General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 10, 2026
Legislators can get a bill through the General Assembly in a matter of hours–from introduction to headed to the Governor’s Office–if they really want to. In other words, these two great (IMO) bills can and should make it through before the end of session. We discussed HB 444 (Lambert) yesterday. The bill seeks to protect voting rights for Delawareans from federal interference. Both the House Speaker and the Senate President Pro-Tem are on the bill as co-sponsors. In other words, prospects for passage are bright.
The same should and, I think, will hold true of this one. I can hear the bleats from municipalities throughout Suxco now. Unfortunately, this is a constitutional amendment, so it needs to pass in two consecutive General Assemblies. It will almost certainly pass this year since, it being the first leg. No harm, no foul. I think it will pass next year. In fact, I know it will, assuming the D’s get an unbreakable super-majority in the House, which can happen in November. Plus, why would Rethugs vote against it?
Here is today’s Senate Agenda (it’s another committee meeting day in the House. Perhaps the last one?). You will note that it consists almost entirely of Senate bills, plus a bleepload of nominations. Most of you likely know this, but nominations are acted upon only in The Senate.
Of particular note is SB 9 (Hansen), which seeks to protect Delaware’s non-tidal wetlands now that Trump and his minions have abandoned the Federal government’s role in doing so. Meaning, the Feds have made the State responsible for picking up the roughly $1.5 mill annual tab for this program.
Deep breath–committee meeting time.
HB 465 (Romer) ‘adds virtual currency to the money laundering definition in the criminal code and gives the State legal authority to attempt to return virtual currency for victims.’ Judiciary.
HB 444 (Lambert), the ‘Delaware John L. Lewis Voting Rights Act’, in shorthand, seeks to ensure and enforce ‘a stated public policy of equal opportunity to participate in the political process.’ You can tell that a lot of work went into this effort to stem ongoing Federal shrinking of voting rights, particularly for minority communities. Elections & Government Affairs.
There are two bills reducing the rate of the realty transfer tax. I sorta understand this one, because it’s targeted at lower-priced homes. But, this one? Why? Why no ceiling? It’s certainly not an economic hardship to those whose homes are worth more than a pretty penny. Revenue & Finance.
HS1/HB 425 (Minor-Brown) ‘increases the salary supplement for school counselors and school nurses from 6% to 12% upon national certification.’ Good. It’s not easy to earn national certification. Education.
HB 445 (Heffernan) ‘requires large energy use facilities to produce renewable energy within the state to power their operations to prevent a drain on the electric grid.’ Sounds good. Although– The bill ‘provides for a “ramp-up” period requiring that a large energy use facility provide a plan to the Public Service Commission to ramp up their energy production within the state each year so that by the 10th year of operations, the facility is producing 100% of its energy usage through in-state production.’ 10 years seems like a long time. Natural Resources & Energy.
SB 320 (Pinkney) ‘…modernizes Delaware’s pharmacy practice laws by authorizing pharmacists to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Pharmacists have the expertise necessary to provide patient care beyond what current Delaware law allows, and enabling them to do so is an important step toward expanding access to health care in this State. Under this Act, pharmacists are permitted to independently evaluate patients, identify health conditions, order and prescribe laboratory tests, and prescribe drugs or devices without reliance on statewide protocols, formularies, or specified lists of conditions.’ I’m married to a pharmacist, so you know how I feel about this one as long as the proper protocols are in place. Health & Social Services.
SB 343 (Huxtable) ‘creates a first-time home buyers’ savings plan, called the Homeownership Using Savings and Earnings Plan (the HOUSE Plan), to ignite future homeownership in Delaware by helping residents save for their first home.’ Interesting. Housing & Land Use.
This bill reminds me. I’m rarely gonna cut-and-paste a lengthy synopsis on this thread. However, if you click on the link for this bill, you’ll see much more detail on how this plan could operate. Links are your friends.
SB 312 (Poore) ‘prohibits state agencies, counties, and municipalities from entering into nondisclosure agreements that would restrict the public from accessing information about potential or actual large-scale data center development in this State.’ Great bill. Now, introduce one that prohibits quasi-state agencies from throwing millions of dollars at corporations with next to no public input and no FOIA requirements. What? You guys voted for that? Because John Carney said it was a good bill? Rescind it. Elections & Government Affairs.
I hereby yield back the remainder of my time.
