Posts Tagged ‘Legislation’
Governor Carney Signs Multiple Pieces of Legislation
Governor John Carney yesterday signed multiple pieces of legislation including Senate Bill 165, (regarding pharmacy practice) Senate Bill 189, (related to Uniform Controlled Substances Act and drug testing strips), and Senate Bill 129, (related to animal shelter standards and treatment of animals in shelters) as well as both Senate Bill 92 and Senate Bill 93 (pertaining to the Delaware Public…
Read MoreGovernor Carney Signs Legislation Aimed at Improving Mental Health Resources for Delawareans
Governor John Carney has given final approval to three bills, the purpose of which is to increase mental health resources for students and improve access to behavioral health care. The governor this morning signed into law House Bill 3, House Bill 4, and House Substitute 2 for House Bill 160. Governor Carney says this package of legislation strengthens the…
Read MoreBethany Beach Joins Coastal Communities in Choosing Ban on Commerical Sale and Production of Marijuana Within Municipal Boundaries
The Bethany Beach Town Council is considering legislation prohibiting the sales and production of marijuana within municipal boundaries. The Town Council had a first reading of this proposed legislation at its most recent Town Council meeting on July 21st. There will be a second reading, and a possible vote, on the proposed legislation on August…
Read MoreLegislation Introduced Aims to Curb Erroneous Payments to Deceased Individuals
Legislation introduced this week aims to save millions of federal dollars by curbing erroneous payments to individuals who have passed away. Senators Tom Carper and John Kennedy of Louisiana yesterday introduced the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act. Senator Carper’s original bipartisan legislation set up such provisions to curb the erroneous payments for a temporary three-year period, and the new…
Read MoreLegislation Adds Smoking Restrictions Within Vehicles if Person Under 18 Present; Bill Passes Senate
Legislation that addresses concerns over the negative health effects secondhand smoke will have on youth in Delaware has passed the Senate. This bill adds smoking restrictions within vehicles if a person under the age of 18 is in the vehicle. Also, it makes clear that a police officer will not stop or detain a car…
Read MoreLegislation to Fund 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Related Services Sent to Governor John Carney
The Delaware Senate has sent legislation to Governor John Carney that would create a dedicated funding source for the state’s new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and help more Delawareans access the behavioral health care in their time of need. Launched in mid-2022, the new three-digit call and text code to assist Delawareans who are…
Read MoreLegislation Introduced Proposing Reduction in Prison Sentence, Class Felony Designation for Certain Child Abuse Crimes
Legislation introduced this week would reduce the mandatory sentence of 5 years imprisonment to 3 years for certain aggravated forms of child abuse in the second degree. House Amendment 1 to House Bill 182 also reduces child abuse in the first degree to a class B felony rather than class A but imposes a mandatory…
Read MoreDelaware Senate Passes legislation to Encourage More Investment in Affordable Housing
A record number of Delawareans are experiencing homelessness, and so the Delaware Senate passed legislation today that encourages more public and private investment in the construction of new affordable housing units throughout the First State. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 87 would fully exempt affordable housing projects funded by nonprofits and government entities from…
Read MoreDelaware Legislation Released Today Adds Requirement Before Purchasing Handgun
The House Judiciary Committee today released legislation that would add Delaware to a growing list of states that require residents to complete a firearm training course and obtain a permit before purchasing a handgun. Under Senate Bill 2(S), sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman and House Majority Whip Melissa Minor-Brown, most Delawareans could…
Read MoreReckless Driving Legislation Passes Delaware House
Legislation introduced on April 20th addressing the issue of speeding has passed the Delaware House of Representatives. This Act adds to the definition of reckless driving—the operating of a motor vehicle at a speed of 90 miles an hour or more. The bill is awaiting consideration in the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee. The…
Read MoreDelaware Treasurer Proposes Legislation to Support State Employees with Retirement Savings
Delaware Treasurer Colleen Davis has proposed two pieces of legislation with bi-partisan support designed to support state employees with their retirement savings.Senate Bill 94 restores the State’s match and adjusts it for cost-of-living increases by setting the maximum match at $20 per pay period. The previous maximum was set at $10 in the year 2000.…
Read MoreMaryland Lawmakers Propose Legislation to Combat Violent Crime Crisis
The Joint Republican Caucus in Maryland held a news conference earlier this month to highlight legislation which would help combat Maryland’s violent crime crisis. Maryland Delegate Wayne Hartman (of District 38C–Wicomico and Worcester Counties) tells the Talk of Delmarva 92.7 and 98.5 that one of the key bills that is being proposed is House Bill…
Read MoreLegislation Reintroduced to Expand Dental Coverage for Children
Maryland Senator Ben Cardin is among the legislators who have reintroduced a bill that would significantly expand dental insurance coverage available to vulnerable children nationwide through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which currently provides health coverage to 9.6 million through both Medicaid and separate programs. Additional Information from the Press Release: WASHINGTON – U.S.…
Read MoreProposed Legislation to Eliminate Death Penalty in Delaware
Legislation just introduced would eliminate the death penalty in Delaware. As such, the penalty for a person who is convicted of first-degree murder for an offense that was committed after the person’s 18th birthday is imprisonment for the remainder of the person’s natural life without benefit of probation or parole or any other reduction. A…
Read MoreLegislation to Expand Affordable Housing Access for Low-Income Families in Rental Assistance Program
With many people struggling to find affordable housing and the rising cost of living, eligible low-income families will have increased housing choices under legislation that Senators Chris Coons and Kevin Cramer (N.D.) have reintroduced. The Choice in Affordable Housing Act, which aims to improve the federal government’s largest rental assistance program, will also give families improved…
Read MoreNew Legislation to Improve FBI Child Victim Protocols Passes House
U.S. Senator Chris Coons and his colleagues’ new bill aims to improve the treatment of FBI child victim witnesses by requiring trauma-informed experts to be a part of any interview of a victim who reports child abuse or trafficking to the FBI. Senator Coons says, “We have a duty to ensure that survivors and witnesses…
Read MoreNew Legislation to Improve Program Involving Mentoring and Assistance for Small Businesses
U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Ben Cardin today introduced a bill that would help with the annual in-person mentoring, online training, and local training workshops SCORE provides to small businesses. The SCORE for Small Business Act would reauthorize and improve the SCORE program, which Cardin says is one of the Small Business Administration’s impactful entrepreneurial development programs, providing…
Read MoreNew Legislation to Improve Access to Physical and Occupational Therapy Services for Medicare Part B Beneficiaries
New legislation would make it more convenient for Medicare Part B beneficiaries to see a licensed physical therapy assistant (PTA) or occupational therapy assistant (OTA). Right now, PTAs and OTAs working in private practice cannot see their patients without their supervisors physically on site at all times. The legislation introduced today by Delaware Senator Tom…
Read MoreDel. State Senate Advances Protections For Manufactured Home Community Residents
Delawareans who live in manufactured housing communities would get new legal protections, under legislation (Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 9) that has passed the State Senate.One part of the measure would close a loophole that allows owners of manufactured home communities to increase rents, even when they refuse to address outstanding health or safety…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Would Direct Surplus State Funds To Adults & Children
A gas tax holiday does not look possible in Delaware, but several Republican lawmakers are proposing to allow each Delawarean to get a share of the state’s growing revenue surplus.GOP lawmakers Monday said they are floating a proposal to direct about $100-million from the budget surplus and provide $100 rebates to every Delaware adult and…
Read MoreMd. Legislation Would Permit Adult Recreational Use Of Cannabis
New legislation would put Maryland on the path to legalizing adult recreational use of cannabis, or marijuana. Under the bill, Marylanders would be permitted to possess up to 1.5- ounces of recreational cannabis without penalty. Possession of amounts between 1.5 and 2.5- ounces of cannabis would face a civil offense. Many previous convictions for ‘simple…
Read MoreAnother Recreational Marijuana Bill Introduced In Del. General Assembly
A revised bill to allow recreational use of cannabis by adults in Delaware has been reintroduced into the General Assembly. According to its supporters, the measure (HB 305) has some bipartisan-backed amendments that were introduced days before the previous bill stalled out last June. The Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network Thursday said it was the best…
Read MoreDel. Restaurants, Bars May Be Able To Keep Expanded Outdoor Spaces
Delaware bars and restaurants that expanded outdoor seating during the COVID-19 pandemic would no longer face a sunset provision, under a bill introduced in the General Assembly. The measure would also allow for continuation of to-go sales of alcohol. Representative Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach and State Senator Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes are sponsoring a bill that…
Read MoreDel. Insurance Department To Regulate Pharmacy Benefit Manager Industry
The Delaware Department of Insurance will regulate the pharmacy benefit manager industry. PBMs are a multi-billion dollar intermediary business that influences the costs of medications and what is covered by prescription drug plans. State Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro said through a new state law (HB 219), the department will have the ability to take enforcement…
Read MoreDel. Job-Bound High School Grads May Get Tuition Assistance
Delawareans who have obtained a high school diploma or GED who enrolled in an approved, non-degree credit certificate program could qualify for tuition assistance. Governor John Carney Thursday signed legislation to establish the FAST program -Focus on Alternative Skills Training.Senate Substitute 1 to Senate Bill 65 extends eligibility to 24 months after someone graduates from…
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