Government and Elections

Accessible government which is both responsive to the public and protective of consumers is important to our quality of life. In addition, free, fair and secure elections are vital to the preservation of our democracy. Barriers which have served to suppress public participation or voter participation in the past must give way to new ways of encouraging participation in our democracy.

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A few of the bills that I have sponsored and which are now law include:

  • Authorization for virtual public meetings (Prime sponsor of SB 94 w/SA 1; 151st GA) In order to enable greater participation by the public and by board or commission members with a disability or difficulty traveling, this Act allows any public body to hold a virtual meeting if there is a physical anchor location where the public can attend the meeting in person and other notice and access requirements are met.

  • Authorization for public access to de-identified accident data (Prime sponsor of SB 28 w/SA 1; 151st GA) Access to the crash history of intersections will enable the public to weigh in on development discussions and roadway projects. This Act represents the consensus agreement among the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, and stakeholders to provide the public with access to de-identified accident data. 

  • Authorization for remote notarizations (Prime Sponsor of SB 243 in 150th GA, and Senate prime sponsor of HB 216 in 151st GA).  The effect of these bills is to authorize remote notarization and witnessing by Delaware attorneys via audio-visual technology so that important documents such as wills and land transfers can be effective without in-person legal representation through June 30, 2022. 

  • Protections against price gouging during the COVID-19 recovery period (Co-sponsor of SB 243; 150th GA)  This Act ensures that the price protections for Delawareans related to price gouging put in place during the COVID-19 state of emergency do not cease immediately upon the lifting of the COVID-19 state of emergency, but instead continue during the COVID-19 recovery period.

  • Opposition to unfair energy pricing (Co-sponsor of SJR 1; 149th GA) This Joint Resolution opposes the cost allocation of the Artificial Island Transmission Project as unfair and unduly burdensome to the ratepayers of Delaware and urges PJM to join with Delaware in contesting the cost allocation in the proceedings pending before Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

  • Protection for consumers in contracts with automatic renewal provisions (Co-sponsor of SS 1 for SB 93; 151st GA) This law is aimed at protecting consumers by requiring that evergreen clauses be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner and that sellers of such contracts provide notice to consumers about an upcoming renewal. It also requires sellers of such contracts to provide consumers with a means to cancel the contract that is at least as easy to use as the means available to sign up for the contract and that a consumer who signs up for a covered contract online must be able to cancel online. 

  • Access to personal property within a towed vehicle (Co-sponsor of HB 223; 151st GA) This Act clarifies that when a motor vehicle is subject to a possessory lien either through towing or because of failure to make payment to a garage owner for services rendered to the motor vehicle, the possessory lien does not extend to personal property located in the motor vehicle, and such property shall be returned to the owner if the owner claims the items prior to the sale of such vehicle.

  • Automatic voter registration (Co-sponsor of SB 5; 151st GA) This Act stipulates that an unregistered adult citizen who provides proof of U.S. citizenship during a DMV license or identification card transaction will be automatically registered to vote by the Department of Elections, if otherwise eligible for registration and it grants the State Election Commissioner the authority to implement automatic voter registration at other state agencies that already offer voter registration services under existing law.

  • Authorization of early voting (Co-sponsor of HB 38; 150th GA) This Act establishes in-person early voting in Delaware beginning January 1, 2022. Registered voters will be allowed to vote in-person during at least 10 days before an election, up to and including the Saturday and Sunday immediately before the election at locations determined by the State Election Commissioner. 

  • PENDING: No-excuse absentee voting (Senate Prime sponsor of HB 73) AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO VOTING. This Act is a first leg of a constitutional amendment that would eliminate from the Delaware Constitution the limitations as to when an individual may vote by absentee ballot. Although this passed the 150th GA, it must also pass the 151st GA in order to be effective.