Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

A strong House Agenda highlights today’s session.

Meaning, we’ll start with the Senate Agenda.  Only one bill of note, and it’s likely non-controversial.  SB 247 (Mantzavinos) ‘clarifies that counties and municipalities can deposit their revenues in any depository bank or credit union. The State of Delaware already can choose where it deposits its money, and this legislation would extend that ability to counties and municipalities.’

It’s a good time to note that legislative leaders don’t put together agendas with my level of interest in mind.  I’m available to fill that role, should anybody ask…

Still, today’s House Agenda indeed intrigues me.  Highlights include:

HB 133 (Snyder-Hall) ‘gives courts the discretion to waive fines and fees, in whole or in part, in appropriate circumstances. It also creates a presumption that fines and fees will not be imposed when a defendant shows evidence of certain conditions, including receiving a public assistance benefit (like Medicaid, SNAP, or veterans’ benefits) or being represented by the Office of Defense Services.’  The bill is ‘based on recommendations of the Criminal Legal System Imposed Debt Study Group.’  Good bill.  Will any R’s vote for it?

HS1/HB 150 (Gorman) ‘prohibits civil arrests from being made in courthouses or Department of Labor Offices where the Delaware Industrial Accident Board conducts hearings.’

HS1/HB 151 (Gorman) ‘prohibits the State, a unit of local government, or any agency, officer, employee, or agent thereof, from doing the following with respect to a detention facility owned, managed, or operated by a private entity: (1) Enter into an agreement of any kind for the detention of an individual with; (2) Pay, reimburse, subsidize, or defray in any way any cost related to the sale, purchase, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of; (3) Receive per diem, per detainee, or any other payment related to the detention of an individual in; (4) Give any financial incentive or benefit to any private entity or person in connection with the sale, purchase, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of.’  Yes. Absolutely yes. Looking forward to that roll call.

HB 268 (Osienski) ‘elevates the charge for assaulting a postal worker acting in the lawful performance of duty from assault in the third degree to assault in the second degree.’  Ho-kay.  Kids, allow me to stipulate that I like mail carriers.  I like our local post office folks.  However, the crime’s a crime.  Delaware has had a history of heightening penalties based on the ‘protected class’ of the victim. It’s a slippery slope that we’ve all too often slid down.

Highlights from today’s truncated House committee schedule:

HB 291 (Morrison) ‘prohibits the Department of Corrections from entering into contracts with any for-profit entity for the use of inmate labor. This Act does not apply to § 6533 of Title 11 relating to outside employment and work release’.  Corrections.

Uh, guess I should have made it ‘highlight’.  Action-packed committee day tomorrow.  See you then.