Transportation

This Act amends the Delaware Code to allow open-end contracts for highway construction or reconstruction for up to five (5) years. This Act is intended to conform Delaware’s procurement statutes to the time limits permitted for contracts by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and still ensure that adequate security is maintained to cover all bids and ongoing work.

This Act removes the requirement that certain reports to the State Aid to Municipalities for Streets Program be notarized and printed and permits reports to be submitted by electronic submission with a unique identifier. This Act also requires that the annual report that is submitted to the State Treasurer also be submitted to the Department of Transporation.

This Act expands the use of green lights to include vehicles and equipment used for road construction and maintenance activities. Other states have already expanded their laws to allow green lights on these types of vehicles and equipment in addition to snow plows. This Act removes potential confusion over whether those lights may be operated in Delaware.

The Department of Transportation commissioned a study which was performed by the University of Delaware which calculated the impact on the Transportation Trust Fund by the increase in registration of electric motor vehicles, plug-in electric motor vehicles, non-plug-in electric motor vehicles, and other fuel motor vehicles. The Transportation Trust fund is the source of funding for the Department to perform all road and bridge improvements in the State. This Act assesses an additional registration fee on owners of electric motor vehicles, plug-in electric motor vehicles, non-plug-in electric motor vehicles, and other fuel motor vehicles to make up for the declining motor fuel tax revenue impacts on the Department, as well as the increased costs associated with these types of vehicles which are generally heavier than traditional passenger motor vehicles with increasing roadway impacts. This Act further increases several revenue sources in the following ways: 1) Assesses a one-time set up fee to a nonprofit organization to create a special license plate. 2) Increases the fee for issuance and renewal of a driver’s license from $40 to $50. 3) Increases the fee for a sex offender registration license replacement from $5 to $10. 4) Increases the issuance and renewal of a commercial driver’s license from $48 to $55. 5) Increases the fee for renewal of a non-commercial driver’s license Class A or B from $40 to $50. 6) Increases the fee for adding an endorsement to a commercial driver’s license from $5 to $10. A $10 fee for removing a restriction on a commercial driver’s license is now charged. 7) Increases the fee for taxicab endorsement and renewal from $3.45 to $10. 8) Makes the fee for a duplicate identification card for a lost or destroyed identification card set at $20. 9) Makes the fee for a replacement identification card due to name change $10. 10) Increases the fee for a dealership license from $100 and $50 for renewal. 11) Increases the document from 4.25 % to 5.25%. The effective date for these increases is generally October 1, 2025 to allow time for computer reprogramming and effective implementation. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

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.