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Tag: Delaware Legislature

  • Governor announces signing ceremony for several gun control measures

    Governor announces signing ceremony for several gun control measures

    Governor John Carney announcing today he will sign gun control measures today at 1:15 p.m. during a ceremony at legislative hall.

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    The gun safety legislation including bans the sale of assault weapons, raising the age from 18 to 21 to purchase most firearms, stronger background checks by reinstituting the Firearm Transaction Approval Program, limits on high-capacity magazines, legislation that holds gun manufacturers and dealers liable for reckless or negligent actions that lead to gun violence, and a ban on the use of devices that convert handguns into fully automatic weapons.

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    Earlier this month Governor Carney and the Senate and House Democratic Leadership announced their commitment to advance multiple gun safety bills before the General Assembly adjourns on June 30.

  • BREAKING: Mail-in ballot bill headed to Governor’s desk

    BREAKING: Mail-in ballot bill headed to Governor’s desk

    A bill that would allow for mail-in ballots in Delaware has advanced to Governor John Carney’s desk for signature.

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    Once signed, Delaware voters would be allowed to request a mail-in ballot to vote in the upcoming election – going into effect immediately.

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    The House passed the bill on Wednesday night after hearing testimony from an attorney who argued that the legislature had the power to enact legislation despite Republicans calling the bill unconstitutional because it circumvents the majority votes needed for a constitutional amendment.

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    State Representative Bryan Shupe (R-Milford), who attempted to add a last-minute amendment that would set a start date of January 1, 2023 for mail-in ballots, cited the primary elections being 77 days away.

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    “Without this amendment this assembly is saying that they favor short-term, potentially self-benefitting political wins,” Shupe says. “We need reasonable, logical centered dialogue on election integrity and the right to vote.”

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    The amendment was shot down and just over two hours later, the bill was voted along party lines with four no vote/absent.

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    It now heads to the governor for signature, which he has signaled support for. State GOP officials tell TV Delmarva News they plan to sue the law once it is enacted.

  • Governor signs $5 billion operating budget

    Governor signs $5 billion operating budget

    DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday signed a $5.0 billion Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget for the State of Delaware, a sustainable financial plan that makes investments in Delaware public schools and education programming.

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    The operating budget, Senate Bill 250, includes pay increases for state employees, including 2% to 9% increases for all merit employees and increases for public school transportation drivers. All state employees will also be receiving a $500 one-time bonus.

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    The operating budget also includes increases in education programs including K-12 mid-year unit count and programming at the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and Delaware Technical Community College.

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    Also on Tuesday, Governor Carney signed a $378.6 million one-time supplemental appropriation which includes funding for the implementation of paid family leave, funding for the Library Connection program – which will connect school libraries with the Delaware library catalog – and various contingency mechanisms.

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    “This is a sustainable budget that makes investments where they’re needed most, including public education and our higher education institutions,” said Governor Carney. “We’re also making historic movement of the merit pay scales in state government to make our workforce stronger and to further recognize the great work that state employees do every day. We also will be funding the statewide paid family leave program. All of these steps will help ensure Delaware is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. I want to thank the chairs and members of the Joint Finance and Bond Bill committees for their thoughtful work on this budget.”

  • Update to gun control measures, mail-in ballots in the Delaware Legislature

    Update to gun control measures, mail-in ballots in the Delaware Legislature

    Three gun control measures are heading to the Governor’s desk after getting pushed through the legislative process this week. One measure would set a cap to magazine size and ban anything over 17 rounds while creating a buy-back program. Penalties were also increased for possession of illegal magazine sizes. House Bill 450 would ban the sale of assault rifles in the state, while House Bill 423 would strengthen background checks.

    The measures are drawing criticism from Republicans for how the bills circumvent the State’s Constitution. We spoke to the President of Delaware Sports Shooters Association, Jeff Hague, who says they plan to sue the state once it’s signed.

    The Governor is signaling support for these measures and could likely sign into law this weekend.

    Meanwhile, a bill that would allow for mail-in ballots has passed the Delaware Senate and now heads to the House for consideration.

    Senate Bill 320 would allow for Delawareans to vote with a mail-in ballot but would have to request a ballot. If signed into law, which also could happen over the weekend, would go into effect July 1st.

    In a last-ditch effort, Republican State Senator Colin Bonini made several attempts to change the effect date to 2024, but was voted down. However, the Senate voted on an amendment by Bonini to require electors to  provide a State-issued driver’s license number or State-issued nondriver identification card number or the last 4 digits of their social security number on the application to vote by mail ballot and on the ballot envelope.

    The bill passed by a 13-8 margin.

    This is a working story. TV Delmarva will provide updates and these bills progress.