The Senate has approved $1.4 billion in capital improvement projects, along with a bill that would ban the LGBTQ panic defense, and a bill that adds more funding for the suicide crisis hotline. Senate Bill 160, sponsored by Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Stanton, would allocate $1,409,448,938 to address capital improvement projects across the state through this year’s bond bill. Walsh said …
Cost of EV charging stations pops up in DELDOT budget talks
The cost of providing electric vehicle charging stations up and down Delaware popped up in a Joint Capital Improvement Committee meeting this week. Sen. Nicole Poore, D-Delaware City, asked if the Department of Transportation is considering the cost of adding more electric vehicle charging stations across the state and transitioning school districts to more electric vehicles. “Everybody wants to move …
Union dues bill passes Senate committee
The Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would give union members a tax credit for their union dues. Senate Bill 72, sponsored by Sen. Nicole Poore, D-Delaware City, would let people claim up to $500 in tax credit to pay for union dues on state taxes. Poore said union members used to be able to deduct dues …
Senate passes ban on restaurant use of plastics
The Senate on Thursday passed the bill banning the use of single-use foam take containers and plastic items in restaurants, but it will allow customers to request a straw. Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, would ban the use of beverage, cocktail picks and sandwich picks made of plastic, but exempts straws attached to an item such …
Trade group: Giving union members tax credit for dues unfair
The president of a state contractors group says a proposed bill that would allow union members to claim a tax credit for their union dues is unfair. Senate Bill 72, introduced by Sen. Nicole Poore, D-Delaware City, would let people in unions claim up to a $500 tax credit for union dues. Edward Capodanno, president of the Associated Builders and …
Senate OKs casinos offsetting license cost with investment
The Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would lower licensing fees for casinos that make capital investments. Senate Bill 64, sponsored by Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, would allow the casinos, which under a 2018 bill were required to pay a $3 million license fee to operate table games, to forgo portions of that fee if they pay for …
State to change way nonprofits seek community redevelopment cash
Among those receiving money from the state’s Community Redevelopment Fund this year are the Delaware Agricultural Museum, Brandywine Valley SPCA, Nanticoke Indian Museum and FAME Inc.’s STEM training lab. The Delaware Office of the Controller General is developing a standardized application for non-profits to request state grants from the 2023 Bond Bill’s Community Redevelopment Fund. It will change the customary …
List of Bond Bill’s community projects still unpublished
When the General Assembly passed a record-setting $1.3 billion bond bill last week, the spending package did not include a list of the $70 million in projects chosen by legislators for their districts. The Community Redevelopment Fund includes one-time allocations which legislators earmark for nonprofits, schools, and community agencies in their districts. Ordinarily, each organization receiving funding would have its …