General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

That was a real productive day in Dover on Tuesday.  I was very impressed with how Stephanie Hansen floor-managed SB 159, which helps pave the way for a wind renewable energy project.  Old-timers (like me) were familiar with the outraged ‘home-rule’ bleats emanating from Suxco’s worst.  Longtime former Sussex County Rep Charlie West, who was a member of, I’m not making this up, the Association For The Advancement Of White People, made the same argument against statewide civil rights initiatives, joined by several of his Suxco brethren.  Expanding Delaware’s energy portfolio is a statewide concern, and the delaying tactics of members of Sussex County Council had to be overturned.

There was lots more.  SS2/SB 100 (Huxtable) passed the Senate.  It would codify the right to gay marriage in the Delaware Constitution.  Passage in the House is more doubtful–especially with the ongoing absence of a certain Delaware legislator.  As someone who once was the Research Analyst for the Joint Sunset Committee, I was thrilled with the passage of SB 131 (Pinkney), which enables qualified dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia.  Back in the day (circa 1984 or so), the committee had approved a modest expansion of dental hygienist practice, only to have the then-lobbyist for the dentists (and also the Democratic National Committeeman at the time) Ned Davis skulk into President Pro-Tem Richard Cordrey’s office to complain.  That led to the hacks on the committee (those who hadn’t even bothered to show up for our hearings or voting sessions) calling for a special session where all of the reforms were rolled back.

The House passed HS 1/HB 147 (Harris), a great bill that will protect the wishes of homeowners to pass down their property.  I have no idea whether Kent County Register of Wills Eugenia Thornton would ever seek higher political office, but I’d support her if she chose to do so.

I also really liked HS 2/HB 105 (Ross Levin), which ‘requires that employers include salary or wage range information and a general description of benefits in all postings for job opportunities, and ensures that applicants have access to that information prior to any offer or discussion of compensation’.   The bill passed on largely a party line vote, with Reps Dukes and Spiegelman joining the D’s.  It may be time for me to reconsider my first take on Rep. Ross Levin, which was formed by her support for Ray Seigfried for the State Senate vacancy over Shay Frisby, whose background and experience seemed more compatible with Ross Levin’s background. I say that because, while I notice that most House bills sponsored by progressives only attract sponsorship by other progressives, Ross Levin’s name appears as a co-sponsor on quite a few of them.  Something to keep an eye on.

Big committee (and bill introduction) news today.  My State Representative, Larry Lambert, has introduced HB 210, which ‘seeks to update the fine structure for major commercial polluters. In addition, this Act increases the amount of penalty funds directed to communities near facilities with violations’.  While Rep. Lambert has been working on this complex bill for at least a year, the timing of its introduction could not be more propitious.  I mean, even the Speaker and Sen. Poore are now on the bill as sponsors.  That, along with sponsorship from the entire Senate Democratic leadership team, makes it possible that this bill can pass before the end of session.  It is already on today’s agenda for the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee.  I’m psyched!

Oh, man-n-n-n, there are so many committee meetings today. Must. Get. More. Coffee.  Perhaps that Trader Joe’s Cold Brew will do the trick…I’m back!  Ho-kay:

Today’s House Committee highlights, besides HB 210:

HB 141 (Williams) ‘mandates that licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers cannot sell, transfer, or deliver a firearm to another person without requiring the buyer to review and sign a Firearm Responsibilities Notice.’ Judiciary.

HB 205 (Romer):

…seeks to ‘protect medical providers in the State from out-of-state lawsuits and investigations that threaten the practice of medicine in the State. To that end this Act does the following: 1) Clarifies that physicians, physician assistants, and nurses that provide lawful healthcare services in the State do not engage in unprofessional conduct and cannot be disciplined for such services even if such services are illegal or considered to be unprofessional conduct or the unauthorized practice of medicine or nursing in another state. 2) In a civil action or proceeding, prohibits any healthcare provider from disclosing communications and records concerning healthcare services unless the patient authorizes such disclosure, with some exceptions. 3) Provides protections from civil and criminal actions that arise in another state that are based on the provision of health care services that are legal in Delaware. 4) Creates a cause of action for persons against whom a judgment was entered in another state based upon that person allegedly providing, receiving, or helping another person to provide healthcare services that are lawful in Delaware. (This does not apply to an action where no part of the acts that formed the basis for liability occurred in Delaware.) 5) Prohibits an insurer from taking an adverse action against a healthcare provider or organization for performing or providing healthcare services that are lawful in this State. 6) Prohibits any State or local agency, commission, board, or department from assisting a federal law-enforcement agency, another state’s law-enforcement agency, a private citizen, or a quasi-law-enforcement agency in relation to an investigation or inquiry concerning the lawfulness of healthcare services, if such services would be lawful as provided if they occurred entirely in the State’.

Yes, it’s a long synopsis, but this bill is sadly necessary. Judiciary.

HB 93 (Lynn) ‘restricts school resource officers and school constables from cooperating with federal law enforcement agencies in immigration matters without permission from the Delaware Attorney General.’  Remember how Woody Guthrie’s guitar and music ‘fights Fascists’?  We’re now seeing legislation to do the same.  Judiciary.

HB 37 (Morrison) ‘

Oh, no, the dog, or something, ate my homework.  Right here.  Can’t restore all that I had written….I’m back, Trader Joe’s Cold Brew with me.  Now, where was I.  Oh, right:

HB 37 (Morrison) ‘ensures that all government services, including those provided directly by government entities and those that are government-funded or supervised, are subject to the same non-discrimination requirements as private businesses by revising the definition of “place of public accommodation”.  Administration.

Before we get to the Senate Committee highlights, there is a Senate Agenda today.  It consists of one non-controversial bill and several nominations.

Today’s Senate Committee highlights:

SB 175 (Hansen) ‘This Act requires Commission-regulated electric utilities, municipal electric companies, electric cooperatives, and electric distribution companies to credit or carry over any Excess kWh Credits for net energy metering customers so that the customers receive the benefit of the Excess kWh Credits.’  Yes, the utilities have been pocketing these credits up until now.  Good bill.  Environment, Energy & Transportation.

SB 136 (Sokola) appears to limit excessive pension grabs by retiring legislators moving forward.  Too bad it isn’t retroactive.  Executive.

SS1/SB 156 (Mantzavinos):

…prohibits the reporting of medical debt information to consumer reporting agencies and prohibits any medical debt information that is contained in any consumer report from being used when making decisions regarding someone’s credit, employment, or housing. Since 2023, at least 9 other states have passed laws that prohibit or restrict the reporting of medical debt on credit reports, including California, New Jersey, and Virginia.

I see no reason not to make Delaware #10.  Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology. 

So nice I even wrote it twice.