Statehouse Business: Week 4

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.

The House and Senate are currently in recess. The Joint Finance Committee is meeting to review the governor’s budget proposal.

The departments and agencies that were reviewed this week included:

Office of Management and Budget

Department of Human Resources

Department of Finance

Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens

Delaware Institute of Veterinary Medical Education

Delaware National Guard

Department of Insurance Department of State

Delaware Tech Delaware State University

University of Delaware