Sen. Jack Walsh

Maddy summaryThis bill officially sets the estimated revenue and available funds for the state's Fiscal Year 2024 budget. It establishes the specific financial figures that government agencies will use to plan their spending for the year. The measure was passed by both the House and Senate and signed into law by the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially sets the projected revenue, refunds, and available funds for the state's General Fund for the upcoming fiscal year 2025. It serves as a formal estimate to guide budget planning and financial management for state agencies and departments. By establishing these specific numbers, the legislation provides a baseline for how much money the state expects to collect and spend in the coming year.

This bill eliminates the requirement that Justice of the Peace Court constables reside within the State of Delaware. The residency requirement was established when Constables were independent officers, and had their own bonding requirements and penalties for failure to do the business of the Court. Constables are now employees of the Justice of the Peace Court and the residency requirement is no longer needed. The removal of the requirement will allow the Justice of the Peace Court to recruit from a larger pool of candidates and to retain existing trained and skilled employees.

Maddy summarySB 325 allocates state funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, covering expenses for various state government agencies and departments. The bill also establishes specific rules and limits on how these funds can be spent and updates related laws to reflect those requirements. By passing both legislative chambers and receiving the governor's signature, the act officially authorizes the release of money to support state operations for the upcoming year.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a one-time funding allocation of $168,362,517 to the Office of Management and Budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The money is designated to support specific one-time projects managed by that office. The legislation was passed by both the Senate and the House and was signed into law by the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 475 authorizes the State of Delaware and the Delaware Transportation Authority to issue bonds and allocate funds for capital improvements during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The bill allows the state to sell general obligation bonds and the transportation authority to sell revenue bonds to raise money for infrastructure projects. It also directs the use of existing funds from the Transportation Trust Fund and other state accounts to support these initiatives. By amending relevant statutes, the legislation sets specific rules and limits on how these financial resources can be spent.

This Act provides supplementary appropriations to certain Grants-in-Aid recipients for Fiscal Year 2025. Section 1 – Government Units and Senior Centers $ 34,521,948 Section 2 – One-Times and Community Agencies $ 51,643,425 Section 3 – Fire Companies and Public Service Ambulance Companies $ 11,634,433 Section 4 – Veterans Organizations $ 698,220 GRAND TOTAL $ 98,498,026

This Act brings the State in compliance with the federal regulation published by FMCSA on October 7, 2021, to establish a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse as mandated by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). This act established requirements for Division access to and use of driver-specific drug and alcohol program violation information contained in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The Act prohibits the Division from issuing, renewing, upgrading, or transferring a commercial driver license (CDL) or commercial learner’s permit (CLP), as applicable, for any individual prohibited under FMCSA regulations from driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), due to one or more drug and alcohol program violations. In addition, the Division must, upon notification that a driver is prohibited from operating a CMV due to a drug and alcohol program violation, initiate the downgrade process to remove the CLP or CDL privilege from the driver’s license within 60 days. This Federal requirement must be enacted by states by November 18, 2024.

This is a substitute for House Bill No. 326. Non-profit hospitals are granted tax-exempt status on the premise that they serve a vital role in promoting the health and well-being of the communities they serve. Community benefit spending is a means by which hospitals fulfill this obligation. Such spending includes activities like providing uncompensated care, supporting medical research, offering health education and prevention programs, subsidizing community clinics, and addressing social determinants of health. Like House Bill No. 326, this substitute bill requires Delaware’s non-profit hospitals to provide the state and public with an annual report outlining their community benefits spending, bringing Delaware in line with 31 other states, including all of Delaware’s neighboring states, that require reporting. Like House Bill No. 326, this substitute bill defines “community benefits program,” outlines the minimum contents that must be included in a community benefits activity report, and requires that the report be made available to the public. This substitute contains provisions allowing the report to be submitted electronically to State officials on an annual basis. It differs from the original bill in that the deadline for submitting the report is changed from January 31 of each year to 30 days after a hospital files a federal Form 990. This substitute also contains technical changes to reference and accord with appropriate law and regulations, and broadens the list of information that must be included in the community benefits report.

This Bill would reinstate language formerly in the Delaware Code which would permit insurance agents to issue checks to policyholders in time sensitive situations without having to qualify as claims adjusters. This practice would be subject to regulation by the Department of Insurance.