Delaware State House of Representatives - Republican Caucus

06/19/2026

OPINION VIDEO:
Here's the Thing...About Practicing What You Preach

Joseph Fulgham, Director of Policy and Communications,

Delaware House of Representatives Republican Caucus

Earlier this week, the House passed legislation requiring electric utilities to establish separate, higher rates for commercial facilities that use large amounts of energy.

While this bill addresses the potential for data centers and other large electricity consumers to impact residential ratepayers, this video is not about the convoluted legislation that is House Substitute 1 for House Bill 233, as amended by House Amendment 1, House Amendment 1 to House Amendment 1, and House Amendment 3.

Rather, this is the latest example of how our state legislative process often runs off the rails due entirely to partisan considerations unrelated to the issues under debate.

06/14/2026

NEWS: Bill that Would have Prevented Police from Sharing Suspects' Photos Revised by Sponsor

JUNE 14, 2026 -- This past week, the sponsor of a bill to limit information police could publicly release about arrestees recalled the proposal and amended it to remove its most contentious provision.

Sponsored by State Rep. Sean Lynn (D-Dover), House Bill 59 (as amended) seeks to prevent law-enforcement agencies from releasing or publishing the names and photos of arrestees unless the person is charged with a violent felony and sharing the information is necessary to protect the public’s safety.

Rep. Lynn maintained that people who have been arrested are presumed innocent until convicted, and that publishing their names and images creates a public perception of guilt, unfairly causing reputational damage that cannot be undone.

When the bill was initially debated on the House floor last month, there was broad agreement on this point. But lawmakers were sharply divided over a secondary provision that would have banned police from sharing images of suspects, except in limited circumstances.

House Republicans, including State Reps. Shannon Morris (R-Harrington, Felton) and Valerie Jones Giltner (R-Georgetown), argued this was a step too far, saying it would severely handicap police by removing a powerful tool for advancing criminal investigations.

While several states have laws that limit public access to booking information or restrict its use on social media platforms, there do not appear to be any that currently bar police from issuing photos or videos when seeking a suspect.

The bill passed on May 19th without Republican support in a tight party-line vote of 23-11.

This week, Rep. Lynn recalled the bill, rescinded the previous House vote, and amended it to remove the section barring the release of suspect photos. As a result, the modified version of the bill received bipartisan support, passing 31-8.

“I appreciate Rep. Lynn taking this action,” said State House Republican Leader Tim Dukes (R-Laurel). "With the amendment, I was comfortable voting in favor of the bill.”

State House Republican Whip Jeff Spiegelman (R-Townsend, Smyrna, Clayton) also lauded the move. “Rep. Lynn has given me some hope that there are still some instances where we can overcome party tribalism and reach consensus on good policy."

The bill is now pending action in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

06/13/2026

NEWS: Collective Bargaining Mandate Could Hike the Cost of School Construction by 30%

JUNE 13, 2026: The House of Representatives Labor Committee this week released a hotly contested bill that would require project labor agreements (PLAs), a type of collective bargaining agreement, for any school construction or renovation project exceeding $5 million.

Supporters say PLAs protect workers, ensure equal opportunities, set expectations, and increase efficiency by establishing clear work rules before construction begins.

“Senate Bill 272 is a worker-centric initiative,” said State Rep. Edward S. Osienski (D-Newark), the chair of the House Labor Committee and the prime House sponsor of the bill, who testified on its behalf at Wednesday’s hearing. “PLA projects give a level of stability and structure that is difficult to replicate in an all non-union workplace.”

He added that “the PLA requirement in Senate Bill 272 will not prevent merit shops (non-union companies) from bidding or winning these contracts,” adding that the mandate “would not raise construction costs.”

However, other testimony offered at the hearing took issue with the proposal.

Brian Maxwell, the Director of the Delaware Office of Management and Budget, said the state has not approved any new state-funded school construction projects in nearly three years because of a lack of available resources, a situation that SB 272 would exacerbate. “Mandating a PLA introduces additional preconditions that may discourage otherwise qualified contractors and subcontractors from participating,” he said.

Mr. Maxwell also indicated that adding requirements to the state procurement process would pose a significant risk for increasing project costs. “Based on the research that I’ve seen, economic analyses have found the cost per square foot for school construction projects is approximately 30% higher for PLA projects.”

A 2020 study by the Beacon Hill Institute, a free-market economic think tank based in Massachusetts, examined public school construction projects in Connecticut and found that mandating PLAs increased costs by nearly 20%.

The bill’s sponsors maintain that since Delaware requires “prevailing wage,” a minimum wage scale based on occupation that is applied to all state-funded projects, there should not be any meaningful difference in labor costs between unionized and non-union contractors.

However, multiple witnesses before the committee noted that unionized contractors in Delaware account for only about 10% of all construction companies.

Sussex Technical School District Superintendent Dr. Kevin Carson, who is currently involved in the state’s most expensive school construction project, told the committee that the PLA bill would significantly reduce the pool of available contractors, not only limiting competition but potentially forcing school districts to seek out-of-state companies—all factors that could drive labor costs higher than Delaware’s prevailing wage rates.

Carmen Robledo, a Latina contractor based in Sussex County, said PLAs will exclude many non-union Delaware workers and create more barriers for small businesses. “We all want workers to be safe, treated fairly, and paid well," she testified. "I don’t think anyone in this room disagrees with that goal, but this is already happening…The people I know aren’t asking for special treatment. They are simply asking for a fair shot to compete and to grow.”

A fiscal note on the bill prepared by the Office of the Controller General concluded the cost of implementing the legislation was “indeterminable,” citing numerous unknown factors that could not be established well enough to provide a projection.

The bill was released from committee solely on the votes of House Democrats, who hold a majority of the committee’s seats. Without a cost estimate, the measure can bypass the House Appropriations Committee. It has been placed on the House Ready List and is eligible for consideration by the chamber.

06/11/2026

OPINION VIDEO:
Here's the Thing...About Ensuring Every Voice is Heard

Joseph Fulgham, Director of Policy and Communications,
Delaware House of Representatives Republican Caucus

June 11, 2026: The Delaware John Lewis Voting Rights Act was released by the House Elections & Government Affairs Committee on Wednesday. House Bill 444 is a state-level framework to prevent voter suppression, vote dilution, and other discriminatory election practices.

While apparently well-intentioned, the flawed bill is being fast-tracked through the legislative process, having been introduced less than a week ago.

Among the concerns is that the measure defines voter suppression so broadly that almost any election rule—such as voter ID, signature checks, or standard polling hours—could be challenged if statistical voting differences occur between designated minority groups and the general population.

Additionally, the bill eliminates intent as a factor in determining whether voter suppression has occurred. Bias claims would not require any proof of an intentional act of discrimination.

As detailed in this video, the initiative also illustrates an ironic level of duplicity. House and Senate Democrats sponsoring the bill continue to embrace some of the same methods they seek to ban under HB 444 to suppress and dilute the voting power of one of the state’s largest minority voting groups: Delaware’s 195,000 registered Republicans.

More than that, they have repeatedly killed legislation aimed at making the redistricting process more equitable. The latest examples of this in the current General Assembly are House Bill 184 and Senate Bill 14. Both redistricting reform measures have failed to advance.

To paraphrase a line from George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Delaware Democrats believe all voices should be heard, except some voices should be heard more than others.

06/08/2026

NEWS: Flood of Bills Filed as Legislature Enters its Final Month of Action

The 153rd General Assembly has been in recess for the last two weeks but returns to the State Capitol tomorrow to begin the last three weeks of its scheduled legislative session.

With time running short, lawmakers have filed a flurry of bills, introducing nearly three dozen measures in the House since the last day they were in Dover.

Here are a few highlights from the new bills. For a complete list of all legislation, use this link: https://legis.delaware.gov/AllLegislation.

--EXPANDING THE USE OF AUTOMATED SYSTEMS TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS: House Bill 442 seeks to expand the use of automated camera systems to enforce all traffic laws in Delaware.

Thus far in the U.S., the technology has mainly been deployed to detect and deter speeders and motorists running red lights.

Delaware is currently one of at least 19 states that permit the use of camera systems to enforce speed limits and one of 22 states that use them to issue citations for traffic light violations.

Some jurisdictions use similar technology for other traffic violations, such as illegal rail crossings, toll violations, and passing a school bus while it is actively dropping off or picking up children.

However, the new Delaware bill, sponsored by State Rep. Ed Osienski (D-Newark), appears to break new ground by allowing automated systems to enforce all traffic laws.
The measure is pending action in the House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee.

--THE ONGOING FOCUS ON ENERGY DRINKS: Sponsored by State Rep. DeShanna Neal (D-Wilmington), House Bill 459 seeks to prohibit the sale of energy drinks on public middle and high school campuses during school hours or school events.

This bill is the third piece of legislation Rep. Neal has recently introduced on this topic. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 396 would require retail food establishments with at least 20 locations in Delaware to provide warning symbols on their menus next to hand-crafted or energy drinks that have “high-caffeine” content, which is defined in the proposal as exceeding 100 mg per serving. For context, a 12-ounce cup of brewed coffee may contain 113 to 247 milligrams (mg) of caffeine.

House Bill 394 had sought to prohibit retailers from selling energy drinks or caffeinated dietary supplements to anyone under 18. After pushback on that proposal, House Substitute 1 for House Bill 394 was introduced, significantly changing the measure's scope and impact. It now would require the Division of Public Health to create signage stating that energy drinks and caffeinated dietary supplements are not recommended for children, individuals sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women, or women who are nursing. Retailers selling energy drinks and caffeinated dietary supplements would be required to prominently display the sign next to the products.

Both substitute bills have been released from committee and are eligible to be considered by the House. House Bill 459 is pending action in the House Education Committee.

--CHANGING HOW DELAWARE AMENDS THE STATE CONSTITUTION: House Bill 440 is the first leg of a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to fundamentally alter how Delaware changes the state constitution.

At present, constitutional amendments are introduced in the state legislature. The House and Senate must approve the proposal by a minimum two-thirds vote in each chamber. The same proposal must then be introduced in the next General Assembly, with the measure again needing at least a two-thirds vote.

Under HB 440, sponsored by House Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris (D-Dover), constitutional amendments would continue to start in the General Assembly and still be required to pass each chamber by a minimum two-thirds vote. However, the second leg of the process would be placed in the hands of voters.

Any proposed amendment approved by the legislature on its first leg would be placed on the ballot as a referendum in the next general election. If at least 55% of voters approve, the amendment would be enacted.

HB 440 currently has only two sponsors and is pending action in the House Administration Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Harris.

06/05/2026

NEWS: House Republicans Praise Retiring Sussex Tech Superintendent

JUNE 5, 2026 -- Five Sussex County Republican state lawmakers joined staff members at Sussex Technical High School early this afternoon to pay tribute to retiring District Superintendent Dr. Kevin Carson.

Dr. Carson is leaving his current post effective August 30 to immediately transition to the role of project manager for the ongoing construction of the new Sussex Tech facility.

State Reps. Danny Short, Tim Dukes, Jeff Hilovsky & Ron Gray, and State Sen. Dave Wilson each took a few moments to laud Dr. Carson for his successful tenure at the school and to honor him with gifts and a General Assembly Tribute.

Dr. Carson's work with the legislature to bring the school replacement and expansion project to fruition was cited as a crowning achievement of a career that started in 1988 as the Assistant Superintendent at Sussex Tech. During his 38 years in education leadership, Dr. Carson has served as the President of the Delaware Chief School Officers Association and as superintendent of the Seaford, Cape Henlopen, and Woodbridge school districts.

With an estimated cost of $250 million, the new Sussex Tech complex is the largest public school construction effort in state history. The new three-story complex, being built adjacent to the current campus southwest of Georgetown, will encompass approximately 353,000 square feet of interior space.

Construction began in October 2024 and is expected to be completed in time to serve students in the 2027-28 academic year.

Sussex Tech provides comprehensive career-technical education in skilled trades and technical fields, including automotive technologies, collision repair, carpentry, welding, HVAC-R, cosmetology, dental services, health professions, legal services, digital publishing, CISCO/Coding, and agriculture/environmental sciences. In addition to providing career paths for high school students, Sussex Tech also supports an expansive adult education program.

Next fall, Sussex Tech will serve more than 1,400 high school students and is on track to expand its student body to 1,800 after the building project is completed.

05/28/2026

Good reporting by Spotlight Delaware...

Delaware officials intend to close a funding gap for a new port in Edgemoor with the help of an extra $110 million from the state.

05/26/2026

NEWS: Bill Would Prevent Police from Publicly Sharing Photos When Seeking Most Suspects

MAY 26, 2026 -- A bill passed by the House of Representatives in a contested vote last Tuesday would bar police from seeking the public’s help in identifying suspects in most crimes.

House Bill 59 (as amended) has two distinct aspects. The first would bar law-enforcement agencies from releasing or publishing the names and photos of anyone they arrest unless the person is charged with a violent felony and sharing the information is necessary to protect the public’s safety.

In presenting the bill on the House floor, State Rep. Sean Lynn (D-Dover), who practices criminal law in Dover, said that arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty and that publishing their names and images imposes an unjust stigma on them.

“The Dover P-D published every Saturday, Dover Saturday Shoplifters, [which included] the arrest photos of dozens of people who were merely arrested for the misdemeanor offense of shoplifting,” he said. “It subjects these individuals to public ridicule and shame, regardless of the disposition of the crime. If those people were acquitted or the charges were dismissed, the law enforcement agency would never go back and remove those social media posts.”

While there was apparent bipartisan agreement on this part of the bill, the measure’s second aspect drew criticism. It would ban police from sharing the images of wanted suspects with the public unless the alleged crime was a felony offense and the release was deemed “necessary to protect the public’s safety.”

State Rep. Shannon Morris (R-Harrington, Felton) told the chamber that, while he was very supportive of shielding the names and photos of people arrested for misdemeanors, he would be forced to vote against the bill because of its second provision. “We have law enforcement agencies up and down that state that regularly ask for the community’s help to identify a suspect,” he said. “I just think we’re taking away a very important tool [from] law enforcement.”

State Rep. Valarie Jones Giltner (R-Georgetown) took a similar position, noting that the Georgetown Police Department regularly asks for the public’s help in identifying shoplifting suspects, a practice that would be halted if the bill were enacted.

Under Delaware law, shoplifting is a misdemeanor if the total value of the items stolen is less than $1,500.

“My Hispanic community in Georgetown has theft in their grocery stores… [and] they need to be able to tell the Georgetown Police Department, ‘this is who your suspect is, go after him,’” she said. “[Hundreds of dollars] is not small potatoes to the people that own these small grocery stores…This is not an ‘innocent until proven guilty’ [situation]. This is about asking the community to help source and identify a suspect.”

States such as Utah, Louisiana, New York, Washington, and California have laws that limit public access to booking information or restrict its use on social media platforms.

However, there do not appear to be any states currently barring police from issuing photos or videos when seeking a suspect. Generally, law enforcement agencies are empowered to share such material with the public to advance active investigations.

The bill passed without Republican support on a party-line vote of 23 to 11.

The legislation is currently pending action in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The General Assembly is currently in recess for budget hearings. Lawmakers resume work on June 9.

IN PHOTO: State Rep. Valarie Jones Giltner debates House Bill 59 with the bill's sponsor, State Rep. Sean Lynn, in the House last Tuesday.

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

NEWS: Disputed “Ghost Gun” Proposal Moves Forward, Despite Unanswered Questions

May 22, 2026 -- A bill seeking to circumvent ongoing litigation over a controversial state gun law will advance after clearing a House committee earlier this week, despite unanswered questions over its legality or practicality.

Under a 2021 state law, it is a felony offense to own or manufacture so-called “ghost guns” -- fi****ms and components lacking serial numbers. The law also bars the use of a 3-D printer to make a “firearm, firearm receiver, or major firearm component” or distributing data files that could be used to create such devices.

However, that law has been under a federal injunction since September 2022. U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika found that the ban likely infringes on citizens’ Second Amendment rights, noting that the right to keep and bear arms includes the right to manufacture them. The court emphasized that the self-manufacture of fi****ms is a deeply rooted tradition in American history and that the state had not provided sufficient evidence to justify the ban.

The 2021 law also lacked a clear path for people owning unserialized guns or parts to move into compliance.

On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee released House Bill 418, which the sponsors say is intended to “clean up” Delaware’s ghost gun law. The proposal would create a protocol for individuals who already possess unnumbered fi****ms to comply by having them serialized through a federally licensed dealer or rendering them inoperable. The measure would continue to prohibit the possession of any firearm lacking a serial number, with violators facing a class D or E felony.

“The bill...is intended to address a specific portion of the injunction that prevented this law from going into effect in Delaware,” said Delaware Deputy Attorney General John Taylor. “I can’t address the specifics of the ongoing litigation except to say the Department of Justice believes it is constitutional.”

Committee member, State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R-Long Neck, Oak Orchard) challenged that statement. “How is this possibly constitutional?” he asked. “Physical seizure of personal property without any remedy or compensation. Depriving [a citizen] of personal property without a hearing [violating]…due process.”

In a later exchange with Rep. Hilovsky, the bill’s prime sponsor, State Rep. Kendra Johnson (D-Bear, New Castle) said, “We are trying to do the right thing for people by making a good faith effort to allow folks to legally possess their guns.”

Rep. Hilovsky responded, saying that while the new legislation may be “less unconstitutional" compared to the law it is trying to fix, “it’s still unconstitutional.”

Rep. Johnson disagreed, stating: “Constitutional versus unconstitutional, I think that is a point of reference or a frame of mind. I understand that you believe it to be unconstitutional. I don’t see it that way…We see this in two very different ways.”

Jeff Hauge, president of the Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association, testified before the committee, saying the new proposal misses the mark. He noted that the U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Club v. Bruen, which was issued the year after Delaware’s original ghost gun law was enacted, fundamentally changed how the constitutionality of fi****ms laws is assessed. He said under that standard, House Bill 418 is just as flawed as the statute it is trying to patch.

National Rifle Association lobbyist Rick Armitage told the lawmakers the proposal has a more pragmatic problem. “FFLs (federal firearm license holders) are not trained gunsmiths. How are they going to assign and put a serial number on a frame…and how are they going to identify that hobbyist as the manufacturer?... How are you going to make this work? I don’t understand, and I don’t think it was explained to the committee.”

The bill was voted out of committee on a party-line vote, with majority Democrats accounting for the measure’s release. The bill is now on the House Ready List and is eligible for consideration on the House floor.

IN PHOTO, FROM LEFT: House Judiciary Committee members, State Reps. Jeff Hilovsky and Charles Postles (R-Milford North) listen to testimony during Wednesday's hearing on House Bill 418.