bills

Bills, issues that will be back before the General Assembly

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Since this year’s General Assembly session opened in January, hundreds of bills have passed,  from marijuana legalization to climate change regulations. Plenty are still waiting for the second half of the 152nd session of the Assembly, which begins in January. Minority Leader Mike Ramone, R-Pike Creek, said Republicans had several tax bills that they are going to introduce at the …

offshore wind

Offshore wind bill sent to Senate; will it hike power bills?

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A bill that requires DNREC to investigate offshore wind as a power source and work with electric companies to analyze its impact will head to the full Senate. Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, passed the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee meeting Wednesday. SB 17 0 would require the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control …

ev

EV bills inch closer to law as GOP continues opposition

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Several energy-related bills waltzed through the House Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday, despite Republican opposition. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, would update the responsibilities of the State Energy Office to include developing the State Energy Plan, the state’s Climate Action Plan, and transitioning Delaware towards more renewable energy. The bill is a …

House session

Climate bill passes House after vote on two amendments

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Rep. Rich Collins on Tuesday begged House Democrats to join him in opposing a bill that set greenhouse gas emission limits in Delaware. “I have begged you to stand up one time and not just take this direction that apparently is so overwhelmingly powerful in this chamber,” the Millsboro Republican said. “And I know I’ve lost. I tell you it’s …

Nicholas Doherty, energy office

Senate committee moves along energy office bill

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

A Senate committee has pushed along a bill that would expand the powers of the State Energy Office, but delayed hearing a bill that would restrict DNREC’s powers over electric vehicles. The Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee voted Tuesday to send Senate Bill 7 to the Senate Finance Committee for further vetting. While Senate committees do not take votes …

climate bills, DNREC Facebook

New climate bill would increase scope of energy agency

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

With several climate bills moving through the Delaware General Assembly, a new bill proposes to increase the scope and power of a DNREC energy agency, sort of a state government version of Toklien’s “one ring to rule them all.” Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, would empower the Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy to help oversee …

women pregnant

Buckson criticizes maternal bill for dropping term ‘woman’

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Sen. Eric Buckson, R-Dover, had issues Wednesday with a maternal health bill changing the words “woman” and “women” to “person” and “people.” Senate Bill 106, sponsored by Sen. Kyle Gay, D-Elsmere, would replace those words in the Delaware code on maternal health and also change the term maternal depression to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. These changes would apply to …

animal welfare dog barking

Animal Welfare may get doggie bag of new duties from GA

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

The 10-year-old state Office of Animal Welfare could walk away from this year’s General Assembly with added duties and new money to hire more officers. Two bills recently passed through the House Health & Human Development committee that would impact the office. Senate Bill 71, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, would require law-enforcement agencies, the Department of Services for …

Two bills relating to reporting animal abuse soared through the Senate.

Senators: Animal abuse laws could prevent other forms of abuse

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Two bills that aim to prevent animal abuse unanimously passed through the Senate floor Tuesday. Senate Bill 71, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, would require law-enforcement agencies, the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families and the Department of Justice to report suspected animal cruelty to the Office of Animal Welfare. The reports would only be required …

The new Louis L. Redding building will be open in fall 2025. (Jarek Rutz/Delaware LIVE News)

Appoquinimink breaks ground on new Louis L. Redding school

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A historic Middletown school building is getting a $57.1 million makeover. The Louis L. Redding Building, part of Appoquinimink School District and named after the first Black practicing lawyer in Delaware, will have a new home in two years. District and government officials on Tuesday broke ground on the new building, which will be right in front of the current …