Posts Tagged ‘House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst’
New Del. Laws Address Mental Health of Children, Adults
Improvements to mental health and mental health services are coming in Delaware.Governor John Carney has signed three bills passed by the Delaware General Assembly, which address concerns of children as well as adults.One measure (House Bill 300) allows middle schools to hire more counselors, social workers and school psychologists, building on a previous measure to…
Read MoreDemocrats in Del. House, Senate Initiate Process to Seek Removal of Auditor McGuiness
Members of the Delaware State House Democratic Caucus are encouraging Governor John Carney to exercise his constitutional obligation to remove State Auditor Kathy McGuiness from office, once the verdict is entered by Superior Court.McGuiness was found guilty of three misdemeanor charges July 1st. She was acquitted of two felony chargesHouse Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach…
Read MoreVIDEO | “We Are Not Waiting To Do What’s Right” – Gov. Carney Signs 6 Gun-Related Bills
As he was surrounded by lawmakers, Cabinet members, Delaware community leaders and advocates, Governor Carney delivered a message Thursday as he signed six gun-related bills into law: “We have an obligation to do everything we can to prevent tragedies like we’ve seen around the county from happening here in Delaware. We are not waiting to…
Read MoreUpdate: Sussex GOP Files Ethics Complaint With House Democratic Leadership; Staff Responds
Story update: A member of the House Majority Caucus legal staff responded to what was characterized as an ethics complaint filed by the Sussex County Republican Committee. The response refers to House ethics rules which state that an ethics complaint may only be filed by a member of the House of Representatives. GOP Chair Marilyn…
Read MoreDel. Abortion Rights Protections Strengthened Under House-Passed Bill, Say Sponsors
The House of Representatives has approved a bill that its sponsor said would improve availability of safe and accessible reproductive healthcare services, while protecting patients and providers from facing legal action under abortion laws in other states. House Bill 455 passed with 24 yes votes, 13 no Tuesday. Four representatives were absent. “As a nurse,…
Read MoreDel. House Passes Bill That Restricts “Assault-Style” Weapons
The Delaware House of Representatives voted 22-19 Thursday in favor of legislation that would, according to its sponsors, effectively prohibit the buying, selling, and possession of assault-style weapons. Such weapons would be legally defined and would include the AK-47, AR-15, UZI and similar firearms. The legislation, House Bill 450, would “grandfather” existing weapons and protect…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Touted As Strengthening Abortion Rights Protections
New legislation in the Delaware General Assembly would make ‘safe and accessible reproductive healthcare services’ more widely available, according to its sponsors.The measure includes protections for providers and out-of-state residents who seek or receive reproductive health care services such as an abortion in The First State. Matters such as medical privacy, limitations on extradition to…
Read MoreGov. Carney, Del. Democratic Legislative Leaders Unveil Gun Legislative Package
With four weeks to go in this Delaware General Assembly session, Governor John Carney, D-Del. and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Thursday said they would push for passage of several gun-related bills. Recent mass shootings at an elementary school in Texas and at a supermarket in Buffalo were highlighted by the supporters of…
Read MoreDel. Bill Seeks To Set Standards Of Care At Recovery Houses
New Delaware legislation seeks to set a standard of care for recovery houses… places people turn to for treatment for substance use disorder.The bill (HB 421) would codify standards for recovery houses to be designated ‘certified.’ Non-certified recovery houses would be able to continue to operate, but would be subject to restrictions in getting state…
Read MoreStatement on Impending U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Roe v. Wade
House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst(D) and Rep. Debra Heffernan(D) issued the following joint statement Tuesday on the impending U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding reproductive rights and Roe v. Wade: “Today is a day we have feared for the past five years: The impending erasure of reproductive rights that have been considered sacred for the last 50 years.…
Read MoreDel. Rebate Program Advances In General Assembly
A program to make direct one-time payments to Delawareans of $300 is halfway through being approved by the General Assembly.The 2022 Delaware Relief Rebate Program (HB 360) was overwhelmingly approved in the House of Representatives Thursday. It was introduced just a few days earlier, with the goal of helping hundreds of thousands of people meet…
Read MoreDel. Bills Address Mental Health Services, Coverage, Access
Three bills to be filed in the Delaware General Assembly would treat mental health screening and treatment services with the same importance as the annual physical or cancer screening in terms of availability of services. One proposal would require Delaware health insurers to cover an annual behavioral health well check for every insured person. Other…
Read MoreDel. Legislative Women’s Caucus Hopes To Address Gender Disparities In Several Areas
Making Delaware a better place for women to live, work and raise a family is the goal of the Delaware Legislative Women’s Caucus. The caucus will be co-chaired by House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear and Senator Marie Pinkney, D-New Castle. “During my time in the Legislature, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside so many…
Read MoreDel. Expands Mental Health Services In Elementary Schools
Delaware elementary schools will be able to significantly expand mental health services. Legislation signed by Governor John Carney Thursday (House Bill 100) establishes a mental health services unit for elementary schools, allowing them to hire more full-time counselors or social workers. $8-million was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Delaware budget to support additional mental…
Read MoreApologetic Rep. Gerald Brady To Retire After ’22
State Representative Gerald Brady, D-Wilmington, announced Monday that he would not seek reelection in 2022 as he again apologized for an email that contained a slur against Asian women and that seemed to make light of human trafficking. Brady had previously been reprimanded by the leadership of the House Democratic Caucus, which also ordered him…
Read MoreVIDEO | Gov. Carney, In Lewes, Signs Clean Water Initiative
Governor John Carney was in Lewes Thursday to sign the Clean Water for Delaware Act (House Bill 200), which sets up a process and a source of funding to improve the quality of Delaware’s water supply and to address issues that affect the state’s waterways. Carney also announced a plan to address wastewater and drinking…
Read MoreLawmaker Apologizes For Slur Contained In Email
A Delaware state lawmaker is apologizing and Democratic leadership is rebuking State Representative Gerald Brady, D-Wilmington for comments he admitted are embarrassing and shameful. Comments made by Brady in an email that was apparently misdirected used a slur for Asian women, and appeared to make light of human trafficking. In a social media post, Brady…
Read MoreDel. Equal Rights Amendment Could Expand
Delaware’s Equal Rights Amendment could be further amended to ensure that the rights of Delawareans are equally protected regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Thursday, state lawmakers and advocates gathered at Legislative Hall to unveil a proposal (HB 199) to add protections to the Delaware Constitution’s equal rights clause. Delaware would become the…
Read MoreElementary School Mental Health Services Could Get A Boost
Improved mental health services in Delaware elementary schools is the goal of legislation approved in the House of Representatives. House Bill 100 would provide resources to allow elementary schools to hire a full time school counselor, social worker or licensed clinical worker for every 250 students. They would also be able to hire a full-time…
Read MoreDel. Plastic Bag Ban Loophole Addressed In New Bill
What’s called a loophole in Delaware’s five-month old ban on single-use plastic bags at many establishments would be addressed under a measure filed in the Delaware General Assembly. Some stores, in doing away with the thinner plastic bags, introduced slightly thicker plastic bags for customers. Now, Representatives Gerald Brady, D-Wilmington and Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow along…
Read MoreDel. One Step Closer To Banning “Ghost Guns”
By a vote of 23-18, the Delaware House of Representatives has passed a bill that would outlaw possession and manufacturing of what are known as “ghost guns”- firearms made with untraceable components sometimes sold as kits. House Bill 125 was sponsored by House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, D- Bear. Supporters of the measure cited reports…
Read More‘Ghost Guns’ Targeted With Del. Legislation
Manufacturing or possessing a ‘ghost gun’ could become a crime in Delaware. Ghost guns are made at home with kits, can be sold by unlicensed dealers and can be purchased without a background check.They have no serial numbers and cannot be traced, and they can often get through metal detectors. House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst,…
Read MoreDel. Elementary School Students’ Mental Health Addressed With Legislation
The mental health and well-being of Delaware elementary school students is a concern addressed with legislation in the General Assembly. The measure would allow schools to hire counselors, social workers, psychologists or other mental health professionals based on the numbers of students enrolled. House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, is the sponsor of House Bill…
Read More