The special session of the Delaware General Assembly scheduled to convene October 26 was canceled.

Lawmakers planned to consider a bill related to health coverage changes for retired state workers, but a state superior court judge ordered a temporary halt to the state’s plan to switch insurance plans for retirees, rendering discussion of the bill moot.

Coverage under the current health plan extends for another year.

While the General Assembly as a whole will not convene, the Senate will hold a special session to consider the confirmation of several Gov. Carney appointees.

Delaware lawmakers will convene for a special session of the General Assembly on October 26.

During the special session, lawmakers will focus on easing the transition for retirees from a state-funded health care plan to a Medicare Advantage plan.

The special session comes in response to a lawsuit filed by a retiree advocacy group contesting the transition.

The 151^st session of the Delaware General Assembly adjourned sine die on Thursday, June 30.

Though bills related to campaign finance law were introduced, none were passed.

Before adjourning, lawmakers passed a package of six gun safety laws and a new $5 billion state budget.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting dates.

A special election has been scheduled for Delaware House District 4 to be held on March 5.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Gerald Brady resigned following an ethics investigation.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the two-year term set to expire at the end of this year.

Rep. Gerald Brady announced he would resign from the Delaware Legislature effective February 4.

Brady faced a House Ethics Committee hearing last year related to an email he sent containing an anti-Asian slur and a joke about human trafficking.

A special election is expected to be called to fill the vacant seat in House District 4 for the remainder of the term ending in November.

On November 3, voters reelected incumbent John Carney to a second term as Governor of Delaware, defeating Republican challenger Julianne Murray.

During the campaign, Gov. Carney received criticism from the opposing party on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This included a public mask mandate, as well as business shutdowns.

The election was expected to show whether Delaware voters approved of his administration’s handling of the pandemic.

Gov. Carney is constitutionally limited to two terms and may not seek another term in 2024.

Delaware lawmakers announced the General Assembly will reconvene virtually and livestream the sessions on YouTube.

The House of Representatives will meet virtually on Tuesday, May 26, and the Senate will meet virtually on Wednesday, May 27.

A link to each meeting of the House, Senate, and joint committees will be posted on the General Assembly’s website.

The Legislative Hall remains closed to the public until further notice.

Gov. John Carney issued the 15th modification of the state emergency declaration due to COVID-19.

The modification postpones Delaware’s presidential preference primary from June 2 to July 7.

Any elections for school board members scheduled for June 16 will be postponed to July 21.

Additionally, local elections to be conducted after May 7 and before the end of the state of emergency are to be conducted at the discretion of the municipality.

Originally scheduled for May 12, this is the second postponement of the presidential primary and school board elections.

On Tuesday March 24, Gov. John Carney announced a sixth modification to his state of emergency declaration due to COVID-19.

The order postpones Delaware’s presidential preference primary from April 28 to June 2, and any elections for school board members scheduled for May 12 to June 16.

Additionally, local elections to be conducted before May 15 are to be rescheduled by the municipality.

Under the order, the terms of existing officeholders continue until the results for any rescheduled elections are certified.

The Delaware General Assembly has postponed the legislative session indefinitely.

Lawmakers originally postponed the session until March 24, but have extended the delay after reevaluating the COVID-19 situation.

The General Assembly is determining how to pass emergency legislation regarding the coronavirus and pass the state budget.

Due to concerns over COVID-19, the Delaware General Assembly has postponed the legislative session for one week until March 24.

Lawmakers were originally expected to return next week to discuss the state budget.

Starting today, the Capitol building will be closed to the public including tours and official meetings.

Legislators will reevaluate how to manage the rest of the legislative session on a weekly basis.

The closure does not affect any lobbyist reporting.

The 150th General Assembly adjourned for spring just after 1 a.m. on July 1.

Traditionally, the General Assembly remains until midnight strikes on July 1 because the constitution restricts lawmakers from entering into a special session after June 30 unless the session is recalled by the governor or the mutual call of both Houses.

Ending the session in the early hours of July 1 gives legislators the opportunity to go back into session before the regularly scheduled gathering in January without being summoned by the governor.

Legislation not passed by July 1 can be picked up in the next six months or when lawmakers return to the capitol on January 14, 2020.

An unanticipated, overnight fight over a minimum wage hike prolonged the adjournment of Delaware’s Legislature until after 8 a.m. Sunday.

The $816.3 million bond bill passed along mostly party lines after a compromise had been reached that will allow workers under age 18 to be paid up to 50 cents below the minimum wage.

Other notable bills that passed include a $16.8 million tax decrease for casinos and $500 bonuses for current state employees and pensioners.

The next two-year session will convene in January.

Despite working into the early hours of Saturday morning, the Delaware Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session on July 1, 2017, without passing a 2018 budget.

In order to address the Legislature’s failure, Gov. John Carney called a special session for July 2, 2017.

The special session adjourned on July 2, 2017, and Carney signed a $4.1 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2018.