General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., March 18, 2026
I was pleasantly surprised to see that SB 239 (Hansen), which provides incentive for people and businesses to use solar energy, passed the Senate unanimously. No opposition from the Gas Guzzlers Caucus. Good.
In the House, HB 278 (Spiegelman), which provides for more opportunities for hunters to ply their weapons, passed with only one no vote. Sophie Phillips cast that vote which was, IMO, the correct one.
Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.
Here is today’s Senate Agenda. I especially like SS1/SB 116 (Lockman), which ‘allows tenants who are being evicted for failure to pay rent to remain in their homes if they pay all amounts owed prior to being evicted.’
Oh, I have a question. I notice that SB 238 (Townsend), which appears to make some fairly substantial changes regarding insurance coverage for chiropractic and physical therapy services, was not worked as scheduled yesterday. It is not on today’s agenda either. Anybody have the inside skinny?
Lots of committee meetings today. I’ll be right back once I prepare myself some cold-brewed coffee…
Today’s House Committee highlights:
HS1/HB 274 (Ross Levin) ‘increases the state child and dependent care expense tax credit from the current 50% match to a full 100% match with the federal child and dependent care expense tax credit.’ Revenue and Finance.
One of the worst bills of this General Assembly is also on this committee’s agenda. HB 186 (Hensley) seeks to do the bidding of the data center advocates without even mentioning that that’s what it does. The bill:
‘… incentivize(s) the construction and operation of a limited number of high-efficiency Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) electrical generation facilities, with an output of between 100 MW and 500 MW, by creating an Electricity Production Tax Credit (EPTC) and bonus credits. These credits would offset state corporate tax liability while facilitating the increased availability of clean, cost-effective, high-efficiency, and energy production. CCGT power plants are proven technology that can provide significant dispatchable power production to meet Delaware’s growing need for dependable energy, while promoting grid stability that will enable the integration of renewable energy generation.’
What’s not mentioned is that these facilities are used almost exclusively in data centers, which is why the sponsors of this bill are all Rethugs along with the two D’s most associated with the construction and building trades (Sen. Walsh and Rep. Osienski). BTW, referencing this as ‘clean energy’ is like calling coal ‘clean coal’. It’s not clean. Here’s a recent article illustrating what these turbines are like.
…this Act seeks to protect student athletes from harassment by doing all of the following: (1) Creating a criminal offense of student athlete harassment. (2) Permitting a student athlete who is the victim of student athlete harassment to sue a person convicted of student athlete harassment. (3) Requiring the Director of the State Lottery Office (“Director”) to exclude a person from participating in the play of any table game, sports lottery game, video lottery game, or Internet lottery game in Delaware if the person is convicted of student athlete harassment. (4) Permitting the Director, on an emergency basis, to exclude a person from participating in the play of a sports lottery game if the Director finds the person threatened violence or harm against a student athlete if the threat is related to a sports lottery game. (5) Requiring the Director and Division of Gaming Enforcement to establish and publicize a method of receiving reports from a student athlete or a coach of an intercollegiate sport relating to student athlete harassment.’
This is all well and good. But the real problem, which Delaware has enthusiastically embraced, is the ubiquity of sports betting. A nest-egg the Honorables won’t touch, but should. Education.
Today’s Senate Committee highlights:
SB 1 (Townsend). We wrote about this bill addressing exorbitant hospital costs yesterday. I notice that Bryan Frazee, the chief propagandist for the hospitals, already has written a doom-and-gloom op-ed for anybody who will print it. Health & Social Services.
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.’ Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology.
Huh. Guess that’s it.
Still have half a glass of cold brew awaiting…
