A new bill would make technical corrections to Delaware's paid leave program.

Paid leave hasn’t started, but changes already suggested

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Proposed laws shifting who deals with appeals to the state’s new paid leave program, which starts in 2026 drew little comment in Wednesday’s 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 …

One bill would authorize medical personnel to assist on injured police dogs.

Police dogs, animal shelter bills pass Senate committee

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Furry friends took over the conversation in the Senate Health and Social Services Meeting Wednesday. Senate Bill 117, sponsored by Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, aims to protect and treat police dogs who are injured in the line-of-duty. SB 117 would authorize paramedics and other EMS providers to provide medical care to police dogs who were hurt at the …

SB would ramp up the state's efforts to eliminate lead paint exposure and lead poisoning for children. (Jarek Rutz/Delaware LIVE News)

State looks to rectify effects of lead paint with new bill

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Health

A state senator introduced a bill Monday that would crack down on lead paint in homes, including rental apartments, to prevent lead poisoning in children. Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington, would create a process for health officials to identify and remediate homes that contain exposed lead paint, which includes screening every residential rental property in Delaware.  The …

Officers suicide rates are higher than the general population.

Bill promises officer families death benefits after suicide

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

A bill that establishes suicide as a line-of-duty death, allowing families of the deceased to receive receive benefits, passed the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Tuesday. Delaware law now does not list suicide as a line-of-duty death that would enable an officer’s family to file for benefits. House Bill 133, sponsored by Rep. Sherry Dorsey-Walker, D-Wilmington, makes clear …

Auto-injectors like the EpiPen

Delaware House passes bill to make EpiPens more affordable

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware House unanimously passed a bill on Tuesday that would require Delaware insurance plans to cover epinephrine auto-injectors for everyone. Today in Delaware, epinephrine is only guaranteed to people 18 years or younger. If House Bill 54 passes the Senate, all Delawareans would be guaranteed at least one injector in the lowest tier of their insurance. The bill would …

Mark Holodick said he anticipates the second round of testing for lead in school water will be completed near the end of April. (Unsplash)

DOE owns lead testing blunder, expects new results by May

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A Senate committee hearing Tuesday heard the state Secretary of Education apologize about the way lead testing in schools was handled and that trained pros will handle testing instead of school staff. Through a federal grant, the Department of Education began a sampling initiative in October, 2020 to identify the levels of lead within drinking water at schools. “While well-intentioned, …

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A tale of two bills: Paid leave and pot

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

One became the law of the land. The other went up in smoke.  Both involved years of planning, hundreds of meetings, thousands of stakeholder discussions and countless compromises.  The difference? One bill had the support of Gov. John Carney — the other didn’t.  With his signature, the Healthy Delaware Families Act became the 151st General Assembly’s big winner, while his …

House Bill 276 would allow medical marijuana patients to legally purchase firearms.

Bill OKing medical marijuana patients owning guns heads to Senate floor

Jarek RutzDelaware Live, Government, Headlines

A bill that would allow medical marijuana patients to obtain a firearm will head to the Senate floor. The bill, which passed the House on June 14, continued to draw strong public support before it was passed 6-0 by the Senate Health and Social Services Committee Wednesday. Under House Bill 276, a patient registered in Delaware’s medical marijuana program would …

Nicole Poore State Senator et al. posing for the camera

Paid family and medical leave ‘the law of the land’ in Delaware

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware has become the 11th state to offer a paid family and medical leave program to new parents, caregivers, and those with serious illnesses. Flanked by lawmakers and activists, Gov. John Carney on Tuesday signed Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1 into law after a year-plus long campaign to gather support from stakeholders in government, labor and business. Employer and …

Paid leave bill heads to Carney for signature

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Photo/Kristina Paukshtite, Pexels The bill to create a paid family and medical leave program in Delaware passed in the House of Representatives Thursday by a margin of 29 to 11. Three Republicans, Reps. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, Kevin Hensley, R-Odessa, and Mike Ramone, R-Hockessin, voted in favor of the legislation.  Because the House voted to add an amendment, the bill …