And so it Begins

This Tuesday, January 14th, marks the start of the 153rd General Assembly. It’s a significant day as all re-elected and newly elected legislators will be sworn in at Legislative Hall. Among the 41 Representatives, we have six newcomers. Take note of these names, remember them. You’ll want to get familiar with the types of bills they choose to sponsor and how they vote. Those names are: 

Be sure to pray for them as they prepare to step into their new roles! Being a shepherd of government is nothing to take lightly. Over the next 2 years, they will be responsible for each new bill added to Delaware law and the amendment or removal of those that already exist. 

While there were no immediate changes for the Senate in November’s elections, there are two vacancies that will trigger a special election in the next few weeks. Kyle Evans Gay of SD5 and Sarah McBride of SD1 have shifted their focus to other offices. McBride officially resigned earlier this month to take the DE Congressional seat in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Gay’s resignation is still pending.

Once Gay officially steps down, a Writ of Election must be issued within 10 days. That will trigger a special election, which is expected to occur in early February, based on the timeline.

Speaking of swearing-ins, gubernatorial candidate Bethany Hall-Long was sworn in as Governor on January 7th. Now, I know what you’re thinking: Wait, didn’t Matt Meyer win the gubernatorial race? You’re absolutely right—he did.

Here’s what happened: Former Governor John Carney resigned on January 7th to take his new position as Mayor of Wilmington. As the sitting Lieutenant Governor, Hall-Long automatically became Governor. Her tenure will be short, though. On January 21st, Matt Meyer will be sworn in as Governor, and Kyle Evans Gay will officially take the Lieutenant Governor position.

Now, let’s talk about what’s coming up in the General Assembly. Even though the Session officially starts on January 14th, legislators have been busy pre-filing bills since early December. One major issue we know is coming back to the table … Assisted suicide. The bill was filed on December 19th, and we expect it to be heard within the first few weeks of Session.

In addition to bills, the new rules for the upcoming Session were established. The rules are always a rather comprehensive list to guide officials in every legislative process. It outlines everything from how bills are filed to disciplinary actions for disorderly conduct by members.

Notably, Senate Republicans proposed amendments aimed at improving transparency and accountability. These included ensuring the public gets at least two minutes to testify in committee, limiting the number of bills each legislator can file annually, and requiring voice votes in Senate committees, similar to the House.

Unfortunately, all these amendments were defeated along party lines, with Senate Democrats unanimously opposing them. It’s a disappointing start for measures that could have strengthened transparency and public trust.


As the Session kicks off, several key bills will return for discussion, including measures to protect minors from pornographic materials and ensure women are at the very least offered ultrasound an prior to an abortion. These should be bipartisan efforts, but the Democratic majority in the House and supermajority in the Senate might make it challenging for these Republican led bills to move forward.

If the defeat of transparency amendments is any indication, we could be in for an extremely contentious Session. Be encouraged that even in the most difficult of seasons, we have the opportunity to advance truth. One person, well-equipped, and strategically placed … will 👏🏾 take 👏🏾 territory👏🏾!

 

As always, I’ll be here each week to break down what’s happening. Later in the week, we’ll cover the ceremonial aspects of the first week of Session and any new developments.

Translate »