Week in Review: Snow Day, a Responsible Budget(?), and Key Policy Debates in Dover

January 30, 2026

Delaware Senate Republicans

This past week in Dover was shorter than planned but still eventful, with major policy discussions unfolding despite winter weather disruptions.

Session Canceled Due to Winter Weather

The General Assembly did not convene on Tuesday as a result of the weekend snowstorm, lingering ice on roadways, and dangerously cold temperatures. With public safety and travel conditions in mind, legislative business resumed later in the week.

Hocker Advances Legislation to Lower Electric Bills

On Wednesday, Senate Republican Leader Gerald Hocker introduced Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 64, updating legislation first proposed last year to ensure that certain revenues generated through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) are returned directly to Delaware electric customers.

The revised bill preserves funding for existing energy efficiency, low-income assistance, and greenhouse gas reduction programs at current levels, while directing any funds raised above 2025 levels toward an on-bill rebate program for ratepayers statewide.

As energy costs continue to rise, SS1 for SB 64 keeps the focus on affordability and accountability, making sure RGGI does not become an expanding revenue source for the state while families and small businesses struggle to keep up with their monthly electric bills.

The bill has been assigned to the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee, with a hearing date expected soon.

Bipartisan Bills to Expand Workforce Mobility

Also on Wednesday, Senator Eric Buckson introduced three bipartisan bills aimed at expanding workforce mobility and supporting military families.

Senate Bills 216, 217, and 218 would adopt interstate licensure compacts for respiratory therapists, cosmetologists, and massage therapists, allowing qualified professionals to work across state lines without navigating duplicative licensing requirements.

These bills address workforce shortages while easing burdens on military members and spouses who relocate frequently in service to our country. The legislation preserves state regulatory authority, maintains public health and safety standards, and reflects a practical, bipartisan approach to getting people to work faster.

The bills are currently assigned to the Senate Legislative Oversight & Sunset Committee.

Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act Heard in Committee

The Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act (SB 215), sponsored by Senator Bryant Richardson, was heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.

The legislation was drafted to uphold the principles of Title IX and protect female student-athletes both on and off the field. While the bill ultimately did not advance out of committee, the hearing featured compelling testimony from female athletes who competed at the high school and collegiate levels.

Among the witnesses was a two-time Women’s College World Series champion who belongs to the first generation of women to benefit from the passage and implementation of Title IX.

Republicans continue to believe these conversations are worth having and that the voices of female athletes deserve to be heard.

Republicans Respond to Governor Meyer’s FY 2027 Budget

On Thursday, House and Senate Republicans held a joint press conference following Governor Matt Meyer’s presentation of his recommended Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

Leaders from both caucuses expressed cautious optimism, noting a meaningful shift toward fiscal restraint compared to budgets proposed in recent years under the prior administration. Most notably, the Governor’s proposal slows operating budget growth to under 5 percent and significantly reduces the state’s projected structural deficit by more than 70 percent without tapping Delaware’s Budget Stabilization Fund.

That said, Republicans were clear that final judgment will wait.

As House Republican Whip Jeff Spiegelman emphasized, “the devil is in the details.” Lawmakers will reserve full evaluation until the budget is reviewed line by line and vetted through the Joint Finance Committee’s markup hearings, which begin next week.

While not every policy choice in the proposal aligns with Republican priorities, particularly regarding proposed tax and fee increases, the overall framework reflects principles Republicans have long advocated: responsible growth, reduced reliance on one-time funds, and more honest budgeting.

Joint Finance Committee

With the Joint Finance Committee set to meet this coming Tuesday, February 3, and throughout the month of February into the first week of March, the General Assembly will not return to session until Tuesday, March 10.