HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 74

AS AMENDED BY

SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 2

ESTABLISHING THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TASK FORCE.

WHEREAS, the Delaware State Housing Authority alone is not sufficient to meet the housing needs of the more than 1 million residents of the State of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, neighboring states have established housing departments to meet the needs of their constituents and to advocate for affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, there is an understanding that efforts to make housing more affordable for Delawareans should be elevated and consolidated into a new Department; and

WHEREAS, a Delaware Department of Housing will have the independence and authority necessary to coordinate efforts in making affordable housing a reality .

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Housing Department Task Force (“Task Force”) is established to study and make findings and recommendations regarding the establishment and responsibilities of a new Department of Housing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force be composed of 9 members as follows:

(1) A State Senator from the Majority Caucus, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, who shall serve as Co-Chair of the Task Force.

(2) A State Representative from the Majority Caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as Co-Chair of the Task Force.

(3) A State Senator from the Minority Caucus, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(4) A State Representative from the Minority Caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(5) The Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority or the Director’s designee.

(6) The Secretary of Health and Social Services or the Secretary’s designee.

(7) The Controller General or the Controller General’s designee.

(8) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget or the Director’s designee.

(9) The Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control or the Secretary’s Designee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force must do all of the following:

(1) Review and propose the role of DSHA in relation to the new Department of Housing.

(2) Review how the Dover, Newark and Wilmington Housing Authorities could interact with the new Department of Housing.

(3) Review the current roles of non-profit housing organizations and their needs in relation to the new Department of Housing.

(4) Review and propose what divisions, agencies and other governmental bodies should be moved to and created in the new Department of Housing.

(5) Review and propose which existing housing programs should be migrated into the new Department of Housing.

(6) Review and propose the total staff that should be budgeted for the new Department of Housing.

(7) Review and propose a timeline for the creation of a new Department of Housing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a quorum of the Task Force is a majority of the Task Force’s members.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:

(1) Official action by the Task Force, including making findings and recommendations, requires the approval of a majority of the Task Force’s members.

(2) The Task Force may adopt rules necessary for its operation. If the Task Force does not adopt rules or if the adopted rules do not govern a given situation, Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure governs.

(3) The co-chairs of the Task Force may invite individuals with relevant expertise to participate in Task Force discussions.

(4) A member of the Task Force with the ability to designate another individual to attend a Task Force meeting must provide the designation in writing to the co-chairs. An individual attending a meeting for a member as a designee has the same duties and rights as the member.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the co-chairs of the Task Force are responsible for guiding the administration of the Task Force by doing, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) Setting a date, time, and place for the initial organizational meeting.

(2) Notifying the individuals who are members of the Task Force of the formation of the Task Force and, if applicable, notifying a person of the need to nominate or appoint a member.

(3) Supervising the preparation and distribution of meeting notices, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and reports of the Task Force.

(4) Sending to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Division of Legislative Services of Legislative Council, after the first meeting of the Task Force, the names of the members of the Task Force as follows:

a. By position, including if serving as a designee of a member serving by virtue of position.

b. By appointment, including the entity the member represents.

(5) Providing meeting notices, agendas, and minutes to the Director of the Division of Legislative Services of the Legislative Council.

(6) Ensuring that the final report of the Task Force is submitted to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with copies to all members of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Legislative Services of Legislative Council, and the Delaware Public Archives.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force must hold its first meeting no later than September 19th, 2025.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly is responsible for providing reasonable and necessary support staff, including a legislative attorney, and materials for the Task Force to carry out its mission.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that that the co-chairs of the Task Force must compile a final report containing a summary of the Task Force’s work regarding the issues assigned to it under this Concurrent Resolution, including any findings and recommendations, and submit the final report no later than April 9th, 2026.