[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6124460,"mediaKeyId","2682795-37fe834c71e95cd9d2752a5ec39270f2","parentId",2682795,"title","Votes at a glance: bills and resolutions passed on March 18, 2025","audioSeconds",152,"startMs",2208000,"endMs",2360000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2682795-37fe834c71e95cd9d2752a5ec39270f2&start=2208&end=2360","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2682795-37fe834c71e95cd9d2752a5ec39270f2/thumbnail_2208000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6124460/Delaware/Votes-at-a-glance-bills-and-resolutions-passed-on-March-18-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124460-591d6875098c5e3261cd6a8941ece7c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832777&Signature=hSDWfZoviw~z7mQAwr-OKHU1hthWBgILGAI1HsJeRsJLMrtOCjqngZA-4-eXUGzuSwTn5TbJVgGtT6M4CHm9dJSM~D1XcY~GMYmSv9e8PUYj9VI2sD8Qnyoe1pbaW62WmN2xZ5AZnOjIO48h64aDWWbOEzVR9G6sWN6~VCDUX6LDqkFvbhxvyEj4jB7BOITo67CbBYRCfCXX~ITPiDEzCVOmOiFT3eztA807PA-jclAfxBsOYZLButcCJGqoXUlHIhxg96ITI3sRk4ftsNl-dJNZAfqlV4eWzpXDOw0epAecJpE0sAzMvlBa9qR0GL6g22wS9oz~JzzKyNjJR2d~Lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware Legislaure","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Delaware House completed several readings and approved multiple bills and concurrent resolutions during its March 18, 2025 session. Highlights below summarize action taken, vote outcomes and key details recorded on the floor.

Nut graf: Most measures were approved either by voice vote or by roll call; items included statutory updates, recognition resolutions, and measures to expand eligibility and reporting for state programs.

Key outcomes (selected):

- House Bill 9 (governmental compensation policy; dual-employment reporting). Outcome: passed. The House approved House Bill 9 with House Amendment 1. The amendment and the bill require additional reporting for officials with dual employment, add definitions for \"institution of higher education\" and \"political subdivision,\" and set an effective date of one year after enactment. Roll call: 36 yes, 5 absent.

- House Bill 53 (telecommunication services and devices for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or with speech disabilities). Outcome: passed with House Amendment 1. The amendment clarifies that both analog and non-analog devices may be provided by the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Sponsor said the fund holds about $1,700,000 currently unused; the bill limits administrative spending to no more than 15% of annual receipts for administration and staffing and requires the office to keep a three-month reserve and file an annual report by Sept. 30. Roll call: 36 yes, 5 absent.

- House Bill 38 (higher education records and governmental compensation policy). Outcome: passed with House Amendment 1. The bill requires institutions of higher education that receive state funding to keep and provide records for an elected or appointed official employed by the institution; the auditor may impose fines for violations ($10,000 for a first violation; $50,000 for subsequent violations within five years) and may use Administrative Procedures Act (APA) processes. Roll call: 36 yes, 5 absent.

- House Concurrent Resolution 12 (honoring National Guard Association of Delaware). Outcome: passed by voice vote. Sponsor recognized members and yielded time to General Jason Crispin of the Delaware Air National Guard.

- House Concurrent Resolution 18 (Health Workforce Well-being Day). Outcome: passed by voice vote. Sponsor noted the day recognizes the need to address burnout and mental health among healthcare workers; Christopher Otto of the Delaware Nurses Association addressed the chamber.

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 27 (National Youth Heart Screening Day/National Youth Heart Screening). Outcome: passed by voice vote. Greer Firestone (Heart in the Game Foundation) spoke in favor of EKG screenings, CPR and AED training.

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 20 (turn Delaware purple in April for military-connected students). Outcome: passed by voice vote. Sponsor noted over 7,000 military-connected children in the state.

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 26 (National Agriculture Week). Outcome: passed by voice vote; sponsor recognized farmers, FFA delegates and agriculture groups.

Votes notated by roll call (where recorded on the floor): HB 9 — 36 yes, 5 absent; HB 53 — 36 yes, 5 absent; HB 38 — 36 yes, 5 absent. Several ceremonial and recognition resolutions passed by voice vote; minutes record them as passed on the floor.

Ending: The House then recessed for caucus meetings; several inserted measures and ceremonial recognitions were completed before adjournment.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House of Representatives Legislative Session - Session 1 - 13th Legislative Day Mar 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On March 18, 2025 the Delaware House passed multiple bills and concurrent resolutions on a range of topics including ethics reporting, telecommunications devices for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, higher-education recordkeeping, military- and health-related recognitions, and agriculture week.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature DE Collection, Legislative, Delaware","taxId",77708,"location","Delaware","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6124465,"House updates weapons code to add projectile-weapon definition; bill passes",4370,9949000,14319000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2682795-37fe834c71e95cd9d2752a5ec39270f2&start=9949&end=14319","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2682795-37fe834c71e95cd9d2752a5ec39270f2/thumbnail_9949000.jpg","/articles/6124465/Delaware/House-updates-weapons-code-to-add-projectile-weapon-definition-bill-passes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124465-4f59480950fddb4f87cf3c1c94014b53/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832777&Signature=KNuKn4ABoAGR~zcjQvJx~qPIp3bSVUazebBKGyb2tkDcyh9bRuSnaaIbqvQm42xWK5cDKL7qElZ5vOR7EDKtU3XUz6oo1FmrlRqjzowZs9G0LNFiL7Gf-Pp9o9FFmHSZaGknpZxoEa2bTpguNkGLblpozGEu7ltdNPH8B45-PFAANH5vXcmAELu~tDx2UK91sMrl3XvqHNvqOxzLmqNuSFmrHdjpHES2SIDv0hVG0VuhicojvyIvHBs6coXSTt1NXgCEkhZUBjRA7XTD6ABU9FvfjDj~kNPjpGTKKY49jR~8aZOVjx9rtpgVwvfwtOicCVOg~2Pvt-ixR4KwQvjQfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 4, a statutory cleanup that adds a definition of \"projectile weapon\" to Title 7 and aligns that title with an existing definition in Title 11, passed the Delaware House after floor discussion over what the definition includes.

Sponsor Representative David Spiegelman described the measure as an update to bring Title 7 into line with the definition used in Title 11 and said the change \"doesn't really make any policy changes\" but clarifies which devices are covered.

Drafting attorney Mark Catrona explained the definition on the floor: \"A bow, a crossbow, an air bow, a weapon designed to discharge or project an arrow, crossbow bolt or spear, and an air gun that discharges or projects a pellet, slug, or bullet larger than 0.177 caliber.\" The floor exchanged several questions about whether certain tools—staple guns, nail guns or construction staplers—would fall under the definition. The sponsor and drafting attorney confirmed common construction tools are not affected, and standard staplers used in construction would not be treated as firearms under Title 11.

Nut graf: Supporters argued the change harmonizes code language and preserves existing hunting and wildlife protections; critics asked for clearer distinctions between categories of devices. The bill's sponsors emphasized that criminal prohibitions that apply to firearms would similarly apply to listed projectile weapons in Title 7 contexts, such as prohibitions on taking game at night or discharging from a roadway.

The House recorded a roll call after debate; the bill passed with the required constitutional majority and 36 members voting yes and five members absent.

Ending: The law is a statutory alignment; the sponsor said it was intended to avoid gaps and to maintain existing prohibitions on unlawful use of weapons when projectile devices are involved.

","Lawmakers modified Title 7 to include a definition of 'projectile weapon'—covering bows, crossbows and certain air guns—aligning definitions across titles. House Bill 4 passed with the constitutional majority after debate and clarifying questions about included devices.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6124470,"House passes End of Life Options Act after hours of debate",4667,10757000,15424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2682795-37fe834c71e95cd9d2752a5ec39270f2&start=10757&end=15424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2682795-37fe834c71e95cd9d2752a5ec39270f2/thumbnail_10757000.jpg","/articles/6124470/Delaware/House-passes-End-of-Life-Options-Act-after-hours-of-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124470-fb3948dc8f75281d56f3e54fa04b715b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832777&Signature=SsMTthHuXHcja-l8mNkQsMofHQb6Bo4~3gEoVwfXibw1wtINGXBlkeJ-BjvLuI9buE2n1edke1Kz96qSJWC~w2jgChybRrrBwHLvgiMDoa-AekqvXiYSwMm--~wIzcDBMucgX77tbVp8YZo~pMiDLzaNZMV9DBESS8D0Hs1a3EtDdbrZUIymX96nv~bhhmPfhSW2PdxpPrV5kcgeXQBL3ePPK2ZxgU26SIG08E1pKPcOkTyL9IbY8UFzMtOf7THm1EonbMbmRNrZZ~KmfFSfx6ad12DeMw~ETjBFw8-KDEmZ8R8k6AcH5xYqJi9ujEzzRv1lHEEdSsQ9vTyWOEI-Cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 140, the End of Life Options Act, passed the Delaware House on a 21-17 vote with three members absent after extended floor debate on safeguards, training and how the law would be implemented.

Sponsor Representative Melissa A. Morrison, who brought the bill forward, said the measure allows “terminally ill Delawareans [to] choose to limit or avoid terrible suffering” and described the statutory safeguards that would be required. She said the bill requires that the patient be diagnosed with a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less, that the patient request medication and self-administer it, and that at least one medical or mental health professional find the individual has decision-making capacity, is making an informed decision and is acting voluntarily.

\"This act is known as the Ron Silverio Heather Block End of Life Options Law,\" Morrison said during her remarks. She also told colleagues, \"This is not suicide,\" while addressing opponents who equated the measure with suicide.

Nut graf: Supporters said the bill provides a legal, regulated option for terminally ill patients who seek to avoid prolonged suffering and builds in review and reporting requirements for oversight. Opponents expressed concern about prognostic uncertainty, potential gaps in training for clinicians who must evaluate mental capacity and coercion risks, disposal and control of the prescribed medication, and broader social impacts.

The bill requires the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) to develop rules to collect compliance information and annual reports, and authorizes the Department of State to promulgate forms and seek prescription monitoring data to assess compliance. Witnesses and staff on the floor explained that the medication is expected to be a compounded liquid from specialty pharmacies and that patients generally pay out of pocket; the bill does not require insurance coverage for the medication.

Opponents on the floor raised several cautions: Representative Frank Burns said psychiatric associations had not adopted training or protocols to assess decision-making capacity for this use and cited state experiences in other jurisdictions, and others questioned enforcement and the ability of state agencies to detect coercion. Drafting staff clarified the departments that would have authority: DHSS for facility regulation and Department of State for professional licensure oversight.

The House recorded the roll call at 21 yes, 17 no, 3 absent. The measure passed the House and will proceed according to legislative process.

Ending: The bill’s supporters said they expect DHSS and licensing authorities to issue implementing regulations and reporting forms should the law take effect; opponents urged caution and additional safeguards.

","The Delaware House passed House Bill 140, the End of Life Options Act, after extended debate over safeguards, training, and implementation. The bill allows terminally ill, competent adults to request and self-administer prescribed medication to hasten death and passed 21-17 with 3 absent.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: bills and resolutions passed on March 18, 2025

House updates weapons code to add projectile-weapon definition; bill passes

House passes End of Life Options Act after hours of debate