Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Well, they’re not exactly back with a bang.

The most interesting item on today’s docket, at least to me, is a hearing conducted by the Senate Corrections Committee to address the closing of the Plummer Center in Wilmington (started at 10).  I know, it’s already taking place as I write this.  I’ll report on it tomorrow.

The only item on today’s Senate Agenda is SS1/SB 3 (Brown), which ‘ 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.’  The bill passed both the Senate and the House, but needs to be reconsidered due to a House amendment that was added to the bill.  It should pass as easily as it did during the first Senate vote, which was by a 16-5 vote,  surpassing the 2/3rds vote requirement.

Today’s House Agenda features HB 259 (K. Williams), which ‘requires the Division of Public Health to submit a report to various government officials and post on its website the data it receives from schools regarding the number of kindergartners who meet the requirements under this chapter for screening for lead poisoning.’

The agenda also features SCR 143 (Brown), which ‘establishes the Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force, established for the purpose of examining opportunities to maintain and enhance Delaware’s position as a leader in blockchain and digital innovation, and identifying how to attract and retain businesses engaged in digital assets and related technologies, while developing appropriate consumer protections and regulatory clarity’.  As is always the case with similar task forces, you can suss out the purpose of the task force by its appointees.  This is almost exclusively designed to promote these technologies, regardless of whether the promotion of these technologies is in the public interest.  Bottom line–Delaware needs revenue, this task force was formed with the express purpose of enabling Delaware to cut in on the revenues, regardless of potential dangers in rushing this through.  

There are a few committee meetings today in addition to the Senate Corrections Committee hearing.

Of today’s House Committee meetings, this is the one bill that interested me:

HB 273 (Morrison) ‘prohibits employers from asking employees or potential employees about political preferences, including donations the employee makes to candidates for office or political committees. It also prohibits employers from taking any adverse action against an employee based on political affiliation or preference.’  Labor.

BTW, for any newbies, I generally, but not always, highlight bills when they are in their house of origin.  That way, I don’t merely repeat what I had previously written.  As you can see, though, I will double-dip when I have a strong opinion about a bill, as I did above for SCR 143.  Enough housekeeping.

In fact, enough Pre-Game Show.  There are no other Senate committee hearings today.