Rep. Bryan Shupe

This Act requires a public school to provide a breakfast meal and a lunch meal free of charge to a student who is eligible for a reduced-price meal. This Act requires the Department of Education to reimburse public schools for the free meals required by this Act by paying the difference between the cost of the free meal provided to a student and the reduced-price meal.

The Constitution of the State of Delaware creates 3 branches of State Government, the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary, each having certain delineated responsibilities or powers within a framework that limits and separates the powers of each branch from the other. The doctrine of separation of powers is a fundamental part of constitutional government. The Justices of the Delaware Supreme Court have, in quoting William Blackstone, recognized that "whenever the [legislative and executive] powers are united together, there can be no public liberty". In re Request of Governor for Advisory Opinion, 722 A. 2d 307 (1998). This Act's purpose is to require the legislative branch to reasonably restrict or confirm the executive branch in its exercise of emergency powers, thereby maintaining a balance or separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of state government. This Act recognizes the statutory authority of the Governor to act in the event of an emergency or disaster. During protracted emergencies and disasters, particularly those lasting more than 180 days, good governance requires participation by the General Assembly in person or virtually to approve extensions of Emergency Orders. This approval requirement may be waived only when it is not possible for both houses of the General Assembly in person or virtually to convene a quorum. The Governor retains the authority to terminate Emergency Orders without approval when the emergency or disaster has passed. Any new non-weather related emergency order issued within 6 months of the termination of a prior order and based upon substantially similar reasons shall be invalid unless approved by the General Assembly. Additionally, any non-weather related emergency order that requires the closure of any business, industry, religious, or non-profit facility must specifically delineate which type of business or facilities are to be closed. The time limits proposed by this Act are similar to those limits applicable to emergency regulations under the Administrative Procedures Act, 29 Del. C. § 10119. This Act shall become effective immediately upon the ending of the Governor's term of office next occurring after the enactment of this Act.

This Act establishes a residential drinking water purification system program to be administered through the Department of Health and Social Services.

This Act requires the seller of an interest in residential real property to provide the following to a buyer of the property before closing on the sale of the property: (1) For residential real property that is supplied with potable water by a private well located on the property, a report on the results of testing of the water supplied by the private well that is conducted within 3 months of the signing of a form documenting compliance with the water testing requirements of this Act. (2) For residential real property that is supplied with potable water from a public water system, the results of testing of the water supplied by the public water system performed by the public water supplier that is conducted within 1 year of the signing of a form documenting compliance with the water testing requirements of this Act.

This Act requires personal income tax brackets to be annually adjusted for cost-of-living increases. This will prevent tax rate increases resulting from cost-of-living pay increases that push lower income taxpayers into higher tax brackets. This is referred to as "bracket creep". Cost-of-living pay increases are intended to offset inflation and not create a greater tax burden on lower income taxpayers. Social justice requires that lower income taxpayers should not face both inflation and higher tax rates at the same time. This Act will be effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution designates the Month of March 2024 as “March for the Arts” in Delaware to recognize the critical role that the arts play in providing a well-rounded education for Delaware’s youth.

This Act prohibits the following: (1) An appropriation for a grant-in-aid to a nongovernmental entity that employs a member of the Joint Finance Committee, as the Joint Finance Committee is charged with preparing the annual grants-in-aid act. (2) An appropriation for funding under the annual capital improvement act to a nongovernmental entity that employs a member of the Joint Committee on Capital Improvement, as the Joint Committee on Capital Improvement is charged with preparing the annual capital improvement act.

Of the 41 states with a state income tax, 27 states fully exempt military retirement pay from state income taxes and 12 states partially exempt military retirement pay. In 2022, Delaware increased the pension exclusion for military pensioners under 60 to $12,500. This Act phases in, over 3 years, an increased exemption for military pensions from state income taxation, regardless of age, so that in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, the exemption will be $25,000 for all military pensioners.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizes February 4, 2024, as "USO Day" in the State of Delaware and honors USO Delaware for its important and inspiring work supporting military members and their families.

This Concurrent Resolution honors and recognizes the leadership and achievements of African Americans and urges the celebration of Black History Month.