Sen. Brian Pettyjohn

This Act is the second leg of a constitutional amendment to add race, color, and national origin to § 21 of Article I of the Delaware Constitution to explicitly declare that protection against discrimination based on race, color, and national origin is one of Delaware's fundamental rights. The first leg of this constitutional amendment was Senate Bill 191 of the 150th General Assembly, published in Chapter 287 of Volume 82 of the Laws of Delaware. On passage of this second leg by this General Assembly this amendment will become part of the Delaware Constitution. Since the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted on July 9, 1868, with Delaware ratifying it in 1901, at least 15 states have added a provision to their state constitution that prohibits the denial or abridgement of equal rights under the law based on race, color, or national origin. In 2019, Delaware amended the state constitution to prohibit the denial or abridgement of equal rights under the law based on sex, but no such prohibition exists as to race, color, or national origin. 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.

This joint resolution rejects the 2021 report of the Delaware Compensation Commission in its entirety.

On November 3, 2015, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report titled "Elevated Rates of Urban Firearm Violence and Opportunities for Prevention – Wilmington, Delaware" in which the CDC made 2 major recommendations: (1) the creation and adoption of a robust risk assessment tool and (2) an integrated, statewide data collection system. To date, no meaningful action has been taken at any level to implement the CDC's recommendations. This Act adopts the CDC's recommendations and directs the pertinent State agencies to implement these recommendations.

Title 3 and Title 7 do not currently define the term “farm” and Title 3 does not currently define the term “farm operations.” This Act defines “farm” and “farming operations” for the purposes of Title 3 and Title 7. This Act amends the definition of “farm operations” in Title 7 to make it consistent with the definition added to Title 3. Under this Act, “farm” means the land, buildings, and machinery used in a farm operation; “farm operations” means a condition or activity that occurs on a farm in connection with the production of agriculture, livestock, dairy, poultry, or aquacultural products for sale and has annual sales of at least $2,000.

This Senate Resolution proclaims January 22, 2021 as "Sanctity of Human Life Day" in Delaware.

This Concurrent Resolution provides for a Joint Session of the Senate and the House of Representatives to be convened for the purpose of hearing an address by the Honorable John C. Carney, Jr., Governor of the State of Delaware.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution proclaims January 23, 2021, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in the State of Delaware.

This Resolution condemns the violence at and assault on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021; commits the Senate to peaceful, thoughtful, and respectful discourse in the conduct of public business; and expresses gratitude to the members of the Delaware National Guard.

This House Concurrent Resolution honors Delaware's first responders and essential workers who have continued performing duties that are vital to the health, safety, and well-being of all Delawareans as we combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

This Resolution enacts the Rules of the Senate for the 151st General Assembly until further action of the Senate.