The governance of this State relies on the qualifications and performance of the members of the Governor’s cabinet. The General Assembly finds that the confirmation process is an important step to ensure the qualifications and performance of the Governor’s cabinet. This Act is the second leg of a constitutional amendment to require each holdover member of the Governor’s cabinet to be reconfirmed by the Senate at the beginning of each term of the Governor. The first leg of this constitutional amendment was Senate Bill No. 15 of the 152nd General Assembly, published in Chapter 278 of Volume 84 of the Laws of Delaware. On passage of this second leg by this General Assembly this amendment will become part of the Delaware Constitution. This Act defines members of the Governor’s cabinet as the principal officer of an executive department made subject to § 10 of Article III of the Delaware Constitution by an Act of the General Assembly. Senate Bill No. 16 of the 152nd General Assembly, which was enacted on September 30, 2024, and takes effect on the enactment of this Act, implements this Act by making the principal officer of the following executive departments subject to this constitutional requirement: (1) The Department of Education. (2) The Department of Military Affairs / Delaware National Guard. (3) The Office of Management and Budget. (4) The Department of Health and Social Services. (5) The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. (6) The Department of Agriculture. (7) The Department of Safety and Homeland Security. (8) The Department of Finance. (9) The Department of Transportation. (10) The Department of Labor. (11) The Delaware State Housing Authority. (12) The Department of State. (13) The Department of Correction. (14) The Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families. (15) The Department of Technology and Information. (16) The Department of Human Resources. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly when the General Assembly amends the Delaware Constitution.
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Maddy summaryHR 16 is a simple House resolution designating Wednesday, June 25, 2025, as "Staff Appreciation Day" within the U.S. House of Representatives. It formally recognizes the contributions of House staff members on that specific date. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or alter policies - it solely serves to acknowledge staff efforts through a designated day of recognition. The measure directly affects House staff by providing a formal day for the chamber to express appreciation.
This resolution directs the Department of Finance to prepare a comprehensive report by December 31, 2025 on the involvement of business entities in purchasing residential property within Delaware. The report aims to clarify the extent, geographic distribution, and nature of business entity ownership in the state’s housing market, responding to concerns that these purchases may affect housing affordability and availability for residents. The resolution also calls for recommendations to improve the collection and availability of this data.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution requires the Delaware Department of Transportation, the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Delaware Department of Justice, the Delaware State Police, and other law enforcement agencies to collaborate with state transportation departments, law enforcement agencies, and other interested stakeholders in neighboring states and across the region to develop a strategy to address the growing issue of counterfeit Delaware license plates, and protect Delaware drivers from the fraudulent use of their vehicle registrations. The Resolution also requires the Department of Transportation and the Division of Motor Vehicles to submit a final report to the General Assembly, the Governor, the Director and Librarian of the Division of Legislative Services, and the Delaware Public Archives, no later than June 30, 2026, detailing their actions, partnerships, findings, and any recommendations for legislation or resource needs to improve enforcement, data sharing, victim support, and other relevant matters.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution directs the Department of Health and Social Services to conduct a review of public assistance programs to identify benefit cliffs and consider these outcomes with perspective of asset-limited, income-constrained employed (ALICE) individuals. The Resolution also direct the Department of Health and Social Services to prepare a report that details its findings and recommendations by January 9, 2026.
This Act expands the statute for obtaining criminal background checks from just employees and contractors within the Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance who have access to federal tax information, to all new hires, transfers, promotions, contractors, subcontractors, and volunteers of the following departments, divisions, and offices: (1) Division of Unemployment Insurance; (2) Division of Paid Leave; (3) IT staff of the Department of Labor; (4) Individuals with access to the Workers’ Compensation Second Injury Fund within the Division of Industrial Affairs; and (5) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors within the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation who work one-on-one with vulnerable clients. This Act also allows the Delaware State Bureau of Identification to provide criminal history record information that arises after the date the background check is completed, known as rap back, and requires current employees of various divisions and positions within the Department of Labor to submit fingerprints so the Department may be notified if an employee’s criminal history record information changes. Finally, this Act moves the background check provision contained in Chapter 33 to Chapter 1 of Title 19, given its broader scope.
Currently, the microbrewery statute permits a business to own 1 microbrewery and up to 2 brewpubs (a microbrewery that also has a restaurant as part of its business). This legislation would permit a microbrewery to choose to operate either 2 brewpubs or 1 additional microbrewery and 1 brewpub, under common ownership. The total number of licenses the business could hold remains 3, but it allows the business to choose 2 microbreweries and 1 brewpub, or 1 microbrewery and 2 brewpubs. A microbrewery can also choose to operate just one establishment.
This Act updates certain statutory fees in Title 7 and establishes or updates certain permit and licensing fees found in 68 Del. Laws Ch. 86 (1991). These are fees charged for regulatory activities within the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) divisions of Air Quality, Waste and Hazardous Substances, Water, and Watershed Stewardship, most of which have not changed or been updated since 1991. The intent of the increased and new fees is to bring revenue generated by fees more in line with the cost of the regulatory programs and activities they support, including the cost of employees who work in those areas. The effective date for the fee changes is 180 days after enactment. Fees that are assessed by application or activity will be seen by applicants or permit holders the next time they apply for or renew permits or licenses after the effective date. Those who apply for permits or renewals before the effective date will pay current fees. Fees that are assessed on an annual basis will be seen by applicants the first time they pay the fee after the effective date. Certain fees for municipalities will not take effect until July 1, 2026 and will be billed at 50% of the new rate in the first year. DNREC is required to keep a complete list of fees and assessment on its public website. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 10 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 increase the effective rate of any tax levied or license fee imposed.
This bill will improve customer service by extending the due date on toll violations from the thirty-first day to the sixty-first day, after the date the violation is transmitted. This bill amends the administrative fee by stating that the fee may be "up to" $25.
This Resolution recognizes and commends the crew and family members of the USS Delaware (SSN-791) for their continued dedication to the United States Armed Forces. It also recognizes the Delaware Submarine Association for its role in supporting the morale, wellbeing, and recreation of the crew and families of the USS Delaware, as well to encourage, advocate, and generate statewide support for the crew of the submarine.