Early House leadership discourse is conciliatory as liberal politics takes further hold

Bradley VasoliGovernment, Government & Politics, Headlines

By Bradley Vasoli Liberal politics are on a steady march in the Delaware House of Representatives. The shift reached a milestone in September when progressive Kamela Smith defeated Speaker Valerie Longhurst (D-Bear) in their state House primary. The trend continued with the Democrats boosting their chamber majority by one seat in the general election earlier this month. And the leftward …

While those in the hearing acknowledged most tow companies are operating in an ethical way, some have poor practices that HB 351 would seek to prevent.

Tow companies with predatory practices under heat

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

A bill aimed at cracking down on predatory practices from towing companies flew through the House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee meeting Tuesday. House Bill 351, sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, creates the following requirements for the towing and storage of vehicles without the consent of the owner or operator:  Photographic evidence must be taken to document the …

Another cannabis-related bill has passed the Delaware House of Representatives.

House calls for state to let banks finance cannabis businesses

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

A bill that would help cannabis-related businesses with financing and accounting was passed unanimously by the state House Thursday. House Bill 355, sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, provides legal protections for financial institutions and other entities that provide financial or accounting services to cannabis-related businesses that are licensed or registered under Delaware law. It clarifies that banks, credit unions, …

smyrna marijuana

Marijuana laws come with price tag for 2 state departments

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

This story has been updated to correct tax and licensing information. Marijuana – and the implications of its legalization in Delaware on certain state agencies – was part of the discussion in Wednesday’s Joint Finance Committee hearings. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security is set to receive a little over $5 million of the total request is specifically in …

About 30% of the state's marijuana card holders are 65 or older.

Law allowing elders to self-certify for marijuana card passes House

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Another marijuana law – sponsored by the apparent champion of cannabis in the state legislature, received some opposition in the House Thursday before ultimately passing. House Bill 285, sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, who has been a champion of marijuana in the state legislature, would allow Delawareans 65 or older to obtain a medical marijuana card without their doctor’s …

Proposed bills would create funding for school athletic trainers and allow students to participate in extracurriculars even with lunch debt. (Photo courtesy of Nick Halliday)

Law would create funding for every school to have athletic trainer

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Extracurriculars ruled the day in Wednesday’s House Education Committee meeting.  House Bill 244, sponsored by Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, would provide funding for every public high school in the state to have a full-time athletic trainer. The funding would be phased over the next three fiscal years. Both the state and local districts would allocate money for the athletic …

Medical marijuana has been legal in Delaware since 2011.

Should those 65-plus get marijuana card without doc consent?

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

A bill that would allow Delawareans 65 or older to obtain a medical marijuana card without their doctor’s approval got some pushback Wednesday in a legislative hearing. House Bill 285, sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark would allow the state’s elders to self-certify for the card without a certification from a health-care provider, circumventing the doctor-patient relationship. Oseinski said those …

The proposed legislation would eliminate a requirement of receiving a medical marijuana registry card.

New bill would expand access to medical marijuana cards

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Delaware Democrats filed new legislation Thursday that would enhance patient access to medical marijuana and revamp the framework of the Delaware Medical Marijuana Act.  House Bill 285, sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, would remove the requirement that a patient must have a debilitating medical condition to qualify for a registry identification card.  Instead, health-care providers would determine whether a …