General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Here’s yesterday’s Session Activity Report. The Senate passed some non-controversial bills and approved several gubernatorial nominations.
Here is today’s Senate Agenda. Highlight(s):
…prohibits certain actions regarding the sale and exchange of tickets for events in this state by primary ticket sellers, ticket issuers, and ticket resellers. It requires a clear and conspicuous disclosure of fees and costs associated with the total cost of a ticket being provided to a purchaser before the purchaser’s payment information is requested. The substitute bill prohibits the reselling of a ticket until the event is placed on sale to the general public, including any tickets that may be obtained or accessed through a fan club. It further sets forth requirements regarding transferability of tickets, refunding of tickets, and bans the use of deceptive practices for any reselling of a ticket. This Act prohibits use of a bot or other methods used to circumvent reasonable restrictions on the sale of tickets on the internet. The Act places a price limitation of up to 110% of the original total price of the ticket.’
That reminds me, didn’t post this in the Open Thread, but it’s just another FU from Trump to us:
Last week, Live Nation and Ticketmaster unexpectedly reached a settlement with the Justice Department in the antitrust lawsuit that was filed when Joe Biden was still in office. This meant that the controversial companies wouldn’t have to face trial for illegally monopolizing the live-entertainment space and driving up ticket prices, and fervent Trump supporter Kid Rock, who testified against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, was pissed. Now, the Wall Street Journal reports that Trump personally pushed for the settlement.
Sources told WSJ that Trump heard about the Live Nation case from friends, including Hollywood talent agent and former Live Nation board member Ariel Emanuel, who told the president it should be settled. After the trial commenced, Trump allegedly started calling around to ask why it hadn’t been settled, asking, “What’s the holdup?” Both sides met at the White House on March 5 and the settlement was reached that day, sources said.
A good bill, as any bill that puts a dent in these ticket and event monopolists is a good bill.
That’s pretty much it for Senate bills that interest me.
Here are the highlights from today’s House Agenda:
HS 1/HB 301 (Morrison) strengthens protections against election day interference.
SS1/SB 2 (Brown) ‘is the first leg of a constitutional amendment to specifically authorize early, in-person voting for the general election, a primary election, and a special election filling a vacancy in the General Assembly.
SS1/SB 3 (Brown) ‘ this Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment to eliminate the limitations on when an individual may vote absentee and provide an absolute right to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse.’
These bills will come up just short in the House as the D’s don’t have the required 2/3rds of members to overcome Rethug opposition. They can get there by holding serve in November and defeating Kevin Hensley. While there may be other targets for D’s, Hensley is the whole enchilada. The single most important House race this year.
Hocker and Buckson are co-sponsors on the Senate side of the early voting amendment. You don’t think that their endorsement/sponsorship won’t pull at least one Kent or Sussex R representative to vote yes in the House?
No. But I’d be happy to be surprised.
Although–the first passage of the constitutional amendment is the easiest.
However–the House Rethugs realize that they may well be facing a D super-majority in November.
So, I’m sticking with ‘no’.
Annnd…I was wrong.
Once again, Gary Myers for the win. Both proposed constitutional amendments passed the House today.
I went into a coffee shop this afternoon and a woman was crying. It was a bit off putting but I ignored it.
As I was waiting for my coffee all I could hear her say out loud was : “how could they do that to Mike Houghton? He’s done so much for our state! How will we recover?”
I was taken aback. I asked her, “wait. What did you say?” She pulled herself together and told me what happened, showing me the whyy story on her phone. I took a minute and read it. I whispered out loud as I read, “that’s right Bobby byrd!” She smiled and said, “has there ever been a greater hero?”
I gave her the phone back and looked out the window. “I just hope we can continue to carry on without Mike Houghton…”, I said. Her eyes looked down and her lips pursed, “do you think we will? If someone as well liked and well respected. Someone so honest and brave and true. Someone who has led on his own two feet, never bowing the knee to those in power. Someone who people trust implicitly. Who people never have a bad word to say about. If they can do that to him… what will they do to us?”
I simply said, “if Rick geisenberger and Jeff bullock can survive and get real jobs then I think there’s hope for all of us…. And I think there’s always a job with the Mayor.”
Happy retirement Mike!