Sen. Dave Lawson

Maddy summarySCR 89 is a Senate resolution congratulating the winners of Delaware's 2025 High School Mock Trial Program. It formally recognizes student participants in this annual competition, which simulates legal proceedings through student-led courtroom exercises. The resolution has no binding effect and serves solely as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the students' achievements. It directly affects the high school students who competed and won in the program.

This Act creates a Transportation Appeals Board (“Board”) within the Delaware Department of Transportation (“DelDOT”). The Board is a quasi-judicial body that hears appeals of DelDOT actions such as grants or denials of transportation-related permits. The Board consists of 7 members (2 from each county and a Chair) who are appointed by the Governor for terms of up to 3 years. The Governor is initially permitted to appoint members for less than 3 years to ensure that terms expire on a staggered basis. A Board member can serve no more than 2 consecutive full terms. This Act also adds the newly created Board to the list of agencies to which Chapter 101 of Title 29, regarding administrative procedures, applies. In creating the Transportation Appeals Board, which is modeled on and intended to function like the Environmental Appeals Board in Title 7, this Act gives businesses and members of the public who are substantially affected by DelDOT actions a process by which they can appeal those actions. Under that process, a party aggrieved by a DelDOT decision has 20 days from receipt or publication of the decision to appeal to the Board. Within 30 days of receiving that appeal, the Board must schedule a hearing on the matter, which must be conducted within 180 days following the receipt of the appeal, and must be conducted in accordance with Chapter 101 of Title 29. The Board then has 90 days to give a written decision. If the aggrieved party disagrees with the Board’s decision, that party may, within 30 days of the Board’s decision, make an appeal to the Superior Court.

This Act increases the total number of Family Court judges from 17 to 18 to provide for 1 additional judge in Sussex County, which was funded in the fiscal year 2025 budget signed by the Governor on June 30, 2024.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 75 recognizes September 2025 as "Prostate Cancer Awareness Month" across the State of Delaware. This resolution aims to raise awareness about prostate cancer within the state.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution officially designates May 25, 2025, as “Africa Day” within the State of Delaware.

This resolution requires the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance to present a report to the Delaware General Assembly, by January 1, 2026, for the provision of insurance coverage for Community Health Worker services by Medicaid providers, which must include a draft State plan amendment or waiver, as appropriate, to the Governor and all members of the General Assembly, with copies to the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, and the Delaware Public Archives.

This Act updates the law relating to the termination of utility services to a dwelling unit by adopting and expanding state regulations concerning the termination of heating and cooling services. Among other things, this Act does the following: 1. Prohibits a utility company from terminating any services outside the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. 2. Prohibits a utility company from terminating any services from December 21 of each year to January 1 of the following year. 3. Prohibits a utility company from terminating heating services for nonpayment to a dwelling unit when the temperature is at or below 35 degrees Fahrenheit. 4. Prohibits a utility company from terminating cooling services when the Heat Index is equal to or exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. 5. Requires 14 days written notice be given to a dwelling unit prior to termination of services for nonpayment of bills during the heating or cooling season. 6. Requires the utility company to make at least 3 attempts to contact the occupant of a dwelling unit by telephone, text message, or email prior to termination of services for nonpayment during the heating season, including one attempt that must be after 5 p.m. 7. Requires the utility to make at least 1 attempt to contact the occupant of a dwelling unit by telephone, text message, or email prior to termination of services for nonpayment during the cooling season. 8. Requires that the 14 days written notice include information about payment plans, government assistance programs, and other ways termination of services may be deferred. 9. Imposes a civil penalty of up to $1,000 in lieu of a misdemeanor. This Act also expands the scope of utility termination laws to include the termination of utilities run by municipal electric companies. Municipalities that use municipal electric companies will be responsible for adopting ordinances to enforce utility termination laws within the municipality. Among other things, House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 differs from House Bill No. 62 by including additional times when shutoff of utilities is prohibited; removing the provision prohibiting shutoffs for occupants receiving certain benefits; and clarifying certain notice requirements.

This Act prohibits a school district or charter school from selling or serving breakfast, lunch, or competitive food on campus during the school day that contains the color additive Red dye 40 (CAS no. 25956-17-6). Competitive foods are sold through the school nutrition programs, and include items sold in vending machines on campus or served a la carte. Red dye 40 (CAS no. 25956-17-6) is a synthetic food coloring derived from petroleum. It is found in food products such as cereal, beverages, gelatins, puddings, popsicles, chips, dairy products, and confections. Red dye 40 is used solely to enhance the appearance of food and does not provide any nutritional value. Consumption of Red dye 40 has been associated with hyperactivity, aggression, and other neurobehavioral problems in some children. Red dye 40 may also be linked with migraines and learning difficulties. The European Union requires a warning label to be placed on food products with Red dye 40, stating that it “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”. California became the first state to pass a prohibition on the provision of and sale of foods in schools that contain Red dye 40. Presently, at least 6 other states have introduced legislation to prohibit Red dye 40 in schools. This Act is effective immediately and is to be implemented beginning July 1, 2026. The Department of Education and local education agencies will use the period leading up to the implementation date as a planning and preparation year.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 78 proclaims May 2025 as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month" in the State of Delaware. This resolution aims to raise awareness about cystic fibrosis among the state's residents.

Maddy summaryHCR 52 is a resolution that formally recognizes the last Monday of May as Memorial Day.