Legislative Successes
Since I was first elected as State Senator for Delaware's 8th district, I have been the lead sponsor on over 300 pieces of Senate legislation. It has not always been an easy task, but over the past 25 years, we have worked together diligently to get some very important and historic bills passed and signed into Delaware law.
What I am most proud of are those pieces of legislation that have decisively improved the quality of life for Delawareans. Here, I have highlighted some of our biggest achievements from over the years.
Sponsored Legislation
146th General Assembly
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SB 30 - This bill recognizes "civil unions" as a type of legal relationship in Delaware. Those in a recognized civil union are given the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities as that of any married person under Delaware law.
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145th General Assembly
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SB 121 - Senate Bill 121 adds "sexual orientation" to Delaware's previously existing anti-discrimination statute. From this bill, the resulting statute effectively prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person's sexual orientation in housing, employment, public works contracting, public accommodations, and insurance.
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144th General Assembly
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143rd General Assembly
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SB 251 - This bill gives every parent of a child who is eligible to attend kindergarten the opportunity to select a full-day program. The aim of this bill is to provide the option of a full-day kindergarten program to every child, and to eliminate the barriers faced by many parents to enrolling their child in full-day kindergarten. Because of this, Delaware's youngest students are equally afforded this opportunity from the start.
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142nd General Assembly
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SB 41 - This is the original bill permitting Sunday liquor sales in the state of Delaware. The purpose of this legislation was to give retail liquor establishments the option to open on Sundays, in order to maintain pace with surrounding states. The legislation has helped keep local customers, whose business otherwise may have been lost, supporting Delaware's industry.
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141st General Assembly
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SB 70 - This legislation was designed to deter frivolous lawsuits against teachers who attempted to establish control of their classrooms in a manner consistent with the Delaware Code.
SB 353 - The "Safe Routes to Schools" Act required the Delaware Department of Transportation to use allocated federal funding to help ensure the safety of our students as they travel to and from school- by bus, car, bicycle, or on foot. Regardless of how students get there, they should be guaranteed a safe route to school. |
140th General Assembly
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139th General Assembly
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SB 288 - The "Graduated Driver's License" program has been highly successful in helping to protect Delaware drivers of all ages.
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138th General Assembly
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SB 77 - This legislation requires criminal history checks for teachers and day care providers. As the original legislation mandating background checks for employment that puts one in close proximity to children, it was designed to protect our younger citizens from potential harm.
SB 116 - The "Shaping Delaware's Future Act" was an extensive effort to create coordinated and comprehensive land use plans in Delaware, among other state planning issues. Designed as a strategic future plan, one goal of this legislation was to create and maintain a vision for the state's future. Historic properties around Delaware were protected from development under this law. SB 200 - Formally titled the "Charter School Act of 1995", this legislation established a system of charter schools in Delaware. |