[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6629753,"mediaKeyId","2703082-32a5eb6deaf2b0f492725155bcb9c61c","parentId",2703082,"title","Committee releases proposed constitutional right to individual privacy amid mixed public comment","audioSeconds",537,"startMs",2506000,"endMs",3043000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703082-32a5eb6deaf2b0f492725155bcb9c61c&start=2506&end=3043","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703082-32a5eb6deaf2b0f492725155bcb9c61c/thumbnail_2506000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6629753/Delaware/Committee-releases-proposed-constitutional-right-to-individual-privacy-amid-mixed-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629753-655cf936af70f78126879b22cd997eab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178351&Signature=dbu~juMdzm5QOTcPc~zdAyh1suWICf7cCWkQagg0k9oHve8glvzQsN-Yk7H4zh6mYnCEHUFnVDE4LatMowTI5230k8kk2dvCUCmiyCf-QuqhZNQHcWMLREHM3A3jXAqP8PKW8s7Pr9hqKkN6q5ACUaKUEd4M5TB4PJtWGj4137i-3aQRg71qdCur-ZWztY1PidvuQXHqKrUpTgTT6EX1IjYx0AlEAOLKLlBVqgLXJOrko-CNHG~FRiV2Qkcursmg~pBAzZ~BYvqId3s8Mwj2OSWWWmD3ejTpQ6TPtFf6-g6v-6e2Fv-i2tK1pxf9Ip1DI-OV3wRgnTUyTR6DeJQmCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The House Administration Committee voted to release House Bill 14, which would add an explicit individual right to privacy to Article I of the Delaware Constitution.

Representative Blake, sponsor of the amendment, said the proposal would enshrine protections including the right to use birth control, to marry, to be a parent, and \"the right to be left alone.\" He tied the proposal to the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court\f\u000fs decision in Griswold v. Connecticut and said recent federal shifts in jurisprudence have created urgency to place privacy protections in state law.

The committee asked technical and scope questions. Debbie Gottschalk of the Division of Legislative Services explained drafting conventions: \"For title 1, person includes human beings, but also also artificial entities. So when we draft and if we mean only a human being, not just any person, we say individual.\" That exchange prompted discussion about whether the proposed right could be read to apply to corporations; the sponsor and counsel said the intent is to protect natural persons.

Opposition and concern came from multiple commenters. Chris Rome, a New Castle County resident, asked whether a right to privacy was needed in Delaware and pointed to Article I, Section 6 (search and seizure protections) as existing protections. Nandi Randolph of the Delaware Family Policy Council testified against the bill, calling the proposed language \"sweeping and undefined\" and warning it could allow courts to overturn laws that protect minors or regulate medical procedures. Supporters, including Linda Barnett of the League of Women Voters and others, raised privacy risks from technological surveillance and data collection.

After recorded roll-call discussion, the committee moved and seconded a motion to release the bill. Votes recorded in the transcript show Chair Harris, Vice Chair (name recorded variably), Speaker Maya Brown, and Representative Spiegelman voting yes and Representative Dukes voting no; the motion carried. The bill will proceed to the House floor for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Administration Committee Meeting Mar 19, 2025 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 14, a proposed amendment to entrench an individual right to privacy in the Delaware Constitution, was released from the House Administration Committee after a lengthy hearing featuring legal explanations, pro and con public testimony, and drafting clarifications from legislative counsel.","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},6629758,"Committee advances constitutional amendment to bar death penalty after extensive testimony",1561,915000,2476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703082-32a5eb6deaf2b0f492725155bcb9c61c&start=915&end=2476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703082-32a5eb6deaf2b0f492725155bcb9c61c/thumbnail_915000.jpg","/articles/6629758/Delaware/Committee-advances-constitutional-amendment-to-bar-death-penalty-after-extensive-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629758-e19a031ed6bc231853daa5b73f67b2dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178351&Signature=XUph~ylyHLlLx3Wd4tAI33kCQphCDb8-LTj0sccUsr8GWYhEr1VAiW5ayn-rNrTEBw7RX-JGlJnmmCC~NT0yC9-8DqexbyiT0v6IM0mCWGSPjo46J~iSp8KopVLTksxUT7OAew~GIypV6QRWq6UGE7~ADwx83srwgEtyCVFYz51-PrIpE7ibk5Vl2tX8Fpo-Wx2t5yULUkWUQwR0IfBLFpGkmQ6dbPXe0Xf3or-f8EZz6CbmXMSReqysBVBMMUGUkI3kp465czsElYsk3luBRE5200UZ~yMpPPpJ1EBIHgrMUCuDLGvQSOLhutsgwl9EpH6LjYAamA7EFJyyPODN1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Administration Committee voted to release House Bill 35, a proposed amendment to Article I of the Delaware Constitution to prohibit the death penalty.

Representative Sean Lynn, sponsor of the amendment, framed the bill as a response to Delaware\f\u000fs long and troubled history with capital punishment and a means to prevent future reinstatement. \"It's just time to end the cycle,\" Lynn said, summarizing decades of statutory changes and court rulings that repeatedly altered Delaware's capital punishment regime.

Committee members heard extended public comment in favor of the amendment. Kevin O'Connell, chief defender at the Office of Defense Services, noted contemporaneous legislative activity on preventive detention but said capital cases traditionally have contained provisions permitting denial of bail when appropriate. \"Capital cases have always had the provision that if proof positive or presumption rate is there, you can deny bail in capital cases,\" O'Connell said.

Multiple advocacy organizations and faith leaders also urged passage. Zoey Pachel, a paralegal and community organizer, cited wrongful convictions, cost, and racial disparities and told the committee \"the intentional taking of a human life conflicts with the principle of human dignity and the right to life.\" Chris Acey, representing the League of Women Voters of Delaware, said the group \"strongly favor[s] an amendment ... that permanently removes the death penalty as an option.\" Jovan Rich, policy and advocacy director at the ACLU of Delaware, urged release and later passage on the floor, saying the death penalty \"is imposed disproportionately upon society's most disadvantaged people.\"

Citizen testimony included remarks from Mark Deshawn of Newark United Methodist Church, who called state-sponsored killing \"just plain wrong on so many levels\" and urged the committee to pass the bill out of committee. The committee also received virtual testimony urging the amendment, including Tanya Whittle of the Delaware Center for Justice.

House attorney Karen Lance addressed technical drafting concerns raised by committee members, saying an amendment to prohibit capital punishment would render references to capital offenses elsewhere in the constitution incongruous and that the proposed language reflects current practice and clarifies constitutional sections.

A motion to release the bill was made and seconded. Recorded roll-call statements in the transcript show Chair Harris and Vice Chair Ocinski (Rosinski/Ozinski as recorded) voting yes and Representative Dukes voting no; the motion nonetheless received the required number of votes and carried. The bill will proceed to the floor for further consideration.","House Bill 35, a first-leg constitutional amendment to prohibit the death penalty in Delaware, was released from the House Administration Committee after sponsor remarks and extended public testimony from legal and advocacy groups.",{"_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},6629763,"Committee releases bill aligning Delaware——s narrow nondiscrimination provisions with broader state law",201,637000,838000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703082-32a5eb6deaf2b0f492725155bcb9c61c&start=637&end=838","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703082-32a5eb6deaf2b0f492725155bcb9c61c/thumbnail_637000.jpg","/articles/6629763/Delaware/Committee-releases-bill-aligning-Delawares-narrow-nondiscrimination-provisions-with-broader-state-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629763-75f538b2ada1ca7294ec8c8bf4e8650a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178351&Signature=D1RpSf4tbgPDFdsE6NNFHOYSTX-g959zIyVSawhwhkAwZ8ZOjF~IkS37Su2o4SIA5bxveuY8FSu6jjCRgKLEg1CUW7C8Gk1QOjuIMWdqknR0T9kIGwZcc~zXQvfm4v2I6wFWReJx5gqeLluZxWAkWMVbU1sGflJv4pQKs8f3swLd-ugYjI1M1j6H9HAzFDk8emKdhKzDJyg5nB-rniz3vzXGFjq~ptD4U8n6ovu0B83fcJCf4octbxrUwfEZAz3ArnKSHOHWMDJKdjX38P0gE-QUS-xiiPZaaiHt-RqwCW9M5YbgZ1Jp4yz9Cj67lcfsDuFb6ZjrSOli0NeT2pH3Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Administration Committee voted to release House Bill 36, a measure that would align several narrow nondiscrimination provisions in Delaware statutes with the state's broader nondiscrimination law.

Representative Sean Morrison, presenting the bill, described it as \"essentially a cleanup bill\" and said it would make clear that broader protections in chapter 45 of title 6 apply across licensing boards and other statutory pockets that currently have inconsistent language. \"This act doesn't make any substantive changes to our current nondiscrimination laws,\" Morrison said, adding that inconsistencies in the code \"could lead to a misunderstanding by someone who is reading the code, and it could even lead to expensive litigation.\"

Becca Patter, testifying on behalf of YWCA Delaware, said the organization strongly supports the bill because it \"affirms a simple but critical principle. Everyone deserves fair and equal treatment.\" Patter asked the committee to \"vote the bill out of committee and lend your continued support when it hits the floor.\" There was no remote public comment recorded for HB 36.

Speaker Minor Brown moved to release the bill and Vice Chair Rosinski seconded the motion. The committee recorded affirmative roll-call responses and the motion carried, advancing the measure for further legislative action.","House Bill 36, described by its sponsor as a \"cleanup\" measure, would harmonize various narrow nondiscrimination provisions in Delaware code with the state's broader nondiscrimination statutes; YWCA Delaware submitted testimony in support and the committee voted to release the bill.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629768,"Del. committee advances Millsboro charter change clarifying annexation and committee appointments",124,477000,601000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703082-32a5eb6deaf2b0f492725155bcb9c61c&start=477&end=601","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703082-32a5eb6deaf2b0f492725155bcb9c61c/thumbnail_477000.jpg","/articles/6629768/Delaware/Del-committee-advances-Millsboro-charter-change-clarifying-annexation-and-committee-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629768-73bd2c59d2e8665fb627b71f15db33c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178351&Signature=eTL9hSJ22cuXwLuTWxj36-7J8LO7KAAieR5PXQ3bDfwW86Xwhu6NdrFv4aaBNYzhdy0LOPYKmVxz0O7oO0LDlTl0uz9SUM~075mzalMQUJ110VvgvZalQLXaMavRgTUZb2KUPoo3RcmLRh0WOMC1HHZWcF2ogRcd7g0jj2NQChj3EiKY7DL-CBo6f7kZcCjH8fwYqfo75ZeSI9JVWOVyVA6goTcYV-1L~l1YILSzmbTmTsQ6JTeZ67r9oRAPqCG6QIQWafTVhgxnIJJHzlEyTACGC9MSCtUM~rL32b-OZcJgQO3n7GqZsF3sPml~vX-fPyP-gO892UmSb7nPPtRMYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Administration Committee voted to release House Bill 41, an act to amend the charter of the town of Millsboro, advancing the measure out of committee for further consideration.

Representative Rich Collins, presenting for the bill, said the change reflects the town\f\u000fs recent growth and replaces an informal approach to local governance. \"All this bill really does is clarify the language that the entire town council makes the decisions in regards to annexation,\" Collins said.

The bill removes a provision that had left authority to recommend annexations solely with the mayor. According to the presentation, the mayor in Millsboro is selected by the town council and the proposed amendment would \"add that all the town council has a role\" in annexation decisions and in recommending committee appointments. The presenter said the change \"does not change the requirements\" for annexation thresholds and that existing statutory voter-consent rules remain in place.

There was no in-person or remote public comment recorded for the bill. Speaker Minor Brown moved to release the bill and Representative Dukes seconded the motion. The committee recorded affirmative roll-call responses and the motion carried.

The measure will be posted on the legislative website if it receives enough committee signatures and — if reported out — would be announced on the House floor when scheduled for further action.","The House Administration Committee voted to release House Bill 41, a charter amendment for the town of Millsboro that would clarify that the full town council — not just the mayor — has authority over annexations and committee recommendations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee releases proposed constitutional right to individual privacy amid mixed public comment

Committee advances constitutional amendment to bar death penalty after extensive testimony

Committee releases bill aligning Delaware——s narrow nondiscrimination provisions with broader state law

Del. committee advances Millsboro charter change clarifying annexation and committee appointments