DELAWARE- Republican lawmakers have a lot on their to-do list as the next legislative session gets underway.
GOP lawmakers are reviewing different bills that discuss state mandated regulation and the power of the governor during states of emergency.
In a zoom meeting Wednesday, Republican lawmakers discussed these bills more in detail.
Two of the bills, named House Bill 123 and Senate Bill 96, look to combat the zero-emission vehicle sales mandate that was passed by DNREC. One of the bills, House Bill 123, aims to give the General Assembly authority over that mandate. A second bill, this one named Senate Bill 96, looks to stop the spread of any regulation by eliminating DNREC's authority to adopt any rules dealing with vehicle mandates.
"I guess the point of this, though, if this kind of thing is going to have such a huge effect on the everyday lives of Delawareans, then that's the kind of thing that should absolutely, positively get an up or down vote in the General Assembly by the people's elected officials in the General Assembly," said Rep. Jeffery Spiegelman, who is one of these bills' sponsors.
"If any one of us were to do a bill to raise taxes, it would go through committee and get an up or down or vote up or a vote down in the legislative body as a bill. What my bills would do would actually make regulation, have the same process."
When CoastTV reached out about these bills to state Democrats, chair of the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee, Rep. Debra Heffernan provided this statement:
"The General Assembly has always maintained the ability to review agency regulations. Just last year, HB 123, which would require the General Assembly to approve regulations restricting the sale of fuel-powered cars, trucks, and SUVs in Delaware, received a committee hearing and a vote on the House floor. Any member of the House has the ability to bring forward a bill on a regulation that they find important."
Another bill, House Bill 245, aims to regulate the governor's power during states of emergency.
“During the recent pandemic, when the executive branch was not responsive to citizens’ concerns, opinions, and requests, they had little to no recourse,” said the bill's main sponsor, Rep. Rich Collins, in a press release. "If an emergency lasts more than 180 days, this bill would require the legislature to approve extensions of the governor’s state of emergency order... Through their legislators, citizens would have a voice in the renewal of emergency orders and the mandates they contain.”
It is important to note that if this bill were to be signed into law, it would not go into effect until the next governor takes office.
HB 245 is pending consideration of the House Administration Committee.