5/19/2025 Legislative Update

Delaware’s legislature is going on another break next week for budget mark-up, so there are going to be a lot of things pushed through this week in committee. This includes the tax brackets bill once again, along with several important packages of criminal justice and voting rights measures.

HS 1 for HB 13 was scheduled to be heard in committee a few weeks ago, but it is finally actually being heard this Wednesday! This legislation updates the state’s income tax brackets, lowering rates for those making less than $125,000 a year, and raising rates for income above that amount.

In the House Administration committee, there will be a slate of constitutional amendments relating to voting rights. The first, HB 180, expands felon voting rights once they are out of prison. The other attempt to re-establish voting rights that are limited in our constitution, specifically allowing no-excuse absentee voting and codifying in-person early voting.

There are a few more important criminal justice bills that will be heard. The first in House Judiciary is HB 133, which will allow courts to waive fines and fees, in whole or in part, in appropriate circumstances. There will also finally be another hearing on Marie Pinkney’s probation bills SB 7 and SB 8, which would modernize our probation system and get people out of the endless loop of the criminal legal system.

Make Your Voice Heard

See below for some of the most notable bills in committee this week and how to give public comment. For length and clarity, we are only putting bills that need the most public input below. Bills in green are bills we generally support, bills in red are bills we generally oppose, and bills in yellow are neutral or unknown. Meetings are held in person at Legislative Hall 411 Legislative Ave, Dover, DE or streamed on Zoom.

You can also check here for the full list of committee meetings and click “view” next to each meeting for the full agenda and additional information.

Bills coming up the week of 5/19/25:

Bill #	Sponsor	Summary/Description	Committee Meeting Info	Give Public Comment
HS 1 for HB 13	Lynn/Hoffner	The John Kowalko, Jr., Fairness in Taxation Act, creating new income tax brackets at $125k, $250k, and $500k, increasing the rates for those making more than $134,667 per year, while 92% of Delawareans would get a slight tax decrease	House Revenue Thursday 5/22 at 12pm	JFC Hearing Room 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom
HB 180	Harris/Hoffner	Expanding voting rights for people who were charged with felonies but have completed their sentences.	House Admin Wednesday 5/21 at 3pm	JFC Hearing Room 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom
SS 1 for SB 3	Brown/Bush	No-excuse absentee voting, enshrining it in the constitution to expand absentee voting for everyone.	House Admin Wednesday 5/21 at 3pm	JFC Hearing Room 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom
SS 1 for SB 2	Brown/Bush	In-person early voting, which is technically allowed right now but still needs to be codified into the constitution.	House Admin Wednesday 5/21 at 3pm	JFC Hearing Room 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom
SB 7	Pinkney/Minor-Brown	The first leg of probation reform, modernizing Delaware’s probation system, including by directing the courts, the Board of Parole, and the Bureau of Community Corrections to use the least restrictive probation and parole conditions and the most minimally intrusive reporting requirements necessary to achieve the goals of community supervision.	Senate Executive Wednesday 5/21 at 2:30pm	Senate Chamber 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom
SB 8	Pinkney/Minor-Brown	The second leg of probation reform, codifying the standard conditions of probation to be used by the courts and the Department of Correction.	Senate Executive Wednesday 5/21 at 2:30pm	Senate Chamber 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom
HB 133	Snyder-Hall/Brown	Allows the court to waive fines and fees in certain cases when a defendant or individual obviously does not have the means to pay a financial penalty or fee.	House Judiciary Wednesday 5/21 at 10:30am	House Majority Hearing Room (H217) 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom
HB 302	Ortega/Lockman	Language access on government websites, ensuring that all websites must be available in every language spoken by at least .5% of Delaware’s population.	House Elections Wednesday 5/21 at 1pm	House Majority Caucus Room 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom