “will focus primarily on advancing the shared interests of women by advocating for policies that will make Delaware a better place …
Republicans give Carney’s $5 billion budget proposal a C+
Left to right: Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, House Minority Whip Tim Dukes, R-Laurel, Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown. House and Senate Republicans are generally pleased with Gov. John Carney’s $5 billion proposed state budget but argue more should be done to return money to taxpayers given the state’s rosy economic outlook. …
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 …
Proposed House redistricting offers more changes than Senate
Sussex County House districts will change a lot if proposed plan goes forward. House Democratic leadership has released their proposed redistricting maps and Sussex County will pick up a seat — that of embattled Representative Gerald Brady, a Democrat from Wilmington. The House of Representatives will convene in a special session on Nov. 1 to finalize the maps that …
Patriots for Delaware says it found proof of election fraud
230-plus people file out of Tuesday’s Patriots of Delaware election fraud meeting in Milford. Patriots for Delaware on Tuesday said they had evidence of dead people voting in the November 2020 election as well as nursing homes submitting more ballots than they had available beds. The group doesn’t believe the fraud they claim to have found would have …