LEGISLATION

On a regular basis, we'll be reviewing legislation from the General Assembly that either beneficially or adversely impacts Delawareans.  Democrats control both chambers of the General Assembly and are posed to push their social justice agenda, along with increased taxes and increased spending. Legislative Hall - 302-744-4114 - Click for Website 

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Citizens Guide to Delaware Public Policy: Do Lawmakers Share Your Values?
by Sen. Bryant L. Richardson (R. 21st)

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STATE LEGISLATION for the 153rd General Assembly

SUPPORT the GOP

 

​ENVIROMENTAL

Senate Bill 64 - This bill was originally introduced on May 20th and sought to take a portion of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)-generated funds and return them to Delawareans in a pro rata amount via a rebate program.

Senate Substitute 1 for SB 64 was adopted on January 28th and the new version directs that any auction proceeds above the 2025 levels be directed to a rebate program to defray the cost of electricity to ratepayers. Under this Act, DNREC would provide rebate proceeds to the appropriate electric utility or distribution company for payment in the form of electric bill reductions to retail electric customers.

The primary sponsor is Sen. Hocker (R. 20th) Additional sponsor is Rep. Shupe (R. 36th). Co-sponsors are Sens. Buckson (R. 16th), Lawson (R. 15th), Pettyjohn (R. 19th), Richardson (R. 21st), Wilson (R. 18th) and Reps. Collins (R. 41st), Gray (R. 38th), Hilovsky (R. 4th), and Yearick (R. 34th).

 

​Senate Bill 65 seeks to remove Delaware from RGGI. According to the synopsis, "this Act removes Delaware from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (“RGGI”) as the state has already exceeded its CO2 reduction goals, cutting emissions by 45%. Despite this progress, Delaware faces high electricity costs and slow economic growth, ranking 46th in GDP growth. RGGI compliance costs are passed on to consumers, making energy more expensive for families and businesses. States outside RGGI have maintained lower energy prices while still reducing emissions. Exiting the program will allow Delaware to pursue policies that support both economic growth and energy affordability."

The primary sponsor is Hocker (R. 20th). Additional sponsor is Rep. Shupe (R. 36th). Co-sponsors are Sens. Buckson (R. 16th), Lawson (R. 15th), Pettyjohn (R. 19th), Richardson (R. 21st), Wilson (R. 18th) and Reps. Collins (R. 41st), Dukes (R. 40th), Gray (R. 38th), Hilovsky (R. 4th), Jones-Giltner (R. 37th), Morris (R. 30th), D. Short (R. 39th), Michael Smith (R. 22nd), Vanderwende (R. 35th) and Yearick (R. 34th).

Democrat laws, regulations and mandates are making energy more expensive for Delawareans.​​​

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​​PRO-CHILDREN

Senate Bill 215 - Fairness in Girls' Sports Act. This Act generally requires a student athlete to compete for athletic teams or in sports associated with the student athlete’s biological sex, as determined at or near birth and based on the student athlete’s birth certificate or other government record if a birth certificate is unobtainable. An exception is permitted to allow female athletes to compete in male sports if a corresponding female sport is not available. 

The primary sponsor is Sen. Richardson (R. 21st).  Additional sponsor is Rep. Dukes (R. 40th). Co-Sponsors are Sens. Buckson (R. 16th), Hocker (R. 20th) Lawson (R. 15th), Pettyjohn (R. 19th), Wilson (R. 18th) and Reps. Collins (R. 41st), Gray (R. 38th), Hilovsky (R. 4th), D. Short (R. 39th), and Yearick (R. 34th).

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Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 79  The bill would provide free Legal Help for Guardians Adopting Former Foster Children. Senator Wilson’s substitute for SB 79 establishes a pathway for qualifying guardians to receive free legal counsel when adopting children formerly in state custody. The bill removes a major financial barrier for families willing to give children permanent homes and a stable future.

The primary sponsor is Wilson (R. 18th). Additional sponsor is Rep. Jones-Giltner (R. 37th). Co-sponsors are Sens. Buckson (R. 16th), Hocker (R. 20th), Hoffner (D. 14th), Lawson (D. 15th), Mantzavinos (D. 7th), Richardson (R. 21st) and Reps. Gray (R. 38th), K. Johnson (D. 5th), Parker-Selby (D. 20th), Shupe (R. 36th), and Michael Smith (R. 22nd).

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​​​​​​VOTING

House Bill 112 - Photo ID required to Vote. This bill requires that the voter provide a photographic identification, specifically:

• Driver’s License issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV); or

• Nondriver Identification Card issued by the DMV; or

• United States Passport; or

• Military identification card.

The first nondriver identification card issued by the Division shall be free, as opposed to the current fee of $40.00. Subsequent cards, upon expiration, will be issued for a reduced fee of $20.00. Department of Elections for each county will now be required to conduct at lest 2 countywide programs at locations reasonably convenient and accessible to the citizens.

The primary sponsor is Rep. Shupe (R. 36th). Additional Sponsor is Sen. Hocker (R. 20th).
Co-sponsors are Rep. Yearick (R. 34th) and Sen. Richardson (R. 21st).

Motion to Release Failed​​

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TAXES - BiPartisan Bills

House Bill 72 - Senior Residency Requirement Reduced - This Act reduces the residency requirement for seniors from 10 years to 3 years as it was prior to 2017. (Senior is considered someone of 65 years of age.)

The primary sponsor is Rep. Bush (D. 29th).  Additional sponsors are Rep. Gorman (D. 23rd) and Sen. Hoffner (D. 14th). Co-sponsors are Reps. Hensley (R. 9th), Heffernan (D. 6th), Yearick (R. 34th) and Sen. Seigfried (D. 5th).

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House Bill 73 - Senior Property Tax Credit -This Act raises the senior property tax credit from $500 to $1,000.

The primary sponsor is Bush (D. 29th). Additional sponsors are Rep. Hensley (R. 34th) and Sen. Hoffner (D. 14th). Co-sponsors are Reps. Griffith (D. 12th), K. Johnson (D. 5th), Osienski (D. 24th), D. Short (R. 39th), Yearick (R. 34th) and Sens. Lawson (R. 15th), Poore (D. 12th). Defeated: House 17 Yes - 10 No - 12 Not Voting - 2 Absent.

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​OPPOSE the dems - Most are bills from the current 153rd General Assembly, but some are from previous General Assemblies as the dems are likely to re-introduce these bills at a later date. 

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PRO-ABORTION

House Bill 272 - This bill mirrors the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act that protects access to abortion facilities which was signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1994. It's a bill that criminalizes with severe penalties the rights of Delawareans from attempting to discourage women from getting abortions. 

The primary sponsor is Rep. Heffernan (D. 6th). Additional sponsors are Reps. Griffith (D. 12th) Romer (D. 25th), Ross Levin (D.10th) and Sen. Lockman (D. 3rd). Co-sponsors are Reps. Minor-Brown (D. 17th), Berry (D. 20th), Gorman (D. 23rd), Lambert (D. 7th), Neal (D. 13th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th) and Sens. Hansen (D. 10th), Pinkney (D. 13th), Cruce (D. 1st). 

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Delaware dems have introduced a series of pro-illegal immigration and pro-criminal bills late in the session.

 

House Bill 58 - According to the synopsis, a law-enforcement officer of this State is not allowed to do any of the following:

(1) Stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based on actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status, or actual or suspected violations of federal civil immigration law.

(2) Inquire about an individual’s immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, or eligibility for a social security number.

(3) Make an arrest, detain, or prolong the detention of an individual based on civil immigration warrants or immigration detainers.

​The primary sponsor is Rep. Lynn (D. 31st). Additional sponsor is Rep. Ortega (D. 3rd). Sens. Hoffner (D. 14th), Pinkney (D. 13th). Co-sponsors are Reps. K. Johnson (D. 5th), Lambert (D. 7th), Morrison (D. 27th), Neal (D. 13th), Phillips (D. 18th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th), Wilson-Anton (D. 26th), and Gorman (D. 23rd).

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House Bill 60 - This Act limits the disclosure of personal identifiable information of applicants or holders of driving privilege cards. Such information can only be disclosed in specific circumstances:

• With the explicit approval of the Delaware Attorney General.

• Pursuant to a valid court order.

It further amends existing provisions to restrict the disclosure or re-disclosure of sensitive personal information, such as citizenship or immigration status, related to driver and motor vehicle records. Disclosure is permitted only:

• Under a court order.

• With the Delaware Attorney General’s approval.

• For voter registration purposes.

• Where explicitly authorized by statute.

The primary sponsor is Rep. Lynn (D. 31st). Additional sponsors are Rep. Ortega (D. 3rd) and Sens. Hoffner (D. 14th), Pinkney (D. 13th). Co-sponsors are Reps. K. Johnson (D. 5th), Lambert (D. 7th), Morrison (D. 27th), Phillips (D. 18th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th), Wilson-Anton (D. 26th) and Neal (D. 13th).

 

House Bill 93 - This Act restricts school resource officers and school constables from cooperating with federal law enforcement agencies in immigration matters without permission from the Delaware Attorney General.

House Amendment to HB 93 state that, "[t]his Amendment clarifies that the request for authorization for State and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal agencies only applies to civil immigration enforcement activities and not to any other civil matter nor to any criminal related matters, immigration or otherwise, for which no coorperation request is required. This Amendment further provides a 48 hour deadline for the Attorney General to respond to requests for cooperation on civil immigration enforcement activities and provides that requests not responded to within 48 hours are authorized."

The primary sponsor is Rep. Lynn (D. 31st). Additional sponsors are Rep. Ortega (D. 3rd) and Sens. Hoffner (D. 14th), Pinkney (D. 13th). Co-sponsors are Reps. Burns (D. 21st), Griffith (D. 12th), K. Johnson (D. 5th), Morrison (D. 27th), Neal  (D. 13th), Phillips (D. 18th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th) Wilson-Anton (D. 26th), and Lambert (D. 7th).

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House Bill 150 - This bill prohibits civil arrests from being made in courthouses without a judicial warrant. By the way, this bill is supported by the Delaware DOJ, the Court Administrators, and the ACLU.

House Amendment 2 to HB 150 "clarifies the language at line 29 of the original bill with regards to the areas surrounding the courthouse that are covered. This Amendment also adds a provision that allows law enforcement officers to conduct a civil arrest in a courthouse if the law enforcement officer provides the presiding judge with written notice."

The primary sponsor is Rep. Gorman (D. 23rd). Additional sponsor is Sen. Sturgeon (D. 4th). Co-sponsors are Reps. Morrison (D. 27th), Romer (D. 25th), Ross-Levin (D. 10th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th) Lambert (D. 7th) and Sens. Lockman (D. 3rd), Pinkney (D. 13th), and Cruce (D. 1st).

 

​​VOTING

Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 2 - Constitutional Amendment for Early Voting. This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment to specifically authorize early, in-person voting for the general election, a primary election, and a special election to fill a vacancy in the General Assembly and that early in-person voting occur 10 calendar days before the date of the general election, primary election, and special election.

The primary sponsor is Sen. Brown (D. 2nd). Additional sponsors are Sens. Pinkney (D. 13th), Sturgeon (D. 4th) and Reps. Bush (D. 29th), Heffernan (D. 6th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th). Co-sponsors are Sen. Buckson (R. 16th), Hocker (R. 20th), Hoffner (D. 14th), Huxtable (D. 6th), Sokola (D. 8th), Townsend (D. 11th) and Reps. Bolden (D. 2nd), Burns (D. 21st), Chukwuocha (D. 1st), Cooke (D. 16th), Gorman (D. 23rd), Griffith (D. 12th), Harris (D. 32nd), Minor-Brown (D. 17th), Morrison (D. 27th), Osienski (D. 24th), Romer (D. 25th), Ross-Levin (D. 10th), K. Williams (D. 19th), Wilson-Anton (D. 26th). Passed the Senate 21 to 0. 

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Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 3 - Constitutional Amendment for No-Excuse Absentee Voting. This dems brought this bill in response to the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision in Albence v. Higgins, 2022 Del. LEXIS 377 (Del. 2022), in which the court found that the dems' previous bills violated the Delaware Constitution. SB 3 proposes the following changes:

• No-excuse absentee voting: Currently, Delaware voters must provide a valid reason for requesting an absentee ballot, such as illness, disability, or being out of the state on election day. SB 3 would remove this requirement, allowing any eligible voter to request an absentee ballot without providing a specific reason.

• Permanent absentee voting list: The bill would create a permanent absentee voting list, allowing voters to chose to automatically receive absentee ballots for all future elections without having to request one each time.

The primary sponsor is Brown (D. 2nd). Additional sponsors are Sens. Pinkney (D. 13th), Townsend (D. 11th) and Reps. Bush (D. 29th), Heffernan (D. 6th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th). Co-sponsors are Sens. Hansen (D. 10th), Hoffner (D. 14th), Huxtable (D. 6th), Sokola (D. 8th), Sturgeon (D. 4th) and Reps. Burns (D. 21st), Chukwuocha (D. 1st), Cooke (D. 16th), Gorman (D. 23rd), Griffith (D. 12th), Harris (D. 32nd), Minor-Brown (D. 17th), Morrison (D. 27th), Osienski (D. 24th) Romer (D. 25th) Ross-Levin (D. 10th), K. Williams (D. 19th), and Wilson-Anton (D. 26th).​ Passed Senate 16 to 5.

 

House Bill 88 - Constitutional Amendment for Same-day Voter Registration. According to the synpothsis, this Act…allows the General Assembly to enact laws for the registration of voters without restrictions on the time period in which registration must be closed prior to an election. It also requires the General Assembly to provide by law for means to ensure the accuracy and integrity of voter registration.” This Act is in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Albence v. Higgin, 2022 Del. LEXIS 377 (Del. 2022) which found the same-day registration statute to be ‘incompatible with Section 4 [of Article V of the Constitution]’s registration deadline and its relationship to the appeal and correction process’.” 

The primary sponsor is Rep. Bush (D. 29th). Additional sponsors are Rep. Morrison (D. 27th) and Sen. Hoffner (D. 14th). Co-sponsors are Reps. Osienski (D. 24th), Romer (D. 25th), Wilson-Anton (D. 26th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th), Lambert (D. 7th), Gorman (D. 23rd), Harris (D. 32nd), Ross-Levin (D. 10th), Griffith (D. 12th).
Although the GOP believes that Early voting is a positive, these three bills raise serious  concerns about significant potential for voter fraud.
 

House Bill 180 - Constitutional Amendment Granting Voting Rights for Felons. This bill was previously introduced in the Senate by Kyle Evens Gay (SB 180). The following list paraphrases some of the changes that the dems want to make to the Delaware Constitution. The Act does the following:

(1) Prevents the General Assembly from denying the right to vote as a punishment for a crime.

(2) Removes the list of felonies resulting in permanent disenfranchisement.

(3) Prohibits requiring a criminal, who is convicted of a felony, from making any kind of monetary restitution before being allowed to vote.

(4) Makes a conforming change based on proposed changes in Section 2 of this Act.

(5) Updates the age at which a resident of this State is granted a right to vote to be 18 years or older.

(6) Removes the durational residency requirements necessary to qualify to vote in this State. A voter will still be required to be a resident at the time the voter registers.

Felonies are serious crimes, such as arson, armed robbery, murder, rape, statutory rape, receiving stolen goods, and carjacking. 

Forty-eight States severely restrict or permanently deny convicted felons from voting, based on the severity of the crime.  What the dems are doing is an aberration and completely unfair to the victims of serious crimes.  

The Primary Sponsor is Rep. Harris (D. 32nd). Additional sponsor is Sen. Hoffner (D. 14th). Co-sponsors are Reps. Bolden (D. 2nd), Burns (D. 21st), Bush (D. 29th), Chukwuocha (D. 1st), Gorman (D. 23rd), Griffith (D. 12th) K. Johnson (D. 5th), Lambert (D. 7th), Lynn (D. 31st), Minor-Brown (D. 17th), Morrison (D. 27th), Neal (D. 13th), Ortega (D. 3rd), Romer (D. 25th), Ross-Levin (D. 10th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th), Osienski (D. 24th) and 
Sens. Sokola (D. 8th), Townsend (D. 11th), Lockman (D.3rd), Paradee (D. 17th), Pinkney (D. 13th), and Sturgeon (D. 4th).

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​​​​CREATED RIGHTS

House Bill 135 - "The Homeless Bill of Rights Act" AKA The Dr. DeBorah Gilbert White Act.

This Act does the following:

(1) Permits a homeless person to conduct life sustaining activities in public, so long as such activities do not obstruct the normal movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic in such a manner that creates a hazard to others, unless adequate alternative indoor space is available to the individual in a given jurisdiction and has been offered to the individual, including transportation for the individual and their belongings.

(2) Mandates that a homeless person receive the same degree of protection for personal property stored in public places as personal property stored in a private dwelling, which includes protections against unreasonable search and seizure.

(3) Prohibits the State or local jurisdiction from requiring a homeless person to move a motor vehicle or a recreational vehicle provided that the vehicle is parked on public property and the vehicle is not parked in a position to obstruct the normal movement of traffic or create a hazard to other traffic upon the highway.

(4) Provides that, if a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle must be moved because the vehicle is obstructing normal movement of traffic or creates a hazard to other traffic on the roadway, the homeless person must be permitted to relocate the vehicle before a parking ticket is issued or the vehicle is towed.

Although it does not prohibit State and local governments from making and enforcing reasonable time restrictions on public spaces (including public parks and parking lots) so long as those time restrictions apply to everyone and are not disproportionately enforced against homeless people, it permits a homeless person to claim a violation of this Act as an affirmative defense to any charge of violating a statute or ordinance that prohibits life-sustaining activities protected under this Act.

Furthermore, the attorney general may commence a civil action against any State or local government, government agency, or government official that violates this Act and this Act also contains a private right of action. This Act specifically waives sovereign immunity. 

The primary sponsor is Rep. Phillips (D. 18th). Additional sponsor is Sen. Lockman (D. 3rd). Co-sponsors are Reps. Gorman (D. 23rd), Lynn (D. 31st), Morrison (D. 27th), Neal (D. 13th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th) and Sen. Cruce (D. 1st), and Sokola (D. 8th).

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Senate Bill 78 - Expands the definition "protected classes" to include Everything. This Act prohibits discrimination in public schools, including school districts and charter schools, based on:

• race,

• ethnicity,

• creed,

• color,

• religion,

• national origin,

• sex,

• sexual orientation,

• gender identity,

• protective hairstyle,

• body size,

• pregnancy or childbirth or related conditions,

• disability,

• genetic information,

• socioeconomic status,

• familial status,

• immigration status, or

• housing status. 

Where is the evidence that students suffer discrimination based on hairstyle, genetic information, and/or body size?  This is virtue signaling at its worst.

The primary sponsor is Sen. Sturgeon (R. 4th). Additional sponsors are Reps. Romer (D. 25th), Snyder-Hall (D. 14th), Morrison (D. 27th). Co-sponsors are Sen. Lockman (D. 3rd), Pinkney (D.13th), Sokola (D. 8th) and Reps. Gorman (D. 23rd), and Neal (D. 13th).

Stricken in the Senate on January 20th.

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Senate Substitute 2or Senate Bill 100 - Constitutional right to marry - This bill establishes that the right to marry is a fundamental right and that Delaware and its political subdivisions shall recognize marriages and issue marriage licenses to couples regardless of gender. There is a religious exception, this right does not infringe upon the right to freedom of religion because religious organizations and members of the clergy have the right to refuse to solemnize a marriage. The dems are all in on this bill. However, how broad is this right? Can 1st cousins marry? Does this bill legalize childhood brides?  

​The primary sponsor is Sen. Huxtable (D. 6th). Additional sponsors are Sens. Lockman (D. 3rd), Townsend (D. 11th) and Rep. Snyder-Hall (D. 14th). Co-sponsors are Sens. Cruce (D. 1st), Hansen (D. 10th), Hoffner (D. 14th), Paradee (D. 17th), Pinkney (D. 13th), Poore (D. 12th), Seigfried (D. 5th), Sokola (D. 8th), Sturgeon (D. 4th) and Reps. Burns (D. 21st), Bush (D. 29th), Gorman (D. 23rd), Harris (D. 32nd), Heffernan (D. 6th), Lambert (D. 7th), Phillips (D. 18th), Romer (D. 25th), Ross-Levin (D. 10th). Passed the Senate 16 Yes to 5 No.

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​House Bill 115 - This bill creates a discrimination right based on weight, height, and body size. According to the synopsis, "this Act prohibits discrimination based on weight, height, or body size in transportation, public accommodation, housing, commerce and trade, employment, jury selection, education, and public administration. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual." When was anyone discriminated against based on these factors?  The primary sponsor is Rep. Phillips (D. 18th); additional sponsor is Sen. Lockman (D. 3rd). Co-Sponsors are Reps. Bolden (D. 2nd), Gorman (D. 23rd), S. Moore (D. 8th), Morrison (D. 27th), Neal (D. 13th), and Ross Levin (D. 10th). Motion to release from committee failed, but be weary, the dems are likely to re-introduce this bill in a later session.

 

Senate Bill 5 – Abortion as a constitutional right. Delaware already has some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country, codifying abortion as a constitutional “right” would make it nearly

impossible to propose any legislation to protect the pre-born or to provide safeguards for women who might be considering an abortion.

Senate Substitute 1 for SB 5 This Act differs from SB 5 by making the following clarifications:

(1) That an individual has a fundamental right to reproductive freedom relating to that individual’s pregnancy.

(2) That the standard of medical judgment is a “good-faith medical judgment” rather than a “professional judgment”.

(3) That the health care professional making the good-faith medical judgment is the “treating attending health care professional” rather than the “attending health care professional”. 

The primary sponsor is Sen. Townsend (D. 11th). Additional Sponsors are Sens. Lockman D. 3rd), Pinkney (D. 13th) and Reps. Minor-Brown (D. 17th), Heffernan (D. 6th), K. Johnson (D. 5th), Griffith (D. 12th), and Bush (D. 29th).  Co-sponsors are  Sens. Cruce (D. 1st), Hansen (D. 10th), Hoffner (D. 14th), Huxtable (D. 6th), Paradee (D. 17th), Poore (D. 12th), Seigfried (D. 5th), Sokola (D. 8th), Sturgeon (D. 4th), Walsh (D. 9th) and Reps. Gorman (D. 23rd), S. Moore (D. 8th), Neal (D. 13th), Oslenski (D. 24th), Phillips (D. 18th), Romer (D. 25th), Ross Levin (D. 10th), and Snyder-Hall (D. 14th).  Passed the Senate 15 Yes to 6 No.

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House Bill 14 - A constitutional amendment to expand "Right to Privacy" - a very long synopsis of the bill cites previous Supreme Court cases that created and upheld this “right to privacy” and asserts that this “right” is needed in case the Supreme Court reverses liberal precedents as it did in overturning Roe v Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973).  The U.S. Supreme Court first promulgated the “right to privacy” in Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965).  In Griswold, the Supreme Court struck down a ban on contraceptives for married couples, saying it violated a marital privacy zone. First, there is no “right to privacy” in the Constitution and second, it was a created Judicial term from the “penumbras” and “emanations” of other rights listed in the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment.  It was clearly judicial overreach. This “right to privacy” was used to decide Roe and to buttress “same-sex marriage” in Obergefeld v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). Should the dems succeed, would this “right” allow any behavior, such as pedophilia and bestiality? 

The primary sponsor is Rep. Lynn, (D. 31st) with additional sponsor Sen. Hoffner (D. 14th). Co-Sponsors are Reps. Burns (D. 21st), Ross Levin (D. 10th), and Snyder-Hall (D. 14th)

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TAXES​

House Substitute 1 for House Bill 13 - Personal Income Tax Increase - named The John Kowalko, Jr., Fairness in Taxation Act, in which there is no fairness. According to the synopsis, "this Act adjusts the existing tax brackets and the tax rate for each bracket, combining some existing brackets and creating 2 new brackets. The 2 new brackets are taxed at the highest rates, but by combining some existing brackets, this Act also slightly increases or decreases the tax rate for some incomes. Under current law, taxable income in excess of $60,000 is taxed at a rate of 6.6%. Under this Act, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, income between $60,000 and $125,000 will continue to be taxed at a rate of 6.6%, but income above $125,000 will be taxed as follows: 1. In excess of $125,000 but not in excess of $250,000, at 6.75%. 2. In excess of $250,000, at 6.95%.

House Substitute 2 for House Bill 13 differes from HS 1follows:

• Creates additional tax brackets for taxable income not in excess of $60,000.

• Decreases the tax rate for all tax brackets for taxable income not in excess of $60,000.

• Creates 3 additional tax brackets for taxable income above $60,000 instead of 2.

• Revises the tax brackets so that tax rates increase for taxable income above $150,000 instead of $125,000.

The primary sponsor is Rep. Lynn (D. 31st), additional sponsor is Sen. Hoffner (D. 14th) and co-sponsor is Rep. Morrision (D. 27th). 

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PREVIOUS SESSIONS

Delaware Citizens Right to Know

Lists Bills passed in the 152nd (Previous) General Assembly

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​House Bill 230 – Medical Experimentation, Sterilization, and Mutilation of Children Act. This is a horrific bill. It will cause long-term physical, emotional and psychological damage to children and teenagers. It blatantly erodes parental rights by allowing Delaware to take custody of a child, whose parents will not authorize a sex-change for their child, protects medical “professionals” from the consequences of their experimentation on children and makes Delaware a destination for mutilation.

The primary sponsor is DeShanna Neal (D. 13th), who claims to be the first non-binary elected official. Additional sponsors are Sens. Gay (D. 5th), S. McBride (D. 1st) and Reps. Morrison (D. 27th), Heffernan (D. 6th). Co-sponsor is Rep. Baumbach (D. 23rd). Stricken in House, but has returned in another form as HB 346. (From the 152nd General Assembly).

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Senate Bill 305 is known as the Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act, and is the result of the Delaware’s Climate Action Plan in 2021.  This bill establishes a statutory requirement of greenhouse gas emissions reductions over the medium and long term. SB 305 failed to clear committee at the end of this term, but sponsors promise to return with "stronger legislation next year."  See Newsletter Highlights for additional information.

The primary sponsor is Sen Hansen, (D. 10th); additional sponsors are Reps. Heffernan (D. 6th), Dorsey Walker (D. 3rd) and S. Moore, (D. 8th); and co-sponsors are Sens Gay (D. 5th), S. McBride (D. 1st), Sokola (D. 8th), Sturgeon (D. 4th), Townsend (D. 11th) and Reps. Baumbach (D. 23rd), Chuwuocha (D. 1st), Cooke (D. 16th), Griffith (D. 12th), Lambert (D. 7th), Longhurst (D. 15th), Lynn, (D. 31st),  Matthews (D. 10th), Minor-Brown (D. 17th), Mitchell (D. 13th), Morrison (D. 27th), Osienski, (D. 24th) K. Williams (D. 19th), Wilson-Anton (D. 26th). (From the 151st General Assembly).