| SCR 47 | Passed | Brown | This Concurrent Resolution reestablishes the Port of Wilmington Expansion Task Force ("Task Force"). The Task Force was previously created by House Concurrent Resolution No. 38 in the 148th General Assembly and concluded that port expansion should be pursued by the State and the Diamond State Port Corporation.
The General Assembly is reestablishing the Task Force to monitor the port expansion project, to report monthly to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives on the progress of the port expansion project, and to provide recommendations to the General Assembly that ensure the success of the planned port expansion and foster continued growth in Delaware's maritime economy.
| REESTABLISHING A PORT OF WILMINGTON EXPANSION TASK FORCE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PORT DEVELOPMENT PLANS. |
| SA 1 to SB 45 | PWB | Mantzavinos | This amendment raises the aggregate value of the wrongfully obtained property, services, or other benefit from $1,000 to $1,500 for application insurance fraud to constitute a class G felony. | |
| SA 1 to SB 75 | Passed | Paradee | This Amendment adds a reference to § 1335A of Title 4 because both § 1335A and § 1335B of Title 4 apply when a compassion center is granted a conversion license for a retail marijuana store. | |
| SA 2 to SB 75 | Passed | Paradee | Under this Amendment, a county may not prohibit the operation of a retail marijuana store, in an area zoned for commercial or industrial use, because the location is within 500 feet of a place of worship. | |
| SB 104 | Committee | Pinkney | Access to a trauma kit to stop bleeding is a vital first aid tool that can save lives in emergency situations where people are exposed to or may be exposed to traumatic circumstances. This Act defines what a trauma kit is and requires the managing entities of certain buildings acquire and place at least 6 trauma kits in a clearly visible, centrally located, and accessible area. The Act further requires the property managing entity or person to ensure the kits are appropriately placed and replaced if needed. The property managing entity or person must also send notification to tenants of the building regarding the locations of the trauma kits and instructions on how to use them. This Act does not apply to private homes, residences, or vehicles.
The Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Social Services must adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the bill. Any person who violates this Act would be subject to fines of $100 for the first violation and $250 for any subsequent violations.
Use of a trauma kit in an emergency care situation is protected from civil liability pursuant to §§ 6801 and 6802 of Title 16.
This Act becomes effective 180 days upon enactment. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TRAUMA KITS. |
| SS 1 for SB 2 | Out of Committee | Brown | This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 2. This Act differs from Senate Bill No. 2 in that it incorporates technical corrections made to the Delaware Constitution by House Bill No. 10 (153rd General Assembly).
Like Senate Bill No. 2, 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 filling a vacancy in the General Assembly. Specifically, this Act provides that early, in-person voting is to occur on 10 calendar days before the date of the general election, primary election, and special election, including the Saturday and Sunday immediately before the election.
Amending the Delaware Constitution requires not only the passing of the changes in this Act, but also passage of the same changes after the next general election by the next General Assembly.
This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution. | AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO VOTING. |
| SS 1 for SB 3 | Out of Committee | Brown | This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 3. This Act differs from Senate Bill No. 3. in that it incorporates technical corrections made to the Delaware Constitution by House Bill No. 10 (153rd General Assembly).
Like Senate Bill No. 3, this Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment to eliminate the limitations on when an individual may vote absentee and provide an absolute right to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse. This Act is in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Albence v. Higgins, 2022 Del. LEXIS 377 (Del. 2022).
Although Section 1 of this Act creates an absolute right to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse, a qualified voter who desires to cast an absentee ballot must request an absentee ballot from the Department of Elections for each election cycle, unless the qualified voter is granted permanent absentee status. This State’s current absentee voting law authorizes permanent absentee status for various reasons (see § 5503(k) of Title 15 of the Delaware Code) and this Act adopts those reasons. For each election in which a qualified voter votes by absentee ballot under a permanent absentee status, the qualified voter must take an oath or affirmation that the qualified voter remains eligible for permanent absentee status.
Section 2 of this Act requires all absentee ballots to include an oath or affirmation that the qualified voter’s vote is free from improper influence. This oath or affirmation is in lieu of the oath or affirmation otherwise required under Section 3 of Article V of the Delaware Constitution.
Amending the Delaware Constitution requires not only the passing of the changes in this Act, but also passage of the same changes after the next general election by the next General Assembly.
This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution. | AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO VOTING. |
