Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, January 13, 2026

This is the hors d’oeuvre portion of the legislative session–in for just three weeks, get those few ‘must-pass’ bills done by the end of the month, listen to the Governor’s State Of The State Address, then clear out for six weeks of Joint Finance Committee hearings.  We’ll soon learn what those ‘must-pass’ bills are.  There’s usually a mini-budget bill and a mini-bond bill where some funds get reallocated.

Let’s see what’s on today’s docket.

Today’s House Agenda contains one, and only one, bill–SB 106 (Buckson), which ‘requires each school district and charter school to adopt a policy, with educator input, about cell phone use by students during school hours.’  The bill passed the Senate unanimously.  Look for a similar result in the House.

Today’s Senate Agenda features SB 26 (Brown), which is a pro-labor bill, that ‘changes the law to allow an employee who is subject to a labor dispute, other than a lockout, to collect unemployment benefits after a 2-week waiting period, if the employee meets all the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits, including being able and available for work and completing weekly job requirements.’  Going out on a limb here–look for all D’s to vote yes, all R’s to vote no. 

The agenda also features a bill that ‘clarifies that the law-enforcement agency practice of purchasing firearms for that agency’s law-enforcement officers for use by the officers in their official duties is exempted from the requirements under our State’s permit to purchase firearms laws’.  One hopes that ICE thugs aren’t exempt from permit to purchase. (Just kidding, they’re not.)

For newbies and forgetful ‘oldies’ to this feature, Wednesdays in the House are set aside for committee meetings.  However, we have one committee meeting today, and it features what might well become my favorite bill (to make fun of) for the entire year.  I shall call it the ‘Are We Human, Or Are We Doctor?’ Act Of 2026.  A classic solution-in-search-of-a-problem bill, sponsored by  Speaker Mimi Minor-Brown.

HB 191 ‘clarifies that a nonhuman entity, including an agent powered by AI, may not be licensed as a professional nurse, APRN, practical nurse, physician, or physician assistant. It further clarifies that a nonhuman entity may not use any of the foregoing professional titles’.

Who will speak for the discriminated-against nonhumans?  Not even sure Tom Neuberger would take that case.  (Betcha that ‘The Honorable’ Ronald G. Poliquin would, though.)  What nonhuman would be the aggrieved party in such a legal action?

One reason why I prefer the second session of a General Assembly over the first is b/c we’re not starting over.  Meaning, we have a decent slate of committee meetings scheduled for Wednesday.  A couple of intriguing bills await.  Be back tomorrow with a preview.  And, of course, a Post-Game Wrap-Up.