Blue Alert Bill Signed into Law Rep. Terry Schooley sponsored legislation that creates a Blue Alert system to aid in the capture of suspects who seriously injure or kill a law enforcement officer. Governor Markell signed the bill into law on August 26.

Barbieri Bill Giving Schools Flexibility with Discipline Signed into Law Governor Jack Markell signed House Bill 347 on August 25, which raises the minimum age of students at which schools must report misdemeanors to police. The bill increases the age from 9 to 12. Reps. Mike Barbieri and Darryl Scott were the sponsors of [more]...

Vulnerable Adult Abuse Bill Becomes Law Rep. Valerie Longhurst's vulnerable and infirm adult protection bill was signed into law by Governor Markell on July 16. The bill increases penalities for 50+ offenses committed against the elderly and infirm.

Protection From Abuse Legislation Becomes Law of Delaware Governor Markell signed legislation on July 12 that strengthens protection from abuse orders (PFAs) by extending PFA no contact provisions and setting circumstances under which these provisions can be extended for life. Rep. Mike Barbieri was the pri [more]...

Hands-Free Cell Phone Legislation Signed Into Law Governor Jack Markell signed legislation on July 6 sponsored by Dover Rep. Darryl Scott that requires drivers to use a hands-free device to talk on their cell phones. It goes into effect on January 2, 2011.

Bradley Bills Signed Into Law On June 30, Governor Markell signed a package of bills that stemmed from separate reviews the attorney general and governor ordered after Dr. Earl Bradley was arrested on charges that he allegedly molested over 100 young patients at his Lewes pediatr [more]...

Christening Tug Barge in Philadelphia Reps. Valerie Longhurst and Mike Mulrooney joined First Lady Carla Markell last month for the christening and naming of an articulated tug barge (OSG Vision) and the barge (350).

Bill Signings: House Bills 226, 386 and 387 Governor Jack Markell signed several bills into law on June 29 increasing the penalty for illegally carrying a concealed firearm and addressing special education due process hearings.

Governor Signs 'Business Finder's Fee' Bill Governor Jack Markell signed House Bill 380, sponsored by Rep. Brad Bennett, establishing the Business Finders Fee Tax Credit or BFF. The legislation creates incentives that aim to turn many existing employers into a sales force for the state by offe [more]...

'Cadillac-Style' Education Bill Signed Into Law Governor Jack Markell signed legislation sponsored by Rep. Quinn Johnson that will ensure that children with disabilities are provided the educational support to which they are entitled by local school districts. House Bill 328 will require Delaware [more]...

Rep. Longhurst reads to top readers at Barnes & Noble bookstore More than 100 Keene Elementary School students got to live the good life on Wednesday morning as their reward for completing a year-long reading program. Keene Elementary held a reading program that began last summer. Each student who read at leas [more]...

Delaware City Refinery to Reopen Reps. Valerie Longhurst and Mike Mulrooney were on hand on June 1 for the announcement that the former Valero refinery, shuttered last year, will reopen by April 2011 and put 600 back to work.

Rep. Scott Plants Community Garden with Students Rep. Darryl Scott recently organized a community garden project in which Dover High FFA students will tend to the tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash and herbs and donate the harvest to the Food Bank of Delaware.

Easter Seals Volleyball Trophy Presentation The annual Easter Seals volleyball match between House caucuses was won by the House Democrats this year, so the trophy resides with them until next spring.

Speaker Gilligan speaks to a class at the Academy of Lifelong Learning at the University of Delaware Monday, March 22, 2010

Reps. Jaques, Kowalko Launch Program to Aid Senior Center At a time when there is a greater need for social services and programs, Reps. John A. Kowalko and Earl G. Jaques Jr. have partnered with Reybold Group executive manager Jerry Heisler to launch a new effort to connect underserved seniors with many of [more]...

Central DE Legislators Deliver Clothing to Shelters and Senior Centers Reps. E. Bradford 'Brad' Bennett, William J. Carson Jr., S. Quinton 'Quinn' Johnson IV and Darryl M. Scott held their second cold-weather clothing drive this fall to collect jackets, sweaters and gloves for those who most need them to stay warm durin [more]...

Dover-Area Legislators Provide Funds for Puncheon Run Cleanup Residents of several south Dover communities are getting some relief from a flooding stream thanks in part to help from Rep. E. Bradford (Brad) Bennett and Sen. Brian J. Bushweller, who contributed some of their CTF money to help pay for the cleanup [more]...

School Discipline Task Force Continues Efforts Members of the House School Discipline Task Force met on December 2 to continue their review and discussion of revising and reforming school discipline policies. The task force is set to present its final report to the House by January 15.

Rep. Walls Presents Gift to Veterans Home On the day that the country pauses to thank its veterans, Rep. Robert E. Walls joined several elected and state officials at a ceremony at the 2-year-old Delaware Veterans Home in Milford. Rep. Walls presented the veterans with a framed seal for fall [more]...

Video Game Ratings PSA Kick-Off Rep. Helene M. Keeley and Sen. Bethany A. Hall-Long were joined by Governor Jack A. Markell Thursday, November 19, to kick off a public service campaign encouraging parents to check video game ratings before purchasing them for children.

Rep. Carson Presents Alzheimer's Awareness Month Tribute Acknowledging the challenges Delaware faces in the coming years, Rep. William J. Carson presented a tribute recently recognizing November as Alzheimers Awareness Month.

Disability History and Awareness Month Recognizing that awareness is an ongoing process not limited to one month of the year, lawmakers, educators, state officials, students and members of the disability community joined together at William Henry Middle School in Dover to raise awareness [more]...

Rep. Jaques Speaks to Fifth-Grade Students It was a family affair at Silver Lake Elementary School in Middletown, where Rep. Earl Jaques addressed about 50 fifth-grade students about U.S. and state government. One of their teachers was Rachel Jaques, the representative's daughter-in-law.

Health Conference at Delaware State University Even as Congress struggles to get its arms around health insurance reform, states are also working on helping the uninsured despite hard hits on state budgets around the country.

Sleeping Bag Drive Spearheaded by the Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens, along with the Department of Justice, Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council, members of the General Assembly and many others, 150 sleeping bags were collected for children [more]...

Capitol Park Clean-Up As a parent of two young children, I know that kids deserve the opportunity to play in a safe and clean environment. Being able to help clean up this park and provide a welcoming atmosphere for kids is one of the real joys of being in state governmen [more]...

Smyrna Teacher of the Year Tribute Smyrna School District teacher of the Year for 2009-2010, Lili Hemphill being presented a DE House of Representatives Tribute.

Rep. Barbieri Leads School Displine Task Force The meeting brought together leaders from education, criminal justice, and law enforcement to discuss the negative affects that Delaware's Zero Tolerance policy are having on our State.

HB 230 Bill Signing House Substitute 1 for House Bill 230, sponsored by House Speaker Rep. Robert F. Gilligan, DSherwood Park, will allow the state Department of Labor to hold construction businesses accountable and ensure that they are following the letter of the law [more]...

HB 152 and SB 177 Bill Signing House Bill 152 increases fines for all DUI offenses and creates new penalties for fifth and sixth offenses. Senate Bill 177 strengthens penalties for first-time DUI offenders with a BAC of .15 or higher.

Rep. Helene Keeley Distributes Backpacks in Wilmington Rep. Keeley, D-Wilmington South, handed out about 50 backpacks to kids at the Latin American Community Center in Wilmington on Wednesday afternoon, one of seven stops throughout her district to give out the supplies. The backpacks are designed for [more]...

SB 121 Bill Signing Markell signed Senate Bill 121 into law, which adds sexual orientation to the state's anti-discrimination statute, which already bans discrimination based on traits such as gender, age, religion, nationality and handicap.

Sussex Farmers Meet-and-Greet Reps. Atkins and Walls about a meet-and-greet they held on Tuesday for area farmers to chat with the secretaries of Agriculture and Natural Resources about issues facing their businesses.

FIOA is Signed Into Law Gov. Jack Markell joined lawmakers who have spent years advocating for open government to sign a bill putting the General Assembly under the Freedom of Information Act.

Energy Efficency Press Conference Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act of 2009 (S.B. 106). The legislation focuses on cost-effective energy efficiency that will bring a broad array of benefits to Delaware residents and businesses.

Delaware Police Memorial Service House Speaker Rep. Robert F. Gilligan, D-Sherwood Park, spoke in May at the police memorial service honoring law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Rep. Longhurst Goes Green! In coordination with HB 15 sponsored by Rep. Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, she, Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, D-Middletown, and Acme Markets, gave shoppers who exchanged their plastic bags a canvass tote for their grocercies instead.

Weekend of Service During January, Reps. Atkins, D-Millsboro, Bennett, D-Dover South, Carson, D-Smyrna, Johnson, D-Middletown, and Scott, D-Dover, coordinated with several businesses in their respective districts to collect cold weather clothing for residents in need

House Democrats Swear-In On January 13th the 145th General Assembly was sworn into office by Chief Magistrate, Alan Davis. House Democrats officially welcomed six freshman legislators to their ranks.