General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
So much to unpack from yesterday’s passage of HB 140 (Morrison), the ‘end of life options’ bill. I had predicted somewhere around 25 votes for passage yesterday. Instead, the bill passed with the bare majority of 21 votes. Why? Because the entire Wilmington delegation and Rep. Deb Heffernan, all of whom were absent for the vote last session because they were attending a funeral, voted no. Didn’t see that coming.
That, however, is only where the drama begins. I wondered why, when the House was so close to a vote on the bill, the Speaker called for a brief recess that extended for about an hour. Now I think I know. You absolutely must read this correspondence from Rep. Rae Moore:
When I gave birth to my young son, I had to return to work as a legislator just one week later because our system isn’t built to support working mothers. Today, that same system reminded me again how hostile it is toward parents—especially mothers of young children.While in session, I had to step out to pick up my child, just like so many working parents do every day. But because I am committed to serving my constituents, I made sure to return so I could cast my vote on an important bill.Upon reentering the chamber with my son, I was told that the House floor is “no place for a child” and was asked to leave.Let me be clear: If we want a government that truly reflects the people it serves, then we need to make space for parents. We need policies that acknowledge the realities of caregiving, and we need leaders who understand that being a mother and being a legislator are not mutually exclusive.I ran for office to be a voice for working families, for parents juggling responsibilities, and for children who deserve a government that prioritizes them. If we say we want more moms at the table, then we must ensure that our governing spaces are not built to push us out.I will not apologize for being a mother and a legislator. I will continue to show up, vote, and fight for a government that works for ALL of us—kids included.
Rep. Moore did vote yes on HB 140, ensuring the bill’s passage. So, I think that the Speaker called for the recess so that Rep. Moore could return and could vote on the bill.
As to who asked her to leave, my money’s on one of those avowed ‘pro-family’ Rethug reps who opposed the bill. Anybody have more details? By the way, Rep. Moore is absolutely right about how she was treated.
Great legislative day in the House all-around yesterday as the House also unanimously passed HB 9 and HB 38, both sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams. Both bills were inspired by the State Auditor’s investigation into ‘double-dipping’ by state elected officials, and would require transparency on the parts of both the officials and their state-funded employers as to where they were working when, and whether they were being paid twice for work they could not possibly have been doing. This double-dipping has been a time-dishonored tradition dating back to long before I started working in Leg Hall. Good riddance to one of the worst Delaware Way practices ever.
Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.
Neither the Senate nor the House have agendas for today, with the exception of the Senate considering some nominations under Executive Business. But there’s a whole lot going on in committees in both chambers today, lowlighted by consideration of SS1/SB 21 in the House Judiciary Committee. You’ve heard of ‘must-pass’ legislation? This is ‘Musk-pass’ legislation. Hearing starts at 10:30.
On Tuesday, Rep. Sophie Phillips (D-Newark) introduced an amendment that would make Senate Bill 21 only apply to companies if a majority of their shareholders vote to “opt in” to its provisions.
It’s a change that several opponents of the bill have increasingly called for in recent days, including the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the largest public pension fund in the United States with more than $500 billion in assets.
On Monday, 21 leading corporate law professors — including some proponents and opponents of Senate Bill 21 — also signed on to a letter that argued for the optionality clause as the best course of action.
Phillips told Spotlight Delaware that her legislation is not a new idea, noting that Delaware lawmakers passed a law three years ago that prevented corporate executives from being sued in many cases, but only if shareholders first voted to approve the indemnification measure.
Phillips also called her current amendment a compromise to the original bill.
Right on!
Here are other bills scheduled for committee hearings today that interest me, starting in the House:
HB 54 (Morrison) ‘establishes the Office of Suicide Prevention’. Lots of co-sponsors, modest fiscal note. Health & Human Development.
HS 1/HB 46 (Shupe) ‘requires minors under the age of 16 obtain parental consent before undergoing an abortion, except in cases of medical emergency or if the Family Court adjudicates that the minor is mature and well-informed enough to make the decision independently, or obtaining parental consent is not in the best interest of the minor, such as in cases of abuse, neglect, or coercion.’ Horrible bill, been around a long time, going nowhere. I mean, is a minor expected to have the wherewithal to navigate a court system if she was raped by a relative, including, perhaps, her father or step-father? Health & Human Development.
HB 65 (Bolden) is ba-a-a-ack. Moves the state primary to April from September. Has always passed the House, then died in the Senate. However, I notice that Dan Cruce is one of the Senate sponsors, whereas Sen. McBride always opposed the bill. Figures. Elections & Government Affairs.
HB 292 (Morrison) requires the Department of Elections to do its job. Specifically, it:
…requires the Department of Elections to review every political committee’s contribution and expense report and to note the report, on the Department’s website, as either “Submitted but Not Reviewed” or “Reviewed and Final”. If the Department discovers any violations of this chapter, it must work with the candidate to rectify the violations. Once the violations are corrected and the candidate submits an amended report, the report’s status shall be updated on the Department’s website and clearly marked as “Reviewed and Final”. Elections & Government Affairs.
Rep. Sean Lynn has two proposed constitutional amendments being considered in today’s Administration Committee meeting. HB 14 ‘make(s) clear that the right of individual privacy is essential to the well-being of a free society and may not be infringed without a showing of a compelling state interest’. HB 35 ‘ prohibit(s) the imposition of the death penalty’. This would be the first leg for each of these two constitutional amendments, which must be passed in two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly to be enshrined in the State Constitution.
HB 66 (S. Moore) ‘expands the availability of free meals by making them available to all public school students attending schools participating in the federal School Breakfast Program or National School Lunch Program. This Act requires public schools participating in the School Breakfast Program to make available free breakfasts to all attending students, regardless of household income. This Act also requires public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to make available free lunches to all attending students, regardless of household income.’ Once fully implemented, the projected cost to the state would be around $49 mill annually. Which, of course, ignores the benefits that would accrue to the state by having healthy students ready and able to learn. The Fiscal Note process needs to be overhauled. Education.
Hoo, boy, 1100 words in and we haven’t looked at the Senate meetings yet. The highlights:
Do we even need to discuss this one? RWNJ goes after teh trans. No, no we don’t. Health & Social Services.
Sen. Hoffner has sponsored two bills dealing with making scientific advances easier for those who have been convicted of a crime to access when it comes to questions of legitimacy of the convictions. SB’s 57 and 58. Good bills from a legislator who is difficult to pigeonhole. I like that. Corrections & Public Safety.
SB 69 (Buckson) ‘prohibits a school district or charter school from selling or serving breakfast, lunch, or competitive food on campus during the school day that contains the color additive Red dye 40’. Education.
OK, kids, time for a disclaimer, especially for you newbies: I generally don’t cover bills that have passed one chamber and are now on committee hearing schedules in the other chamber. There are, of course, exceptions, like SS1/SB 21, but (what passes for) my logic is that, if the bill is worth discussing, I will have already done so when the bill was in the chamber of origin.
We probably need this bill now more than ever–SB 27 (Brown) ‘establishes the Office of New Americans to help improve the lives and economic prosperity of new Americans who come to Delaware and of all Delawareans generally’. Among the office’s duties:
a. Respond to inquiries about immigrant issues in the State.
b. Serve as an information clearinghouse for immigration-related policy issues.
c. Analyze economic, demographic, and other trends impacting immigrants.
d. Convene various stakeholders in business, government immigrant-service organization and
academia on subjects related to immigrants and immigration.
e. Disseminate information to various stakeholders.
f. Communicate with federal and international stakeholders to support the resettlement
process for refugees.
g. Work with the Advisory Committee established by this Act
Hey, if we don’t do this, you can bet that the Trump Administration won’t. Elections & Government Affairs.
(Deep cleansing breath.). See you tomorrow.
Cruce thinks a different date will “save” him. Hey Danny boy you’ll just be a lame duck sooner sport!
Well, the bill wouldn’t take effect until after the 2026 cycle, so it wouldn’t save him if he needs saving.
At what point does the house address the absence of Stell Parker Selby? She hasn’t even been sworn in for the current session. HB 140 barely passed without her.
Also, if you want to hear some frustrating stuff, listen to the retired orthopedic surgeon on the senate health and social services committee meeting listing all the hateful GOP talking points about gender dysphoria. This is in relation to SB 55.
Really? Hadn’t paid attention to her absence. Now I will.
Selby should not have been reelected. Was never a very good teacher.