Rep. Josue Ortega

This Act limits circumstances in which personal identifiable information about applicants or holders of driving privilege cards may be released to those instances where the Delaware Attorney General gives specific approval or where the request for information is in a valid court order. It also amends existing provisions relating to disclosure of driver and motor vehicle information to limit the disclosure or re-disclosure of citizenship or immigration status information and related sensitive personal information. Such information may be released pursuant to a court order, with the approval of the Delaware Attorney General, for voter registration purposes, and where otherwise explicitly authorized by statute.

This Act prohibits the DOE, public schools, and operators of companies that hold digital student data from sharing student information with immigration enforcement agencies without permission from the DE AG.

Maddy summarySCR 43 is a ceremonial concurrent resolution recognizing Christian Holy Week and Passover as significant observances within Delaware. It does not create new laws or policies, nor does it directly affect any specific groups or individuals. The resolution formally acknowledges these religious events at the state level, aligning with Delaware's tradition of honoring diverse cultural and religious milestones. This is purely a symbolic gesture with no regulatory or financial impact.

Maddy summaryHCR 22 is a symbolic resolution recognizing March 31 as International Transgender Day of Visibility in Delaware. It encourages Delaware residents to observe the day through ceremonies and activities that celebrate transgender community achievements and leadership. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or obligations - it serves as a formal acknowledgment of transgender contributions and the ongoing need for visibility and inclusion. This recognition aligns with the national observance established in 2009 to honor transgender individuals and address discrimination they face.

This Act requires that under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Chapter 100 of Title 29, public bodies must make digital recordings of meetings, post these recordings on their website within 7 business days after the meeting concludes, and keep the recording on the website for at least 1 year. If the meeting has an executive session, the executive session portion of the recording may be withheld from the digital recording posted on the website. The digital recording may be audio only and a technological failure that prevents or limits the digital recording of a meeting does not invalidate the meeting or an action taken at the meeting. This Act also makes corresponding changes to existing laws that require school district boards, boards of charter schools, the State Board of Education, and the full Board of Trustees of public institutions of higher learning to make and post digital recordings of board meetings. In addition, because school district boards, boards of charter schools, and the State Board of Education are subject to the meeting requirements under FOIA and specific meeting requirements scattered throughout Title 14, this Act clarifies that when there is a difference between requirements under Title 14 and requirements under FOIA, the requirements under Title 14 apply. Specifically: Section 1 adds the digital recording requirements and exceptions for meetings of public bodies to FOIA as § 10004(f)(5) of Title 29. Section 2 requires that the digital recording of a meeting of the full Board of Trustees of public institutions of higher learning be posted on a public website within 7 days business days of the meeting, instead of “within a reasonable time”. Section 3 revises the digital recording requirement for State Board of Education meetings to require that recordings remain on the website for at least a year and adds a reference to § 10004(f)(5) of Title 29 so that recordings of executive sessions are now required but that portion may be withheld from the recording posted on the website. Section 3 also removes the exception that does not require digital recordings of committee meetings because under FOIA, committee meetings are subject to the same open meeting requirements as a meeting of the full State Board of Education. Section 4 adds references to § 10004(f)(5) of Title 29 to the current recording requirements for meetings of boards of education of public school districts, vocational-technical high school districts, and boards of directors of charter schools. Section 5 and Section 8 clarify that if there is a conflict between a requirement under FOIA and a requirement under Title 14, the requirements under Title 14 apply to a board of a charter school (Section 5) or a board of a school district (Section 8). This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual, including the following: Section 5 and Section 6 consolidate the definitions in Chapter 5 of Title 14 by transferring them to § 503(a) of Title 14. Section 7 repeals unnecessarily repetitive language from the definitions in § 1041 of Title 14. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article IX of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend a charter issued to a municipal corporation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 25, 2025, as "Greek Independence Day" in Delaware to commemorate the 204th anniversary of Greece's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821. It is a ceremonial recognition with no legal effect or direct impact on residents, policies, or government operations. The resolution honors Greek heritage and Delaware's Greek-American community through a symbolic day of observance.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 31) declares April 2025 as "Second Chance Month" in Delaware to raise public awareness about the challenges individuals with criminal records face in finding housing, employment, and reintegration. It recognizes Delaware's existing criminal justice reforms (such as expanded expungement and vocational programs) and encourages community efforts to support reentry. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding - it is a symbolic proclamation to highlight systemic barriers and promote second-chance opportunities.

This House Concurrent Resolution urges Delaware schools and school districts to adopt and implement clear policies regarding immigration enforcement and emphasizes the importance of student safety and data privacy. It also requests that the Department of Education develop model policies to assist schools and school districts in the development and maintenance of clear guidance and messaging.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes April 2025 as "Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month" in Delaware. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but serves as an official state acknowledgment of Parkinson's disease. The resolution highlights the disease's impact through cited statistics (e.g., ~2,000 Delaware diagnoses in 2024) and emphasizes the importance of awareness and research. It directly affects Delaware residents by promoting public recognition of Parkinson's disease, though it has no binding policy requirements. The resolution passed unanimously in both legislative chambers on March 25, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 25) symbolically designates March 25, 2025, as "Equal Pay Day" in Delaware. It does not create new laws or requirements but highlights the state's gender pay gap - where Delaware women earn 87% of men's wages, with Black women earning 72% and Hispanic women 51% of white men's earnings - based on U.S. Census data. The resolution aims to raise awareness about persistent wage disparities, referencing existing state laws (like the 2015 fair wage certification for state contractors) but does not impose new policy changes. It is a commemorative designation, not a legislative action altering pay practices.