Delaware Bills

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 16, 2022

HB 220: AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO PROTECTING DELAWARE’S NATURAL RESOURCES.

This is the first leg of an amendment to the Delaware Constitution to conserve, protect and maintain Delaware’s natural resources, including its water, air, soil, flora, fauna, ecosystems and climate. This Amendment would create an inherent and inalienable right for all Delawareans to a clean and healthy environment. The Amendment would also declare that the State, including all of its branches, agencies, and political subdivisions, as trustee of the State’s natural resources. By enacting this amendment Delaware would join other States which have or are seeking similar provisions, in their respective Constitutions, creating the same inherent and inalienable rights for their citizens.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 16, 2022

HCR 99: ACKNOWLEDGING JUNE 2022 AS LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH IN DELAWARE.

This Concurrent Resolution acknowledges June 2022 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the State of Delaware.

passed · Delaware · House Jun 16, 2022

HR 24: RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE DOGS AND THERAPY DOGS AND THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO TRAIN AND SUPPORT THEM.

This resolution recognizes the public health and societal benefits of service dogs and therapy dogs and the people and organizations who train and support them.

passed · Delaware · House Jun 16, 2022

HB 333: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DECLAWING CATS.

This Act amends Title 16 by prohibiting all persons from declawing a cat; a procedure defined as a onychectomy, dactylectomy, phalangectomy, tendonectomy, or any other procedure that removes a portion of the paw or digit of a cat in order to remove a claw or cuts or modifies the tendon of the limb, paw, or digit of a cat to prohibit the extension of a claw. The Act excludes declawing a cat for therapeutic purposes as defined in the Act. A violation under the Act will be considered a civil offense subject to a civil fine up to $1,000. This Act also amends Title 24 specifying that if a veterinarian or a veterinarian technician is found to have declawed a cat, such act will be considered to have been acting “cruel to animals”, and they will be subject to professional disciplinary action.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 15, 2022

HCR 94: RECOGNIZING JUNE 15, 2022, AS "DELAWARE ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY".

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes June 15, 2022, as "Delaware Elder Abuse Awareness Day" and encourages all of Delaware's citizens to learn about how to protect and nurture our elderly citizens.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 15, 2022

HB 253: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE CRIMINAL CODE.

This Act narrows the meaning of “firearm” for purposes of the Delaware Criminal Code by aligning the definition of “firearm” with the definition in the federal criminal background check law. The reference to a BB gun is no longer necessary because a BB gun does not use an explosive force to propel a projectile. “Firearm” was defined in the Criminal Code for the first time in 1983 by Senate Bill No. 13, as amended, 132nd General Assembly, 64 Del. Laws, c. 17 (“Senate Bill No. 13”). Senate Bill No. 13 defined “firearm” to include “any weapon from which a shot, projectile or other object may be discharged by force of combustion, explosive, gas and/or mechanical means, whether operable or inoperable. It does not include a BB gun.” This definition is substantially the same as the definition for “firearm” in the Delaware Criminal Code today. During the Senate floor debate on Senate Bill No. 13, Senator Berndt noted the expansive nature of the definition due to the inclusion of “by . . . mechanical means,” which he noted meant that the definition would include cross bows and slingshots. Because of Senate Bill No. 13’s placement of “firearm” in the general definition section for the Delaware Criminal Code, the definition applied throughout the Delaware Criminal Code. When the Delaware Criminal Code was adopted in 1972 there were 9 mentions of “firearm” in the Delaware Criminal Code. Today, there are 194 mentions of “firearm” in the Delaware Criminal Code (Part I of Title 11). As the number of mentions of “firearm” has increased, it has done so with the definition of “firearm” as a backdrop, meaning that these new mentions have intentionally or unintentionally adopted the definition of “firearm.” Research reveals no other state with a similar definition of “firearm” in its laws. While at least 2 states had previously had a similar definition, those definitions were removed by their legislatures in 2015. In 1 of those states, Michigan, legislative history indicates the definition was changed as part of the state’s efforts to align its definitions of firearms with the definition found in federal law governing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the system through which criminal history checks are performed. For purposes of NICS, firearm is defined to mean as follows: “(A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; (B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm.” See 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3).

passed · Delaware · Senate Jun 15, 2022

SB 264: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PESTICIDES.

This Act requires the Delaware Department of Agriculture to promulgate rules and regulations, that will not become effective until July 1, 2024, classifying neonicotinoid pesticides designed or intended for use in outdoor applications as state restricted use pesticides, creating a list of chemicals that belong to the neonicotinoid class of chemicals, and banning the retail sale of neonicotinoid pesticides to the public for outdoor applications. This Act also requires the Department to develop and publish best practices for minimizing the airborne liberation of neonicotinoid pesticides and related dust by October 1, 2022.

in committee · Delaware · Senate Jun 15, 2022

SB 329: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 9 AND 22 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

This Act intends to ensure that political subdivisions of this State follow the state and federal laws governing immigration.

passed · Delaware · House Jun 15, 2022

HB 385: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LICENSES FOR SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

This Act allows any municipality with a population of 50,000 or more to establish by ordinance rules for the location of liquor stores that are more restrictive than state law, and requires the Alcohol Commissioner to refuse a license for any new establishment that does not comply with those rules.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 15, 2022

HCR 93: RECOGNIZING JUNE 2022 AS "POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY MONTH" AND JUNE 27, 2022 AS "POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY DAY".

This Resolution recognizes June 2022 as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Month” and June 27, 2022, as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Day”, and encourages State agencies to continue their work educating victims of assault or abuse, combat, serious accidents, and natural disasters about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of PTSI.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 15, 2022

HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE ESTABLISHING A $280 TAX CREDIT FOR DELAWARE RESIDENTS WITH DELAWARE TAXABLE INCOME THAT DOES NOT EXCEED $35,000 FOR THE 2022 TAX YEAR.

This Act creates a $280 tax credit for resident individuals with $35,000 or less of taxable income in 2022. The purpose of this Act is to encourage persons to join the labor force and to treat employed, lower income individuals similarly to how House Bill 285 exempted unemployment benefits from being taxed.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 15, 2022

HB 482: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RESTITUTION.

This Act requires an individual who kills a child’s parent while driving under the influence to pay restitution to the child for the reasonable and necessary support of the child. This Act is to be known and may be cited as “Bentley’s Law”, in honor of Bentley Williams, the son of Cordell Williams and Lacey Newton, who were killed by an individual driving under the influence in Missouri in April 2021.

Bill results