Sen. Brian Pettyjohn

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 108) designates October 20-26, 2025, as "Free Speech Week" in Delaware. It is a commemorative resolution with no binding legal effect, intended to recognize and promote awareness of free speech principles. The resolution does not create new laws, alter existing policies, or directly affect any individuals or groups. It serves solely as a symbolic observance by the state legislature.

This Act requires that Department of Finance employees submit to criminal background checks and are subject to continuous criminal history monitoring.  It also authorizes the Department to submit contractors or third parties, that require or may require access to Department systems, facilities, or data, to submit to a criminal background check and continuous criminal history monitoring.

This Act expands the statute for obtaining criminal background checks from just employees and contractors within the Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance who have access to federal tax information, to all new hires, transfers, promotions, contractors, subcontractors, and volunteers of the following departments, divisions, and offices: (1) Division of Unemployment Insurance; (2) Division of Paid Leave; (3) IT staff of the Department of Labor; (4) Individuals with access to the Workers’ Compensation Second Injury Fund within the Division of Industrial Affairs; and (5) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors within the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation who work one-on-one with vulnerable clients. This Act also allows the Delaware State Bureau of Identification to provide criminal history record information that arises after the date the background check is completed, known as rap back, and requires current employees of various divisions and positions within the Department of Labor to submit fingerprints so the Department may be notified if an employee’s criminal history record information changes. Finally, this Act moves the background check provision contained in Chapter 33 to Chapter 1 of Title 19, given its broader scope.

This Act replaces the phrase "United States Armed Forces or of the National Guard" with "uniformed services of the United States," and defines "uniformed services of the United States" as meaning any of the 8 of the United States service branches and the National Guard. Usage of "Armed Forces" or "military" is often misunderstood to mean only the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Space Force, and United States Coast Guard. Using "uniformed services of the United States" more accurately includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corp. This Act makes clear that veterans all 8 services branches are qualified to obtain veteran designation on their driver licenses. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This bill will improve customer service by extending the due date on toll violations from the thirty-first day to the sixty-first day, after the date the violation is transmitted. This bill amends the administrative fee by stating that the fee may be "up to" $25.

This Resolution recognizes and commends the crew and family members of the USS Delaware (SSN-791) for their continued dedication to the United States Armed Forces. It also recognizes the Delaware Submarine Association for its role in supporting the morale, wellbeing, and recreation of the crew and families of the USS Delaware, as well to encourage, advocate, and generate statewide support for the crew of the submarine.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 112) designates October 28, 2025, as "National First Responders Day" within Delaware. It is a ceremonial measure with no associated policy changes or funding, solely intended to recognize first responders. The resolution directly affects Delaware residents by establishing an official state observance day. It does not alter any laws, regulations, or services for first responders. The bill serves only to formally acknowledge their work on this specific date.

Apprenticeship and workplace-based training are “earn while you learn” systems that offer young people the chance to learn from the best trained construction workers in Delaware. Skilled craft apprenticeship programs offer the necessary capacities, resources, and flexibility needed to help low-income, minority, and female workers achieve and retain construction careers, while simultaneously assisting local construction employers obtain the skilled workforce they need to help drive growth in their local labor markets. This bill removes the “buy-out” for contractors to avoid participating in apprentice programs by paying into the Apprenticeship and Training Fund created in 2021. This “buy-out” benefits bad actors or those businesses only coming into Delaware to work on state taxpayer-funded projects whereas most Delaware merit shops and 100 percent of union shops have apprentice and training programs. The “buy out” also incentivizes contractors or never create training because the maximum cost of the buy-out is less than the cost to operate, fund, or participate in an apprentice program.

Maddy summaryHCR 75 is a ceremonial resolution honoring young women from Delaware participating in the 2025 Delaware Girls State program. It directly recognizes high school students involved in this youth government program, which teaches civic engagement. The resolution serves as a formal acknowledgment from the Delaware General Assembly, passed by both the House and Senate, but does not create new laws or affect any policies. It has no legal effect beyond expressing legislative support for the participants.

This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that requires a person holding elected office to resign from office before being eligible as a candidate for a different elected office. Elected office includes the office of the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, the General Assembly, and any other state, county, or municipal position that is selected by voters in an election in this State. The Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, however, are not required to resign from office should they run for a different elected office. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution.