This Act creates a right to free legal counsel for a relative seeking to adopt a child in the relative’s family after parental rights over the child have been terminated and the child is in the custody of the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families. Relatives of a child for whom adoption is being sought who are eligible for free legal counsel in adoption proceedings include siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, first cousins, first cousins once removed, great-grandparents, grandaunts or granduncles, half-siblings, stepparents, stepsiblings, stepaunts or stepuncles, or stepgrandparents. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
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This Act requires that each county reassess the value of real property in the county at least once every 10 years instead of the current 5 year requirement.
Maddy summaryHCR 23 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing April 24, 2025, as "AKA Day at the Capitol" in Delaware to honor Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. It has no policy impact or funding provisions - it is purely symbolic recognition of the sorority's annual event at the state Capitol. This resolution does not affect any laws, regulations, or individuals. It is a standard procedural gesture to acknowledge community organizations.
Maddy summarySCR 44 is a ceremonial resolution designating April 11, 2025, as "National Pet Day" within the State of Delaware. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals, organizations, or regulations. The resolution simply formally recognizes this date for awareness and celebration of pets through state proclamation. This is a symbolic gesture with no direct policy impact or enforcement mechanisms.
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 summarySCR 45 is a symbolic resolution designating April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Awareness Week" in Delaware. It officially recognizes this period to raise public awareness about maternal health disparities affecting Black women in the state. The resolution does not create new laws, alter policies, or impose obligations; it serves solely as a formal acknowledgment of the issue. This is a procedural, non-binding gesture to highlight an important health equity concern.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases Delaware's personal income tax exclusion for pension income from $12,500 to $25,000 annually. It directly affects Delaware residents who receive pension income, allowing them to exclude more of that income when calculating their state taxable income. The key provision doubles the amount of pension earnings that are exempt from state taxation. This change reduces the state tax burden for qualifying pensioners without altering other tax rates or brackets.
This Act creates the criminal offense of endangering the welfare of a vulnerable adult. A person found guilty of endangering the welfare of a vulnerable adult is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 28 of Article IV of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly.
This Act strengthens Delaware’s existing Right to Farm laws by expanding protections for agricultural operations against nuisance lawsuits. Specifically, this Act removes the current requirement that an agricultural operation have existed for 1 year or more in order to benefit from statutory protections against nuisance suits. Under this Act, an agricultural operation cannot be deemed a nuisance as long as it is operating in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal requirements and is not being conducted in a negligent or improper manner. This protection cannot be used against a federal, state, or local agency that is enforcing air, water quality, or other environmental standards under federal, state, or local law. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution designates the Month of March 2025 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 and Delaware’s economy.