Delaware’s General Assembly is considered a part-time legislature with its session beginning on the second Tuesday in January and ending June 30 (with several breaks in between for budget mark up and spring break). Statewide legislation to approve dedicated funding for clean water, like the bill HB270, would be voted on and approved by the members of the General Assembly. Delaware’s General Assembly is divided into two houses, the State Senate (the upper house) and the House of Representatives (the lower house). Delaware’s legislature is comprised of 21 Senators and 41 Representatives. Typically, Delaware’s Senators serve four-year terms and House Representatives serve two-year terms. The General Assembly is made up of several committees charged with the task of thoroughly addressing any and all concerns regarding content specific legislation (for example; Natural Resources Committee, Education Committee, Ethics Committee, etc.). These committees then vote whether or not a particular piece of legislation goes to the floor for a vote.
Here’s some helpful links where you can learn more about our legislators, the legislative process and Dover’s Legislative Hall:
Virtual Tour of Legislative Hall in Dover
History of Delaware’s State House
Receive the State of Delaware’s Legislative Updates
And, to learn how a bill becomes law in Delaware, see below!
