3/10/25 Legislative Update
Joint Finance Committee spent the last six weeks discussing the FY 26 proposed budget. They’ve also held hearings about high electric bills and introduced legislation to provide consumers with financial assistance and change how Delmarva can make expenditures that impact resident’s bills.
The Senate intends to debate the controversial SB 21, which would make sweeping changes to Delaware’s Corporate Law. Edits to the bill are expected, however none have been made public yet.
Make Your Voice Heard
See below for some of the most notable bills in committee this week and how to give public comment. For length and clarity, we are only putting bills that need the most public input below. Bills in green are bills we generally support, bills in red are bills we generally oppose, and bills in yellow are neutral or unknown.
You can also check here for the full list of committee meetings and click “view” next to each meeting for the full agenda and additional information.
| Bill # | Sponsor | Summary/Description | Committee Meeting Info | Give Public Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB 15 | S. Moore/Townsend | Promotes child-centered learning by utilizing play-based instruction in early grades which aligns with research on early childhood development. However without dedicated funding or mandatory participation its impact may be limited across school districts. Expanding funding and oversight would strengthen its alignment with education reforms prioritizing equity, teacher support, and student well-being. | Wed 3/12 at 3:00pm | In Person at House Chamber or Zoom |
| HB 50 | Heffernan/Hansen | Establishes the Delaware Energy Fund to assist Delawareans with energy bill costs. | Wed 3/12 at 4pm | In Person in House Majority Hearing Room (H217) or Zoom |
| SB 21 | Townsend/Griffith | Makes sweeping changes to Delaware’s corporate legal framework. | Wed 3/12/2025 2:00 pm | In Person at Senate Chamber or on Zoom |
| SB 59 | Hansen/Heffernan | Requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to use “prudence standard” when determining if rate increases are necessary, rather than current “business judgment rule.” | Wed 3/12 at 10am | In Person at Senate Chamber or on Zoom |
| SB 60 | Hansen/Heffernan | Restricts utilities from using customer funds to subsidize unregulated activities (i.e. lobbying). Also caps annual capital expenses. | Wed 3/12 at 10am | In Person at Senate Chamber or on Zoom |
| SB 61 | Hansen/Heffernan | Requires disclosure of utility member votes cast at meetings of/on matters before PJM Interconnection. | Wed 3/12 at 10am | In Person at Senate Chamber or on Zoom |