HB 293 DE

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Became Law

House Bill No. 293 requires that meetings of public bodies that are open to the public must provide an opportunity for public comment. Meetings of a public body of the General Assembly are excluded from the requirement to provide an opportunity for public comment because under § 9 of Art. II of the Delaware Constitution, the rules of proceedings for legislative meetings are established by the Senate and House of Representatives of each General Assembly. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 293 differs from House Bill No. 293 by revising the limitations a public body may impose on public comment as follows: 1. It requires that the time for public comment provide a meaningful opportunity for the public to engage with the public body. 2. Allows a public body to impose reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on the length of the public comment period and the amount of time allotted for each person providing public comment. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual and requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article IX of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend a charter issued to a municipal corporation.

• Paul S. Baumbach · primary
• Stephanie L. Hansen Democratic · primary
• Brian Pettyjohn Republican · primary
• Richard G. Collins Republican · primary

1. Mar 3, 2022 Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 293, and Assigned to Administration Committee in House · lower
2. Apr 13, 2022 Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 5 On Its Merits · lower
3. May 17, 2022 Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT · lower
4. May 17, 2022 Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate · upper
5. Jun 8, 2022 Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits · upper
6. Jun 8, 2022 Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits · upper
7. Jun 23, 2022 Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES · upper
8. Oct 26, 2022 Signed by Governor · executive