Rep. Frank Cooke

Maddy summaryThis resolution asks the U.S. Congress to call a special meeting of state representatives to propose changes to the federal Constitution. It does not directly change any laws or affect citizens' daily lives, as it is a procedural step in the constitutional amendment process. The bill was introduced in the Senate but was ultimately defeated, meaning it did not advance further in the legislative process.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution designates Wednesday, June 12, 2024, as Women Veterans Day throughout the State of Delaware. The measure directly affects the state's official calendar and serves to acknowledge the historical contributions and sacrifices of women who have served in the U.S. military. By passing this concurrent resolution, the Delaware General Assembly formally recognizes the service of over 7,000 women veterans residing in the state. The text highlights key milestones in women's military service, such as the 1948 law that allowed women to serve as permanent regular members of the armed forces. This action is a commemorative gesture rather than a change to laws or government operations.

This House Concurrent Resolution reaffirms Delaware's commitment to strengthen the longstanding partnership with Taiwan, supports Taiwan’s efforts to secure the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement and an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement with the United States; commends Taiwan’s vibrant full-fledged democracy; supports the reopening of a Delaware Trade Office in Taiwan; and continues to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation and contributions in international organizations.

This Act reduces the State's rate of realty transfer tax by .25% per year for 4 years, for residential property conveyances having a property value less than $500,000, and for commercial property convenances having a property value less than $1,000,000, starting January 1, 2025. After January 1, 2028, the State's realty transfer tax rate will be the same rate as it was prior to August 1, 2017 for these conveyances.

This Concurrent Resolution commends the 2024 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year, Shannon Gronau, and all of the District/Charter Network Behavioral Health Professionals of the Year.

With 60% of U.S. households living paycheck to paycheck, 40% of Americans having less than $300 in savings, 33% of Americans having saved nothing for retirement, 95% of Americans having not saved enough for retirement, and 87% of American teens admitting not understanding their finances, financial literacy education in Delaware high schools is needed. This Act, which may be cited as “The Equity and Inclusion in Financial Literacy for All High School Students in Delaware Act”, requires high schools to provide, at a minimum, a half credit course on financial literacy. And, beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2025 through 2026 school year, successful completion of the course will be required to obtain a high school diploma. This Act requires the course to include instruction which meets the financial literacy standards for high school students adopted by the Department of Education and on all of the following financial literacy topics: (1) Introduction to behavioral economics, including enabling students to understand the impact of life experiences on personal money management decisions and habits. (2) Enabling students to understand the benefits of disciplined and regular savings to achieve financial goals and the power of compounding returns and interest. (3) Introduction to the why and how of different types of risk assessment and investing strategies that lead to sustainable and long-term financial success and a self-sufficient retirement, including introduction and explanation of the Delaware EARNS Program established under Chapter 38 of Title 19. (4) Enabling students to understand personal budgeting. (5) Enabling students to understand and manage credit and debt, including credit scores; types of credit to include credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, student loans, payday loans, and title loans; the benefits and methods of debt avoidance and repayment; and the rule of 72. (6) Enabling students to understand financial institutions, including banking services, brokerage services, account fees, and the difference between fiduciary and non-fiduciary advisors. (7) Enabling students to understand personal and payroll-related taxes and their impact on disposable income. (8) Enabling students to understand career options, including college vs. trade or technical school and entrepreneurship vs. employment. (9) Enabling students to understand philanthropy. (10) Insurance options.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution congratulates the class 2023 Eagle Scouts for having attained the highest rank one can earn in the Boy Scouts of America.

Currently, section 712 of Title 7 of the Delaware Code prohibits the hunting of any game birds or game animals (except deer) on Sundays. This Bill eliminates the prohibition against hunting game birds on Sundays. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control still has authority to establish and regulate season dates, bag limits and enforcement for the hunting of game birds.

This Act continues the practice of amending periodically the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “LLC Act”) to keep it current and to maintain its national preeminence. The following is a section-by-section review of the proposed amendments to the LLC Act: Section 1 amends § 18-209 of the LLC Act to permit a certificate of merger or a certificate of ownership and merger to state any amendments to the certificate of formation of a surviving domestic limited liability company in a merger as are desired to be effected by the merger. Section 2 amends § 18-215(d) of the LLC Act to confirm and clarify certain of the mechanisms for revoking termination of a protected series. Specifically, Section 2 amends § 18-215(d) to confirm and clarify that the references to “other persons” in § 18-215(d)(1) and (2) are references to other persons whose approval is required for such termination of the protected series pursuant to the limited liability company agreement. Section 3 amends § 18-218(f) of the LLC Act to confirm and clarify certain of the mechanisms for revoking dissolution of a registered series. Specifically, Section 3 amends § 18-218(f) to confirm and clarify that the references to “other persons” in § 18-218(f)(1) and (2) are references to other persons whose approval is required for such dissolution of the registered series pursuant to the limited liability company agreement. Section 4 amends § 18-221 of the LLC Act to permit a certificate of merger of registered series to state any amendments to the certificate of registered series of a surviving registered series in a merger as are desired to be effected by the merger. Section 5 amends § 18-806 of the LLC Act to confirm and clarify certain of the mechanisms for revoking dissolution of a limited liability company. Specifically, Section 5 amends § 18-806 to confirm and clarify that the references to “other persons” in § 18-806(1) and (2) are references to other persons whose approval is required for such dissolution of the limited liability company pursuant to the limited liability company agreement. Section 6 provides that the amendments to the LLC Act take effect on August 1, 2024.

This Act continues the practice of amending periodically the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act (the “GP Act”) to keep it current and to maintain its national preeminence. The following is a section-by-section review of the proposed amendments to the GP Act: Section 1 amends § 15-902 of the GP Act to permit a certificate of merger or a certificate of ownership and merger to state any amendments to the statement of partnership existence of a surviving domestic partnership in a merger (and in the case of a surviving domestic partnership that is a limited liability partnership, to the statement of qualification of such surviving domestic partnership) as are desired to be effected by the merger. This section also amends § 15-902 of the GP Act to require a domestic partnership that is causing a merger under § 15-902(m) of the GP Act to file a statement of partnership existence (if it has not already filed a statement of partnership existence). Section 2 provides that the amendments to the GP Act take effect on August 1, 2024. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 11 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to impose or levy a tax or license fee.