Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, January 21, 2025

The Big News takes place outside of Leg Hall today as Matt Meyer takes the oath of office as Governor, and Kyle Evans Gay takes the oath of office as Lieutenant Governor.  The ceremony will be held indoors at Delaware State University due to the frigid temperatures.  Hmmm, I wonder if Kyle will make it back in time to officially convene today’s Senate session.  I’m thinking yes.  Having a Lieutenant Governor who is not obsessed with calling attention to herself should probably shave, on average, about 10 minutes off the length of each Senate session.

I am cautiously optimistic about how Matt’s time in office will differ from that of John Carney.  Matt has ideas at least, some of which could end  the stasis of Carney’s Lost Years (all eight of them).  He will, of course, have to build trust with the General Assembly, a task where, if employed properly, the new Lieutenant Governor could help.  He has some friends, and he definitely has some legislators with whom he’ll have to mend relationships.  But the continued departure of some of the Delaware Way’s most intransigent supporters should enable him to build a legislative coalition.  Especially if he proposes dynamic policies that offer hope for Delawareans.

Anyway, we finally get some legislative activity today and this week.  Starting with today’s Senate Agenda.   In any given January,  there are a select few bills that leaders want to get through both houses and enacted into law before the Joint Finance Committee break from the beginning of February through mid-March or so.  Both bills on the Senate Agenda belong in that category.

SB 42 (Paradee) simply corrects an inadvertent error which could have ‘jeopardize(d) the qualified federal tax status of the Delaware Public Employees Retirement System.’  Non-controversial bill, should pass unanimously.

SB 11 (Townsend) is the second leg of a Constitutional Amendment ‘to modernize the bail provisions within the Delaware Constitution and clarify the power of the General Assembly to enumerate certain felony offenses for which, or circumstances under which, pretrial release on bail may not be allowed.’  Should this bill pass both Houses this session, it automatically becomes law.  No signature by the Governor is required.  Despite the fact that the Senate is currently down two in membership due to Sarah McBride and Kyle Evans Gay having moved on to other elective offices, I think it will likely pass, despite some opposition from justice advocates.  We shall see if there are any no votes. A 2/3rds majority is required for passage.  I think that’s based on 21, not the current 19.

There is no House Agenda today.  Oh, and there are no committee meetings today.  We’ll preview tomorrow’s committee meetings tomorrow.

Same holds true for the Senate as presumably the members of the General Assembly have all been invited to the Swearing-In Ceremonies.  At least the Senate, as well as the House, has committee meetings set for Wednesday.  Of note, the Senate Executive Committee will consider cabinet nominations from Gov. Meyer on Wednesday, Thursday, and next Tuesday.  Look for all of them to be confirmed before the JFC break.

See you tomorrow.