May 22, 2026 Delaware House - Republican Caucus The Delaware Economic Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC) issued its latest state revenue estimate earlier this week for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2027, which begins July 1. This estimate is the fourth in a series of five and will play a major role in determining state spending. By law, Delaware budget writers can appropriate no more than 98% of expected state revenue. Since the last forecast was issued in March, the amount of an

May 22, 2026 By Stacie Beck, Ph.D. Senior Fellow, Caesar Rodney Institute; Retired Professor, University of Delaware When state employees collectively bargain for wages and working conditions, elected lawmakers still hold the “purse strings” and have the final say. Major expenses like healthcare and pensions are set by the legislature. Under House Bill 234 (HB 234), this vital taxpayer safeguard could be wiped out. By making collective bargaining a broad constitutional ri

May 22, 2026 Delaware House Republicans IN PHOTO, FROM LEFT: House Judiciary Committee members, State Reps. Jeff Hilovsky and Charles Postles (R-Milford North) listen to testimony during Wednesday's hearing on House Bill 418. A bill seeking to circumvent ongoing litigation over a controversial state gun law will advance after clearing a House committee earlier this week, despite unanswered questions over its legality or practicality. Under a 2021 state law, it is a felony o

May 22, 2026 Delaware Senate Republicans Yesterday afternoon in the Delaware Senate was defined by lengthy debate, significant policy disagreements, and several important votes that will now move on to the House of Representatives. Over the course of nearly six hours of debate, senators considered legislation ranging from public school construction and firearm dealer regulations to veteran recognition and practical quality-of-life reforms. Some measures earned bipartisan supp

May 20, 2026

May 21, 2026 Delaware Business Times Matthew Hill is the Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy President at ALOFT AeroArchitects and lives in Sussex County, Delaware. For decades, the First State has quietly produced critical products that make outsized contributions to American air superiority. The defense community has relied on our manufacturers for decades to produce specialized parts, technologies, and services that enable the U.S. military to complete their missions safe

May 15, 2026 DE House - Republican Caucus Two bills under consideration at Legislative Hall seek to help working Delawareans keep more of the money they earn and increase the affordability of childcare. House Bill 387, a bipartisan measure sponsored by State Reps. Jeff Hilovsky, in photo (R-Long Neck, Oak Orchard), and Melanie Ross Levin (D-Tallleyville), would increase state subsidies for childcare — a.k.a. Purchase of Care. At present, program eligibility is capped at 200%

May 15, 2026 DE House - Republican Caucus In an effort to encourage the development and use of sustainable hemp products, the 2018 federal Farm Bill created a carve-out for a wide range of items that previously would have been banned because of the plant's close relationship with marijuana. In fact, hemp and marijuana are the same plant species, but classified differently due to their relative levels of THC, the naturally occurring chemical responsible for marijuana's intoxic

May 14, 2026 State Rep. Bryan Shupe HB 317 passed unanimously out of committee Thank you to the House Elections Committee for unanimously passing my bill, HB 317. This legislation requires the DMV and Department of Elections to review individuals who went through automatic voter registration to ensure they meet the legal requirements for age, residency, and U.S. citizenship. Working with DMV, we identified approximately 50,000 people who need additional review because of docu

May 14, 2026 Olivia Marble, Spotlight Delaware Dense housing developments, such as this one near Cape Henlopen High School, are being pushed by Delaware officials. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY OLIVIA MARBLE Why Should Delaware Care? Housing costs are rising in Delaware, leading to strained budgets, longer commutes and an increase in the homeless population. A new bill attempts to fix the problem by imposing stricter requirements on municipalities’ zoning codes, which opponen

May 13, 2026 news.delaware.gov Reservations No Longer Required For Seven Other Beaches Following 2025 Change The popular 3R’s Beach at Delaware Seashore State Park is one of five drive-on beaches that require surf fishing reservations in summer, while DNREC suspended reservations for seven other drive-on beaches in 2025. Photo by DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced that reservations will be r

May 13, 2026 State Senator Richard Bryant As the 153rd General Assembly comes to a close on June 30, a number of bills to reduce the tax burden on hard-working Delawareans and those who serve us in the military, are under consideration. Following are summaries of the bills that will be heard in committee over the next few weeks: Armed Forces Tax Act This Act provides an exemption from state income tax for the amount of income or compensation received for federally req

Jennifer Antonik, Delaware Business Times DOVER — Delaware lawmakers moved to cement the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC), ending its decades-long existence by executive order. The Senate voted unanimously to approve House Substitute 1 for House Bill 370 on Tuesday night. Known as the DuPont-Cook Financial Responsibility Act, the bill seeks to codify the fiscal forecasting body that has guided Delaware budget decisions since 1977. The measure will now

May 12, 2026 Nick, Stonesifer, Spotlight Delaware Why Should Delaware Care? For months, local residents have railed against Georgetown leaders as homelessness in the area has burgeoned. A slate of candidates backed by a local citizens group swept in municipal elections this weekend. Georgetown residents elected a new mayor and town council member by wide margins this weekend, a manifestation of the growing disillusion with the current council’s ability to manage homelessness

May 12, 2026 Melissa Steele, Cape Gazette SOURCE: ADOBE STOCK/Erik_AJV Experts shared information about small nuclear reactors versus large, and community concerns over radioactive waste during the May 4 Nuclear Feasibility Task Force meeting. Kenya Stump, executive director for the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, gave a report on Kentucky’s approach to acquiring nuclear energy, saying community outreach is necessary for success. X-Energy, a company specializing in small mo

May 12, 2026 State Rep. Kevin Hensley (R-Odessa), first elected to the Delaware House of Representatives in 2014, today announced that he will not be seeking another term in November. Citing recent health challenges, Rep. Hensley stated that he has decided to not seek re-election. He will complete the remainder of his current term, which ends in November 2026. Rep. Hensley said, “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of the 9th District. I am deeply gra

May 12, 2026 DOVER, DE — Senator Bryant Richardson (R-Seaford) and Representative Bryan Shupe (R-Milford South, Ellendale) last week introduced Senate Bill 299, legislation aimed at providing tax relief to Delawareans who work overtime to support their families and communities. SB 299 would establish a Delaware personal income tax credit of up to $15,000 on overtime income earned under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. The credit w

May 9, 2026 38th District and Southern Delaware Republican Club In a major development, the scheduled May 14 court hearing in the challenge to DNREC’s approval of the coastal construction permit for the US Wind project has been postponed by the Court. Attorneys Jane Brady and Stephani Ballard, representing the Caesar Rodney Institute and other challengers, requested the delay—and the Court agreed. The delay comes because the same legal team is simultaneously engaged in a high

May 8, 2026 Kevin T. Conlon, Cape Gazette A $300 million draft budget for Sussex County's Fiscal Year 2027 holds the tax rate steady while initiating fees to help fund public school expansion projects and increasing support for fire departments. Sussex County Council reviewed the budget at a May 5 meeting. Finance Director Gina Jennings led much of the budget presentation, followed by department heads who explained their proposed spending plans. The budget ordinance will be i

May 8, 2026 Delaware House Republicans A bill proposing significant changes to gender designations on documents used for basic identification was released from the House Health and Human Development Committee on Wednesday after a contentious hearing. Sponsored by State Rep. Eric Morrison (D-Glasgow), House Bill 375 would create a new "unspecified gender" designation for government documents, including birth certificates, driver’s licenses, marriage licenses, and death certifi