Rep. Sean Matthews

The United States Department of Agriculture runs a voluntary program that provides risk management coverage to dairy producers that pays out based on the difference between the national price of milk and the average cost of feed. This Act enables the Delaware Department of Agriculture, subject to the availability of funding, to reimburse eligible dairy operators in the state for the cost of the premium to enroll in the USDA program.

This Act establishes an application process, policies, procedures, operational instructions, and requirements for licensed transporters to obtain and use transporter license plates when transporting vehicles. This Act requires a greater-than-majority vote for passage because Article VIII, § 11 of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of 3/5 of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly when a new tax or license fee is imposed.

This Act defines a Unique vehicle as one not manufactured to meet all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in effect for the model year in which it was manufactured or which does not meet the requirements of the Division of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) emissions inspection program. It identifies the requirements for those vehicles to be titled, registered, and branded for operation within this State.

The purpose of this Act is to reduce the cost to the State in addressing ownership of land encumbered by public right-of-way permanent easements when the land has been abandoned by a prior owner and a current owner cannot be located. This Act will allow the Department, in the name of the State, to obtain fee simple ownership of land encumbered by right-of-ways, previously conveyed to the Department by permanent easement, when such right-of-ways are part of a current Department project. This Act requires the Department to promulgate regulations to establish the procedures for establishing that the land has been abandoned and for recording its fee simple ownership of the land.

This Act creates a background special license plate for the United Way of Delaware Pride Council. A background special license plate supports a cause and is available for purchase by the public at large, including members of the organization. The numbers, letters, or both, assigned will be the same as the license plate assigned to the owner’s vehicle at the time of the application for the plate. This Act requires a greater-than-majority vote for passage because Article VIII, § 11 of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of 3/5 of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly when a new tax or license fee is imposed.

This Act creates the Affordable Housing Production Task Force (“Task Force”). The purpose and mission of the Task Force is to investigate and make findings and rcommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on how the State and local governments can increase the production of affordable rental units and homes in Delaware. The Task Force shall consist of 20 members some appointed by the Governor, some appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, some appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and some will serve as a member by virtue of their official position. The Co-Chairs of the Task Force will be (1) the member of the Delaware Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, (2) the member of the Delaware House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and (3) the Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority. The Task Force must create, at a minimum, the following Sub-Committees: (1) Regulating and Permitting, (2) Finance and Development, (3) Construction, (4) Manufactured Housing, (5) Community Focus Groups. The Chairs of the Sub-Committees must be members of the Task Force but the members of the Sub-Committees do not have to be on the Task Force. A Sub-Committee may have a maximum of 9 members. This Act establishes the duties and responsibilities of the Co-Chairs of the Task Force and the requirements that will govern the administration of the Task Force. The first meeting of the Task Force must be held no later than 60 days after enactment of this Act. The Task Force must provide its Final Report by March 1, 2025. This Task Force will expire on the date it submits its Final Report unless its existence is continued by a subsequent act of the General Assembly.

This Act creates the Delaware Artificial Intelligence ("AI") Commission. This Commission shall be tasked with making recommendations to the General Assembly and Department of Technology and Information on AI utilization and safety within the State of Delaware. The Commission shall additionally conduct an inventory of all Generative AI usage within Delaware's executive, legislative, and judicial agencies and identify high risk areas for the implementation of Generative AI. The Commission will terminate 10 years from enactment unless extended by the General Assembly.

This bill: (a) extends the expiration date for any new issuance or renewal of an ADA placard from 3 years to 8 years for a specific person with a diagnosis of a permanent disability and changing the minimum age from 85 to 80 years or older, (b) extends the validity for a temporary disability from 5 weeks to 180 days, and (c) defines additional medical professionals acceptable to certify a disability application.

This bill will extend the timeframe for a customer to apply for a document fee credit refund from 15 days to 30 days. This change will improve customer service by allowing a customer more time to submit the applicable paperwork.

This Act amends Section 2603 of Title 16 to require the Division of Public Health to provide the results of lead screenings or tests to school nurses and require contracts or computer upgrades to include lead results.