On Tuesday May 29th I attended a meeting in Wilmington to discuss the proposed new state voting system with stakeholders. I had a conference call regarding the proposed changes to the Delaware criminal code. That evening I attended the Newark City Council meeting. On Wednesday I had a meeting with a leader of the state’s 211 service, and afterwards I attended the groundbreaking for the Newark Train Station rebuilding. On Friday morning I attended a meeting of the National Association of Women Business Owners, where I served on a panel of three legislators. I door knocked in College Park (on Madison Drive) on Saturday June 2nd. On Sunday the 3rd I met with a candidate for elected office, and I met with several residents with concerns about the White Clay Creek State Park.
On Monday the 4th I attended the monthly meeting of DelCOG (Delaware Coalition for Open Government) and presented a bill to revise the state’s cybersecurity council. That evening I attended the monthly meeting of the 23rd RD Democratic Committee. We had legislative session last week, Tuesday through Thursday. I met with Common Cause of Delaware for lunch on Tuesday, and met with students from Newark Charter School to discuss environmental policy and legislation. That evening I attended an Iftar dinner at the Aetna Fire Hall in Newark, after meeting with advocates for a bill to standardize the terms on contracts between investors and professional athletes.
On Wednesday the 6th I held my monthly coffee and was pleased to have Governor John Carney join us as our guest this month. On Thursday the 7th I attended a lunch event with the Delaware Chamber of Commerce, and after session joined my fellow colleagues at the Governor’s Dover residence. On Friday I attended the unveiling and dedication of the Sorenson’s Way greenway trail in Hockessin.
Emails—During the past two weeks I have had many emails related to filed and to-be filed legislation. This included bills from colleagues: SB172 (education transparency), SB 209&210 (criminal code rewrite), SB159 (auto dealer/manufacturer interactions), HB434 (contracts with professional athletes), SB130 (criminal justice reform), SB65 (debunked conversion therapy), SB139 (insurance coverage for IVF treatment), SB76 (apprenticeship program), filed and to-be filed manufactured housing bills, HB104 (improved payments for those providing services to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities), HB235 (neutering of feral cats), firearm violence prevention bills HB222, HB366, HB330, HB375, and SB163, and HB417 (capping the tax on ‘premium cigars’).
This included my bills: HB160 (End of Life Options Act), HB165 (direct shipment of wine), HB422 (homelessness council changes), HB423 (mechanics lien), HB429 (cyber security council changes), HB435 (enabling the City of Newark to institute a lodging tax), HB113 (Earned Income Tax Credit), and HB386 (insurance coverage for a condition called PANDAS/PANS).
I have had emails with various agencies regarding concerns, including Department of Elections (voting system changes), DelDOT (paving of Old Paper Mill Road and Main Street, responsibility for a portion of Virginia Place, street signs alerting drivers to children with disabilities, CTF projects especially those involving new ADA ramps, speed study in Nonantum Mills), DHSS (question about a new substance abuse division contractor), Newark Housing Authority (new board member candidates), Department of Education (regulation 225), and the Department of Finance (lottery kiosks).
I had emails with residents about topics including the National Popular Vote, banning polystyrene cups and containers, and straws, credit reporting standards, a Convention of the States, a request for an increase in the pension for retired state employees, the White Clay Creek State Park, polling places, and ADA ramps in communities.
On Tuesday the 5th we passed several bills including SB85 (school discipline best practices), HB259 (sentences for sexual offenses), HB352 (permitting child care providers to administer certain medication), HB382 (renaming the I95 rest stop after the Bidens), and HB405 (related to craft alcohol products). On June 6th the House passed my House Concurrent Resolution 90 recognizing the 74th anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy (D-Day).
We worked on many bills on the 7th, including two very important bills: HB399 (the Equal Rights Amendment), and HB222 (‘red flag’ bill for family members—lethal violence protection orders). We also passed HB368 (Green Alert program for missing members of the armed forces and veterans), HB401 (preparing for FDA approval of pharmaceuticals including CBD), SB65 (conversion therapy prohibition), SB80 (public utilities), HB354 (service animals), HB235 (neutering feral cats), SB139 (insurance coverage for IVF procedures), We passed to bills that I have prime-sponsored: HB165 (direct wine shipment to consumers), and HB435 (City of Newark lodging tax bill)