HB 293

  • Delaware House Bill
  • 151st General Assembly (2021-2022)
  • Introduced in House May 17, 2022
  • Passed House May 17, 2022
  • Passed Senate Jun 23, 2022
  • Signed by Governor Oct 26, 2022

An Act To Amend Title 29 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Public Comment At Open Meetings.

Abstract

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.

Bill Sponsors (14)

Votes


Jun 23, 2022

May 17, 2022

Actions


Oct 26, 2022

Office of the Governor

Signed by Governor

Jun 23, 2022

Senate

Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

Jun 08, 2022

Senate

Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits

  • Committee-Passage
Executive

Senate

Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits

  • Committee-Passage
Executive

May 17, 2022

House

Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT

Senate

Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Executive

Apr 13, 2022

House

Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 5 On Its Merits

  • Committee-Passage
Administration

Mar 03, 2022

House

Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 293, and Assigned to Administration Committee in House

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Administration

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
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Related Documents

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Sources

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