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Senate advances a package of bills including medical cannabis, pilots' licenses, and updated penalties for nutrient-management violations
Summary
The Delaware Senate on March 12 passed a series of measures on school‑bullying notices, pilots' license classes, medical cannabis in hospitals ("Ryan's Law"), equal‑accommodations updates, municipal scooter authority and revised nutrient‑management fines. Several bills passed with roll calls recorded on the floor.
The Delaware State Senate on March 12 approved a package of bills and concurrent resolutions, moving multiple proposals to the next step in the legislative process.
Among floor actions, the chamber: approved Senate Bill 253 (school bullying notice requirements); Senate Bill 240 (amend Title 23 governing pilots' license draft allowances); adopted Senate Bill 226 (known as "Ryan's Law," to allow certain terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals, with an incorporated amendment to define implementation safeguards); passed Senate Bill 198 (amending equal‑accommodations law to align with federal Section 504 protections as of Jan. 1, 2025); advanced House Bill 266 (allowing municipal enabling authority for low‑speed scooter rental programs with a friendly amendment); and passed House Bill 222 (raising the penalty schedule for nutrient‑management violations after debate and a failed amendment to soften increases).
Roll calls recorded on the floor show most bills passed with comfortable majorities; for example, SB 253 passed 20–0 with 1 absent, HB 266 passed 21–0 after amendment, and HB 222 passed on a 14–7 vote after the chamber rejected a proposal to reduce the sponsor's requested penalty increases.
The session also cleared a consent calendar including several commemorative concurrent resolutions recognizing the Delaware State Park System's anniversary, National Pet Day, World Cholangiocarcinoma Day and the 125th anniversary of Delaware libraries.
Next procedural steps vary by measure; most bills were declared "passed to the Senate," meaning they will proceed per constitutional and chamber rules toward enrollment or further action as required.
