Social Justice
Long overdue discussions on race, equality, and social justice are changing the way we live in our
communities and I am honored to be a part of that change. Peaceful demonstrations showing a unity of
spirit and a willingness to engage in productive discussions hold the best chance of making lasting
change in our society.
A few of the bills that I have sponsored and which are now law include:
Equal Rights Amendment (Co-sponsor of SB 31; 151 st GA) This Act is the second leg of a constitutional amendment to add race, color, and national origin to § 21 of Article I of the Delaware Constitution to explicitly declare that protection against discrimination based on race, color, and national origin is one of Delaware’s fundamental rights.
Removing barriers to re-entry (Co-sponsor of SB 66; 151st GA) This Act exempts an individual from having to pay the revoked license or driving privileges reinstatement fee if the individual is eligible for and applies for reinstatement of the individual’s license or driving privileges within 1 year of their release from Department of Correction Level V supervision. The purpose of this Act is to limit financial barriers that may impede an individual from successfully reintegrating into the community after that individual has served their time.
Religious Freedom for All Act (Co-sponsor of SB 72; 151st GA) This Act clarifies that discrimination against any person because of religion is illegal under the Delaware Equal Accommodations Act. This Act adds the term “religion” to the list of prohibited bases for discrimination and defines “religion” to include all aspects of religious observance and practice, not just belief.
Review of use of deadly force incidents (Co-sponsor of SB 148; 151 st GA) This Act expands the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust’s responsibility to review deadly use of force incidents by law enforcement by adding review of cases involving serious physical injury. It also requires that if the Division issues a public report on the use of force, the report must include the race of the law enforcement officer who used force, the race of the individual on whom force was used, and whether race was a relevant or motivating factor.
Work experience and job skills training for re-entry (Co-sponsor of SB 158; 151st GA) This bill expands prison-based jobs to provide work experience and job skill training and will assist offenders with reentry, while also maintaining Department of Correction (“DOC”) facilities.
Removal of race from marriage application (Co-sponsor of SB 194; 150th GA) This Act removes the requirement that applicants for a marriage license state their race as part of the application process.
Ban on chokeholds (Co-sponsor of HB 350; 150th GA) This Act creates the crime of Aggravated Strangulation. A person is guilty of Aggravated Strangulation if the person is a law-enforcement officer, and while acting within the person’s official capacity as a law-enforcement officer, knowingly or intentionally uses a chokehold on another person. Under this Act, a chokehold is only justifiable when the person reasonably believes deadly force is warranted in order to protect the life of a civilian or law-enforcement officer.
Dedication of a state historic marker recognizing the important place in history of the Louis L. Redding Comprehensive High School in Middletown with some former alumni. April, 2019.
Delaware’s Indian community is one of the fastest growing constituencies in Delaware, particularly right here in the MOT area, and I have worked hard as your state Senator to make sure we are welcoming and embracing our new neighbors.
That is why it was my deep honor to be invited by members of the Andhra Pradesh community to the inaugural Shravana Mahostavalu celebration at Appoquinimink High School over the weekend, which drew hundreds of young families to our community.
A state in the southern coastal region of India, the government of Andhra Pradesh has made incredible progress on renewable energy production and storage this year.
India last week also became just the fourth nation to land on the moon and the very first to visit its south pole. That spacecraft was launched from Andhra Pradesh!
Thank you so much to the Andhrapradesh American Association for welcoming me to not only speak at your first event here in Delaware, but to join you in lighting the diya – a symbol of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
State Sen. Stephanie Hansen, August 2023