The Senate on Tuesday sent five environmentally focused bills to Governor John Carney, including measures that will reduce greenhouse gases in our air and plastic waste in our green spaces, as well as legislation that will further Delaware’s transition to electric vehicles and solar power.
“Taken together, these bills will help drive the First State toward a more sustainable and pollution-free future for all Delaware residents,” said Sen. Stephanie Hansen, chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee.
“I am thrilled my colleagues in the Senate and the House were able to work together to get these bills through both chambers this year and on to Governor Carney,” she said. “Just as greenhouse gases pose a threat to our entire state by contributing to rising sea levels and worsening air quality, it’s going to take a whole-of-government approach to reverse the long-term harm of our reliance on fossil fuels. While our work is far from complete, our votes today on these bills mark a significant step forward in our progress.”
| HOUSE BILL 99 – CLIMATE SOLUTIONS ACT | Currrent Status – House Passed 27-13-1. Senate Passed 15-5-1. Sent to the Governor. |
| House Sponsors – Heffernan, Phillips ,Griffith, Johnson, Lambert, Longhurst, Moore, Wilson-Anton, Baumbach, Chukwuocha, Cooke, Dorsey Walker, Harris, Lynn, Minor-Brown, Morrison, Neal, Parker Selby, Romer, Schwartzkopf, Williams | Senate Sponsors – Hansen, Townsend, Gay, Hoffner, Huxtable, McBride, Sokola, Sturgeon |
| House Yes Votes – Baumbach Bolden Bush Carson Chukwuocha Cooke Dorsey-Walker Griffith Harris Heffernan Johnson Lambert Longhurst Lynn Matthews Minor-Brown Morrison Neal Osienski Parker-Selby Phillips Romer Schwartzkopf Williams Wilson-Anton // Hensley, Smith | Senate Yes Votes – Brown Gay Hansen Hoffner Huxtable Lockman Mantzavinos McBride Paradee Pinkney Poore Sokola Sturgeon Townsend Walsh |
| House No Votes – Briggs King Collins Dukes Gray Hilovsky Morris Postles Ramone Short Shupe Spiegelman Vanderwende Yearick | Senate No Votes – Buckson, Hocker, Lawson, Pettyjohn, Wilson |
| House Absents or Not Voting – Moore | Senate Absent or Not Voting – Richardson |
Sponsored by Rep. Debra Heffernan and Sen. Hansen in April, House Bill 99 sets out Delaware’s net greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of 50% by 2030 and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, an amount equal to the emission reduction goals established by President Joe Biden in 2022. The House passed the bill 27-13-1 and the Senate passed 15-5-1, with all Republicans in the Senate voting no or absent.
Known as the Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act of 2023, the bill also would codify a planning process to guide the state in its efforts to meet those goals, and require the state to draft and implement a climate action plan to serve as a framework to help state agencies meet the same goals.
Under HB 99, the state’s climate action plan would be updated every five years to ensure the best and newest practices are being implemented. Key cabinet-level departments would appoint climate officers to work with a chief climate officer to update and implement the plan.
Reduction strategies would be required to be equitable, complement federal efforts, maintain an adequate and reliable energy supply for Delaware, and not disproportionately impact overburdened and underserved communities. The bill also requires at least one annual public meeting to allow for opportunities for public engagement in the development of the plan.
“We are in the throes of a climate crisis that is impacting every aspect of our daily lives, and we have to take action if we want to preserve our environment and way of life,” said Rep. Debra Heffernan, chair of the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. “The measures the Senate passed today are a resounding recognition and response to the growing climate threat we face, offering a pathway for our state to embrace green alternatives that will responsibly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I’m grateful to my colleagues for acknowledging the pressing need to protect our environment and for taking this bold step toward a cleaner and healthier future.”
| HOUSE BILL 10 – ANNUAL PURCHASE OF ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES THROUGH 2030 | Currrent Status – House Passed 25-15-1. Senate Passed 15-5-1. Sent to the Governor. |
| House Sponsors – Heffernan, Longhurst, Phillips, Baumbach, Griffith, Morrison, Neal, Osienski | Senate Sponsors – Hansen, Hoffner, McBride, Sokola |
| House Yes Votes – Baumbach Bolden Bush Carson Chukwuocha Cooke Dorsey-Walker Griffith Harris Heffernan Johnson Lambert Longhurst Lynn Minor-Brown Moore Morrison Neal Osienski Parker-Selby Phillips Romer Schwartzkopf Williams Wilson-Anton | Senate Yes Votes – Brown Gay Hansen Hoffner Huxtable Lockman Mantzavinos McBride Paradee Pinkney Poore Sokola Sturgeon Townsend Walsh |
| House No Votes – Matthews // Briggs King Collins Dukes Gray Hensley Hilovsky Morris Postles Ramone Shupe Smith Spiegelman Vanderwende Yearick | Senate No Votes – Buckson, Hocker, Lawson, Pettyjohn, Wilson |
| House Absents or Not Voting – Short | Senate Absent or Not Voting – Richardson |
Sponsored by Rep. Heffernan and Sen. Hansen, House Bill 10 would establish targets for the annual purchase of state-owned electric school buses through Fiscal Year 2030 that would gradually increase the percentage of electric buses in the fleet. The bill also would require the Delaware Department of Education to submit an annual report and a final report in 2030 detailing recommendations for future electric vehicle purchases and other steps to reduce the environmental impact of the state’s school transportation fleet.
The Senate passed HB10 on a party line vote of 15-5-1.
| House Bill 11 – REQUIRING ALL NEW COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS OVER 50K SQ FEET TO HAVE ROOFS CAPABLE OF SOLAR ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE | Currrent Status – House Passed 24-14-3. Senate Passed 16-4-1. Sent to the Governor. |
| House Sponsors – Heffernan, Baumbach, Griffith, Morrison, Osienski, Parker Selby, Phillips, Wilson-Anton | Senate Sponsors – Huxtable, Hansen, Hoffner, Sokola, Townsend, Walsh |
| House Yes Votes – Baumbach Bolden Bush Carson Chukwuocha Cooke Dorsey-Walker Griffith Harris Heffernan Johnson Lambert Longhurst Lynn Minor-Brown Morrison Neal Osienski Parker-Selby Phillips Romer Schwartzkopf Williams Wilson-Anton | Senate Yes Votes – Brown Gay Hansen Hoffner Huxtable Lockman Mantzavinos McBride Paradee Pinkney Poore Sokola Sturgeon Townsend Walsh // Buckson |
| House No Votes – Briggs King Collins Dukes Hensley Hilovsky Morris Postles Ramone Shupe Smith Spiegelman Vanderwende Yearick // Matthews | Senate No Votes – Hocker, Lawson, Pettyjohn, Wilson |
| House Absents or Not Voting – (Absent) Short, Gray, Moore | Senate Absent or Not Voting – Richardson |
Sponsored by Rep. Heffernan and Sen. Russell Huxtable, House Bill 11 would require new commercial buildings with a foundation footprint of 50,000 square feet or greater to meet standards that ensure the roof is able to support solar infrastructure. The bill would apply to construction projects seeking a building permit after Dec. 31, 2024.
The Senate passed HB 11 by a vote of 16-4-1, with Republican Senator Eric Buckson joining all the Democrats in voting yes.
| HOUSE BILL 12 – ELECTRIC VEHICLE REBATE PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE ELECTRIC CAR PURCHASES AND LEASES | Currrent Status – House Passes 26-14-1. Senate Passed 16-4-1. Sent to the Governor. |
| House Sponsors – Phillips, Heffernan, Longhurst, Baumbach, Griffith, Morrison, Wilson-Anton | Senate Sponsors – McBride, Hansen, Huxtable, Poore, Sokola |
| House Yes Votes – Baumbach Bolden Bush Carson Chukwuocha Cooke Dorsey-Walker Griffith Harris Heffernan Johnson Lambert Longhurst Lynn Matthews Minor-Brown Moore Morrison Neal Osienski Parker-Selby Phillips Romer Schwartzkopf Williams Wilson-Anton | Senate Yes Votes – Brown Gay Hansen Hoffner Huxtable Lockman Mantzavinos McBride Paradee Pinkney Poore Sokola Sturgeon Townsend Walsh // Buckson |
| House No Votes – Briggs King Collins Dukes Gray Hensley Hilovsky Morris Postles Ramone Short Shupe Smith Spiegelman Vanderwende | Senate No Votes – Hocker, Lawson, Pettyjohn, Wilson |
| House Absents or Not Voting – Yearick | Senate Absent or Not Voting – Richardson |
Sponsored by Rep. Sophie Phillips and Sen. Sarah McBride, House Bill 12 would codify an existing Clean Vehicle Rebate Program offered through the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) since 2014. Under the bill, the program would allow consumers to seek a rebate of up to $2,500 on the purchase of an electric vehicle and up to $1,000 for a hybrid vehicle that is valued at up to $60,000.
The Senate passed HB 12 by a vote of 16-4-1, with Republican Senator Eric Buckson joining all the Democrats in voting yes.
Four other environmentally focused measures are still being considered by the General Assembly:
House Bill 8, sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski and Sen. Jack Walsh, would direct state agencies to develop and implement “clean construction preferences” that allow sustainability and carbon-impact data to be considered in awarding public contracts. HB 8 was released by the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee in May and remains on the House Ready List.
House Bill 9, sponsored by Rep. Krista Griffith and Sen. McBride, would set goals for all state-owned and operated passenger and light-duty vehicles to be zero emission by 2040. HB 9 is awaiting consideration by the House Appropriations Committee.
Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 103, sponsored by Sen. McBride and Rep. Phillips, would require that newly constructed single- and multi-family residential dwellings include certain electric vehicle charging infrastructure. SS 1 for SB 103 passed the Senate in May and was released for consideration by the full House earlier this month.
Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Hansen and Rep. Heffernan, would strengthen the ability of the Delaware Energy Office to serve as the lead agency on a variety of climate and energy issues. SS 1 for SB 7 is awaiting final action on the House Ready List.
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