Bill Sponsor
Delaware House Bill 293
Session 151
An Act To Amend Title 29 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Public Comment At Open Meetings.
Became Law
Became Law
Signed by Governor on Oct 26, 2022
Sponsors
Democrat
Paul S. Baumbach
Democrat
Stephanie L. Hansen
Republican
Brian Pettyjohn
Republican
Richard G. Collins
First Action
Mar 3, 2022
Latest Action
Oct 26, 2022
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
293
State
Delaware
Session
151
Sponsorship by Party
Summary
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.
Actions (8)
10/26/2022
Office of the Governor
Signed by Governor
06/23/2022
Senate
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
06/08/2022
Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits
06/08/2022
Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits
05/17/2022
Senate
Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
05/17/2022
House
Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT
04/13/2022
House
Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 5 On Its Merits
03/03/2022
House
Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 293, and Assigned to Administration Committee in House
Sources
Record Created
Jan 25, 2022 6:54:39 PM
Record Updated
Oct 30, 2022 7:42:36 AM