-- Large Turnout for Public Meetings Exploring Fuel-Powered Vehicle Sales Ban

-- Three Town Hall Meetings on Electric Vehicle Sales Mandate Remain

-- After a Long Period of Growth, State Revenue Estimates Dip

-- Partisan Rivalry Turned to Positive Advantage for Worthy Cause

-- BRIEF: Measure Would Help Citizens Access, Compare School Performance Data

Large Turnout for Public Meetings Exploring Fuel-Powered Vehicle Sales Ban

Hundreds of people took part this week in the first two Town Hall events being held throughout the state to discuss proposed regulations to eliminate the sale of new fuel-powered cars, trucks, and SUVs in Delaware.

This week's events, in southern Sussex County and northern New Castle County, were part of a series of five such meetings. The remaining three are slated for the upcoming week (see item below).

Under California's Advanced Clean Car II (ACCII) regulations, which Gov. John Carney has directed our state to adopt, 35% of all new light vehicles sold in Delaware will be mandated to be zero-emission vehicles starting in Fall 2025. The percentage of mandated ZEV sales -- predominately battery-electric vehicles (EVs) -- rises sharply each following year. By Fall 2034, the proposed rules would require all new vehicle sales to be ZEVs.

A phone survey conducted early last month by Ragnar Research of 300 likely voters revealed that a majority (73%) oppose banning the sale of new cars powered by gasoline and diesel. High costs, not having a sufficient number of charging stations, and environmental harm from batteries were cited as some of the main concerns. 

Three Town Hall meetings are slated for the upcoming week to discuss proposed regulations to restrict, and eventually ban, the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars, trucks, and SUVs in Delaware.

The regulations seek to mandate the growing sale of new zero-emission vehicles (predominantly battery-electric vehicles) by phasing out the sale of any new fuel-powered alternative.

All three meetings start at 6:30 p.m.

MARCH 28

Peoples Plaza Shopping Center,

near the Glasgow Ave. Entrance

(160 Peoples Plaza, Newark)

MARCH 29

Camden-Wyoming Fire Hall

(200 E. Camden Wyoming Ave, Camden)

MARCH 30

Mill Creek Fire Company

(3808 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington)

To RSVP for any of the meetings, click here.

After a Long Period of Growth,

State Revenue Estimates Dip

The state's revenue forecast has dropped for the first time in recent years.

Issued on Monday, the most recent state revenue forecast from the non-partisan Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC) revealed a modest dip in the money expected to be in the state's coffers during the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

The latest projection predicted a decrease of $36.2 million in useable revenue compared to the previous estimate published in December.

The forecasts, issued six times yearly, are at the heart of the state budgeting process. By law, the state can only spend up to 98% of projected revenues, so DEFAC's predictions set an appropriations limit for budget writers.

The 12 state legislators (Joint Finance Committee) recrafting the governor's proposed state operating budget now have $6.5387 billion with which to work. To put that figure into context, in the current fiscal year, $6.6263 billion was appropriated through the state's three "money bills" -- the operating budget, the capital budget (Bond Bill), and Grants-in-Aid -- all of which were new record highs. The current Bond Bill (House Bill 475) is especially robust. At $1.458 billion, it is more than twice the size of the capital budget from just two years ago and includes more than $692 million in cash.

Tempering the new forecast were lower revenue estimates for the personal income tax and dividends & interest. Those disappointing figures were somewhat offset by better performance expected from the corporate income tax and franchise tax. 

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision (Delaware v Pennsylvania et. al.) in a case involving revenue from abandoned prepaid checks, which Delaware lost, is not reflected in the latest DEFAC projections. While some estimates indicate the High Court ruling could cost Delaware up to $400 million in total assets owed to approximately 30 states, the exact figure and payment terms have yet to be determined.

State legislators, the Carney administration, and budget writers will be paying close attention to the ultimate financial impact of that case as well as the results of the next three state revenue forecasts that will be made before the state enacts its annual spending bills.

Legislative Briefs

Proposed Crime Targets Acts of Destruction

A bipartisan bill filed this week proposes a new crime to stiffen penalties for those found to have intentionally damaged critical infrastructure.

House Bill 91, sponsored by State Rep. William Bush (D), would establish the new offense of Aggravated Criminal Mischief to apply in cases where an individual has knowingly damaged or tampered with critical utility infrastructure to disrupt service. The crime would be a Class D felony, carrying a presumptive sentence of up to two years in prison.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI have repeatedly issued warnings about domestic terrorists and extremist groups targeting critical utility infrastructure. Physical and computerized attacks on electric utility equipment reportedly hit a 10-year high last year.

House Republicans co-sponsoring the legislation include State Rep. Ruth Briggs King, Ron Gray, Jeff Hilovsky, and Danny Short.

Measure Would Help Citizens Access,

Compare School Performance Data

The Delaware Department of Education issues annual education profiles on its Delaware Report Card website. While the site provides data for all Delaware traditional and charter public schools, the information can only be viewed in a limited fashion -- on the basis of a selected school or district. House Bill 66, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Shupe (R-Milford South), seeks to make the following reforms:

1. Upgrade the website to allow users to generate side-by-side comparisons of the education profiles for multiple schools and school districts.
2. Provide a link to the education profiles on both the Department of Education's homepage and the school choice website.
3. Include a list of career pathways offered at each high school in the schools' education profile.

Thus far, the bill only has Republican sponsorship. House Republicans co-sponsoring the legislation include State Rep. Ruth Briggs King, Rich Collins, Jeff Hilovsky, Mike Smith, and Lyndon Yearick.

Partisan Rivalry Turned to Positive Advantage for Worthy Cause

Earlier today (3/25), House Republicans and Democrats channeled their political rivalry into a sporting competition benefiting a good cause.

Groups of lawmakers and legislative staffers faced each other on the hardwood floors of William Penn High School as part of the Easterseals/CAI Volleyball Challenge -- a two-day, two-location event that continues tomorrow at Delaware State University in Dover.

The challenge is a major fundraiser for Easterseals Delaware & Maryland's Eastern Shore, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides services, education, outreach, and advocacy to help seniors and people with disabilities.

Last year, the Volleyball Challenge raised more than $133,000. This year, the goal is $200,000.

Among the state legislators taking part were: State Reps. Kevin Hensley, Ron Gray, Jeff Hilovsky, Tim Dukes, Lyndon Yearick, Mike Smith, Valerie Longhurst, Cyndie Romer & Sophie Phillips; and State Sen. Nicole Poore.