Delaware Business Times will recap each week of the 2020 Delaware General Assembly by tracking bills of interest in the state’s business community as they proceed through the legislative process.
A bill is first assigned to either a House of Representatives or Senate committee for hearings on its proposal within 12 days of introduction. After the hearing, the committee may vote to send the bill to the floor of the chamber for a full vote among members. If approved on the House or Senate floor, the bill is sent to the opposite chamber for a committee and floor vote. If approved there, Gov. John Carney will either sign or veto the bill.
Bills will be listed along with their primary sponsor. Committee votes are tracked in three numbers: Favorable, On Its Merits (meaning no opinion but willing to let full chamber weigh in) and Unfavorable. Full chamber votes are tracked in four numbers: Yes, No, Not Voting and Absent. There are 21 members of the Delaware Senate and 41 members of the Delaware House of Representatives.
Signed by governor
HB275 (Schwartzkopf)
Signed by the governor on March 3. Approved by Senate in 19-1-0-1 vote on Jan. 30. House approved bill in 40-0-0-1 vote on Jan. 16.
This bill permits the owner of a beer garden or food establishment to permit leashed dogs on licensed outdoor patios of food establishments and in beer gardens.
Legislature
House and Senate are currently in recess. This past week committees reviewed proposals for state bond funding. Few meetings are scheduled for next week, March 9-12, but committee hearings will start in earnest on March 18.
