Rep. Debra Heffernan

Maddy summaryHCR 71 is a House Concurrent Resolution designating June 17, 2025, as "Youth Prevention Day" in Delaware. This resolution formally recognizes the date for the purpose of promoting awareness around youth prevention efforts. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly affect any individuals or organizations. The resolution is a ceremonial designation by the Delaware General Assembly.

This Substitute to House Bill No. 98 differs from House Bill 98 as follows: -This substitute provides clarification on the taxation of infused beverages, which is set at $0.50 per container. -This substitute removes language pertaining to consumable hemp products. -This substitute specifies that the Act takes effect 90 days after enactment. 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.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution designates March 25, 2025, as "Women and Girls in STEM Day" in Delaware. It does not create new laws or programs but formally recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. The resolution highlights Delaware's focus on addressing gender disparities in STEM careers, where women remain underrepresented and face pay gaps. It serves as a symbolic observance to encourage mentorship and interest in STEM among young women, without imposing any new requirements or funding.

This Act requires the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (DSCYF) to provide new luggage to children in foster care to use for the transportation of their personal belongings when entering custody, moving from one placement to another, or exiting custody, and makes clear that disposable bags and trash bags may not be used for these purposes. It requires the Department to establish and maintain an inventory of new luggage for this purpose. The Department must annually provide a report containing a current accounting of supply inventory and inventory management procedures. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act requires that public school students receive a vision screening, including a test for color blindness, in kindergarten. Students must also receive vision screenings at appropriate intervals in grades 1 through 12, to be determined by the DOE.

Maddy summaryHB 279 updates Delaware state law to grant school employees up to five days of bereavement leave, aligning their benefits with those already available to state employees. This change ensures that teachers and other school staff receive the same time off to handle family deaths as their counterparts in the state workforce. The legislation was passed by both the House and Senate and was signed into law by the Governor in August 2024.

This Act removes the requirement that a juvenile can only be referred to the the Juvenile Offender Civil Citation Program a second or subsequent time if the juvenile’s prior referral was for a different offense than the second referral, allowing a juvenile to be referred for the same offense if the juvenile is otherwise qualified. This Act also makes technical changes to comply with the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Concurrent Resolution requests that medical professionals who engage in the provision of prenatal or postnatal care, delivery, or infant care services to provide parents and caregivers resources on infant and child CPR and basic first aid training.

Maddy summaryHB 475 authorizes the State of Delaware and the Delaware Transportation Authority to issue bonds and allocate funds for capital improvements during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The bill allows the state to sell general obligation bonds and the transportation authority to sell revenue bonds to raise money for infrastructure projects. It also directs the use of existing funds from the Transportation Trust Fund and other state accounts to support these initiatives. By amending relevant statutes, the legislation sets specific rules and limits on how these financial resources can be spent.

This House Concurrent Resolution directs the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Social Services to jointly produce a report outlining the creation of a student injury monitoring system. The system is intended to facilitate the sharing of injury information from medical professionals to school nurses, counselors, athletic trainers, and any other necessary medical professionals working in schools, focusing on injuries that require surgery, pain management, physical therapy, and concussions, while ensuring compliance with health information privacy laws. The report is to be submitted by August 31, 2025.