Legislation — State Representative Ed Osienski

151st General Assembly Legislative Wrap Up

The 151st General Assembly, which began in January 2021, was an incredibly busy one. We passed a lot of important legislation, including a comprehensive, 12-week paid family and medical leave program, increased mental health supports in our schools, direct relief in the form of a $300 tax rebate to combat inflation, and improved access to women's reproductive health care options.

In addition to the above, I am especially proud to have served as Prime or Co-Prime Sponsor on the following legislative initiatives:

I’d like to thank House Leadership for selecting me to serve as the Chair of the House Labor Committee. With the assistance and support of Vice Chair Kim Williams, the House Labor Committee was able to pass legislation to improve working conditions, provide skills training, and provide relief to families in need.

In the 151st General Assembly I was proud to serve as a member of The Joint Committee on Capital Improvement, commonly known as the Bond Committee. This committee is responsible for writing the annual Bond Bill. The Bond Committee is made up of 6 members of the House and 6 members of the Senate. The Committee meets jointly throughout the session for public hearings on State agency budget requests. The Committee also meets in June to prepare the actual bill for introduction.

This year’s Bond Bill, HB 475, was the largest in Delaware history, and awarded 1.4 Billion Dollars in Bonds for Capital Infrastructure across the State including Roads and Schools. I want to take a moment to specifically highlight Bond spending that will directly impact us here in the 24th district:

$2.4M for the City of Newark
$2.25M for Community Reinvestment funds for the 24th District
$4M for the Newark Free Library
$38.5M for a new State Police Troop 6 facility
$10M for the School Safety & Security Fund
$25M in Minor Capital Improvements funding to address the growing backlog of school maintenance projects
$1M in added funding for the Debris Pit Program

To Find All Legislation Rep. Ed Osienski has Sponsored

FIND LEGISLATION

HB 475 The BOND AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ACT. Provides annual funding for local fire companies, senior center, transportation projects, and school construction. Signed
HB 198 This bill would increase the maximum weekly benefit amount that would be payable to claimants seeking unemployment compensation benefits from the Delaware Division of Unemployment Insurance from $330 a week to $400 a week. Signed.
HB 124 This Bill modifies the impact of criminal history on an applicant’s eligibility for plumbing & HVAC licensure. It gives the Board discretion to grant waivers for felony convictions. Signed.

SB 170 This Act creates a CBD-Rich card medical marijuana card to treat anxiety in adults. Signed.
SB 223 This Act brings Delaware into compliance with the federal No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act by creating a lifetime disqualification for a commercial diver license if the individual engages in human trafficking while using a motor vehicle. Signed.
SB 250 This bill advances sustainable energy goals and initiatives in Delaware and includes the “Community Sustainable Energy Authorities Act,” Not signed.
HB 110 The Adult Use Recreational Marijuana Act. Not signed.
HB 291 This bill creates a financial incentive for employers to train and retain apprentices in apprenticeship programs. Not signed.

The Joint Finance Committee voted to fully restore the Senior Property Tax Credit to its pre-2017 level of $500, which would provide thousands of older Delawareans with an additional $100 in financial relief.

Under the program, homeowners age 65 or over are eligible for a tax credit against regular school property taxes of 50%, up to $400. Residents who moved to Delaware after January 1, 2018 must reside in the state for 10 years to be eligible for the credit.

I was proud to stand with my constituent Daphne Werner and announce an agreement between the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and theater owners across Delaware to have more first-run movie showings using open captions.

This feature will provide residents with a more enjoyable, reliable movie-going experience. Thank you to everyone for their work in putting together this agreement.

Our memorandum of understanding will improve the moviegoing experience for Delaware's deaf and hard-of-hearing community and other residents who prefer open captions.

Check out this story from NBC10 Philadelphia that captures our event very well.

Delaware to Start On-Screen Captions in Movie Theaters – NBC10 Philadelphia (nbcphiladelphia.com)

For the past several years, the majority of Delawareans have been clear that they support legalizing recreational marijuana for adult users. We have heard from numerous members of the public – advocates, veterans, retired law enforcement officers, educators and even faith leaders – who have overwhelmingly voiced support for legalizing adult recreational marijuana.

During that time, we have had numerous meetings with stakeholders, made several changes to our legislation, and engaged lawmakers to answer their questions and attempt to address their concerns. After all of this effort, I believe we owed it to the residents of Delaware to hold a full floor debate and vote on this issue. While I’m deeply disappointed by the outcome, I still firmly believe that Delaware is more than capable of successfully enacting policies for safe and legal cannabis, and I will continue working on this issue to win the support to make it a reality.

For the advocates who have put in the time and effort these past four years, I’m grateful for your support and your passion on this issue, and I hope you will continue to make your voice heard on this issue. Throughout my time in the House, I’ve seen advocates sway opponents to various bills, and I believe legal recreational marijuana for adult users is no different.

Cannabis legalization may return for a vote in 2022, sponsor says | Delaware LIVE News

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