Let’s talk Coastal Zone, shall we? HB 190 (Osienski), The Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act, passed the House by a 34-7 vote. There were several amendments adopted in the House, and I think they made the bill more palatable. Here are the substantive amendments that were adopted. HA1, which adds reporting requirements from DEDO and DNREC; HA3, which requires that ‘a conversion permit applicant must submit a concept plan to DNREC for approval’, and that the plan must be approved; HA6, which ‘clarifies that new owners, operators, or prospective purchasers are by default responsible for covering ongoing costs of compliance with environmental statutes relating to pre-existing contamination; and most notably HA7, which ‘clarifies that the transfer of non-grain bulk products under a conversion permit is permissible only to the extent such products are part of the production processes within the Coastal Zone, and not permitted as part of a pass-through facility’.
While HA 1 requires a financial impact report from DEDO, HB 226 (B. Short) does away with DEDO. Because you see, we need a shift towards ‘businesses that require innovation’. Meaning, I guess that DEDO was viewed as an innovation killer. Which, come to think of it, it might have been. HB 226 passed the House yesterday by a vote of 34 Y, 6 N, 1 NV. The no’s consisted of Reps. Bennett, Heffernan, Kowalko, Lynn, Matthews, and K. Williams. Charles Potter went not voting.
Here is the entire Session Activity Report for Tuesday. Kids, be on the lookout for end-of-session bills that look hinky. I’ve spotted at least two today. HB 244 (Dukes) ‘creates a 3-year exemption for DelDOT road construction from prevailing wage requirements’. This, of course, is part of the ransom that the Rethugs are demanding while they hold the budget hostage. There’s also a Charles Potter Special that I’ll discuss under the committee meeting schedule.
We have the makings of a budget deal. At least on the revenue side. Several of the pieces of that deal will be considered in today’s Revenue and Finance Committee. They are as follows:
HB 240 (Longhurst) increases the standard deduction and eliminates itemized deductions.
HB 241 (Schwartzkopf) increases taxes on beer, wine and spirits.
HB 242 (Schwartzkopf) increases taxes on tobacco and vape products.
Not part of the ‘leadership package’, but scheduled for consideration, are:
HB 107 (Kowalko), which creates two new upper tax brackets at what I think are reasonable rates; and
HB 101 (Kowalko), which increases tax rates on domestic and foreign LLC’s.
Plus, we have the proposed income tax increases that we’ve already discussed, the corporate franchise fee increase and, of course, the elimination of the Estate Tax.
I would certainly hope that all of the projected $27 million in new DEFAC revenue goes to help offset the most draconian of proposed cuts by JFC.
Other House Committee highlights:
HB 232 (Carson) streamlines procedures for gun licensing. Why? Because so damned many people are buying weapons that the current system can’t keep up. Judiciary Committee.
HCR 39 (Jaques) establishes a task force to make recommendations about school district consolidation. Education Committee.
HS 1/HB 180 (Baumbach) updates Delaware law pertaining to computer security breaches. Business Lapdog Committee.
HB 249 (Potter) represents Charles Potter’s annual sinecure from Draft Kings and Fan Duel, two ethically-bankrupt (much like Potter) ‘fantasy sports’ scams. Just like last year’s bill, introduced in the waning days of the session. Gaming & Parimutuels.
Senate Committee highlights include:
SB 119 (Marshall): Just a horrible bill from someone who has stayed too long at the fair. This bill would, wait for it, ‘prohibit a person, who was adjudicated a delinquent for a crime that would otherwise be a felony if the person was not a minor, from being a qualified voter for a period of 10 years.’ Please retire already. I ask that as a friend.
Oops, Sen. Poore has scheduled a meeting of the Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee, but has not provided an agenda. You can’t do that. Unless you think you can do whatever you want. Which pretty much describes Sen. Poore. Cut her a break, though. Maybe her personal assistant was otherwise occupied.
There is a Senate Agenda today. Other than Rep. Bennett’s crusade to restore cursive writing to its proper place in the school curricula, there’s little of note.
Gotta cut it short. Taping another segment at WHYY-TV. You can watch it on Friday at 5:30 pm. Too bad TV makes you look fat. I’m incredibly svelte in real life.