Legislative notebook: Delaware General Assembly has a busy first week back

Delaware lawmakers had a jam-packed first week back in session after a monthlong break for budget hearings, with about 20 committees considering dozens of bills on March 10 and 11. Senate Bill 226, sponsored by Sen. Marie Pinkney, would allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in health care facilities. The bill was granted another hearing on March 11 and was released with a favorable vote. Senate Bill 205, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, would create guardrails for large energy consumers like data centers. The bill was originally heard in January but was tabled. After a joint Senate and House Energy Committee meeting in late February, the bill was released with a favorable vote. A bipartisan measure, House Bill 186, aims to incentivize the construction and operation of high-efficiency combined-cycle gas turbine electrical generation facilities by creating an electricity production tax credit. The hearing on this bill was postponed due to the primary sponsor's illness. The legislature also considered a constitutional amendment to protect the right to marry, regardless of the couple's genders, as well as other bills related to election rules and labor agreements.