Welcome to The Press Room, a weekly roundup of the major stories and happenings of the 2023 Delaware legislative year.
This week’s edition focuses on health care bills to keep an eye on, a robust debate on National Atheists’ Day in Delaware and an important hearing in Delaware Superior Court next week.
As always, send story tips, feedback, ideas or gossip to me at mnewman@delawareonline.com.
Follow me on Twitter at @MereNewman.
Delaware health care bills to keep an eye on
SB 8: This bill − sponsored by Rep. Spiros Mantzavinos, a Democrat from Elsmere − focuses on medical debt and would prevent health care facilities from taking penalizing actions against patients. This includes: preventing the charging of interest and late fees, requiring health care facilities to “offer reasonable payment plans,” and limiting both the sale of debt to debt collectors and the liability for the medical debt of others, in addition to other safeguards.
HB 54: This bill, which the House recently passed unanimously, would require insurance plans to provide epinephrine autoinjectors (think EpiPens) to all Delaware residents, as well as offer a version of an EpiPen on its lowest tier of approved medicines. Rep. Kim Williams, a Newport Democrat who is sponsoring this legislation, helped pass a similar bill for minors in 2021. It came as a result of the cost of EpiPens skyrocketing in recent years.
HB 80: This bill would require Medicaid to cover doula services for expecting parents. Delaware has a history of alarmingly high rates of maternal and infant mortality, particularly among Black Delawareans. Delaware Medicaid would establish a certification process for doulas and set a reimbursement rate that “supports a livable annual income for full-time practicing doulas,” according to a news release. This legislation, sponsored by House Majority Whip Melissa Minor-Brown, requires the following:
- Three prenatal visits, of up to 90 minutes
- Three postpartum visits, of up to 90 minutes
- Attendance through labor and birth
Should atheists have a national day in Delaware?
Delaware lawmakers engaged in a nearly hourlong debate last week on if the state should recognize National Atheists’ Day. The resolution was sponsored by Rep. Eric Morrison, a Glasgow Democrat who identifies as an atheist. March 23 is observed by atheists nationally.
It’s not often that a Democrat introduces a resolution that is resoundingly defeated. Though Republicans were vocally against the resolution and forced a rare roll call for it, Democrats were also against it. Ultimately, the vote was 11-26, with two lawmakers not voting and two being absent.
Morrison said on the House floor he plans, after the legislative break, to bring a resolution related to awareness of atheism, after lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said they would be inclined to support it.
DELAWARE POLITICS:By next March Madness, Delaware may have mobile sports betting. Why it’s taking so long.
What to watch for this week
- The Legislature is out of session this week for bond bill hearings. Besides the budget, the bond bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation the General Assembly passes each year. The money is dedicated to construction projects and infrastructure improvements in Delaware. Here’s where to find the schedule.
- The Delaware Superior Court on March 21 will hear a motion for summary judgment for the lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems, a private voting machine manufacturer, against Fox News and Fox Corp. Depending on the outcome, a trial could begin April 17.
