View as Webpage

Senate Convenes on Tuesday, June 10,

Set to Consider SB 159

The Senate will convene at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10 and SB 159, legislation that would override a zoning decision by the Sussex County Council simply because the majority party sponsors disagree with it, is on the agenda.

For additional information about that and other bills being considered, please visit legis.delaware.gov.

Senator Pettyjohn: Home Rule Under Siege – The Delaware General Assembly Must Not Strip Local Authority

Senate Republican Whip Brian Pettyjohn, Former Council Member and Mayor of the Town of Georgetown

Delaware has traditionally upheld home rule, the idea that local governments should control land use and zoning decisions. This session, that principle is threatened by four bills—SB 159, SB 87, SB 75, and HB 135—which represent state overreach and undermine local authority.

• SB 159 would override a Sussex County zoning decision and force approval of a wind substation project, despite its hidden affiliations and lack of public input.
• SB 87 mandates that localities allow accessory dwelling units on single-family lots, disregarding community-specific concerns like infrastructure and traffic.
• SB 75 strips local oversight of marijuana businesses, limiting their ability to regulate zoning and hours.
• HB 135 imposes vague and unfunded homelessness response requirements on local governments.

Together, these bills centralize power and erode trust in local decision-making. The right path forward is collaboration between state and local governments, not top-down control. Senator Pettyjohn urges opposition to these bills to protect home rule and uphold true representative democracy. His full op-ed can be found on our website. Check it out here.

Riverwalk Villas Groundbreaking

Tuesday was an exciting day for homeownership in Milford. Ground was broke on the Riverwalk Villas downtown. When completed Riverwalk Villas will offer 27 new, affordable townhomes. Located centrally in Milford’s downtown many amenities are within walking distance. We look forward to seeing this exciting project come to life.

Delaware Veterans Home BBQ

Senator Buckson had a great time visiting the Delaware Veterans Home, chatting with residents and learning more about the incredible care they receive. Big thanks to the staff for the tour and the barbecue, it was a meaningful afternoon.

For the Record

Senator Pettyjohn, Deanna, and Matt discuss Senate Bill 159 following its committee hearing, and interview DJ and Theodis Daniel.

DJ was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2018 and given only 5 months to live. He is still with us today, but continues this battle. Law enforcement departments across the nation are helping him fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer. To date, he has been deputized by over 1,350 agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service during President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress in March as well as the Delaware State Police, Capitol Police, and more during his visit in Delaware.

YouTube

Spotify

Find us on social media below!