HB 411

  • Delaware House Bill
  • 151st General Assembly (2021-2022)
  • Introduced in House May 12, 2022
  • Passed House May 12, 2022
  • Passed Senate Jun 14, 2022
  • Governor

An Act Proposing An Amendment To Article Ii Of The Delaware Constitution Relating To Limitations On The Time And Frequency Of Legislative Sessions.

Abstract

This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that would prohibit the regular session of the General Assembly from extending beyond 5:00 p.m. on the last day of June, unless the session is recalled by the Governor or the presiding officers of both Houses. This changes the time beyond which a regular session of the General Assembly may not extend from midnight on June 30 to 5:00 p.m., which changes the time at which the presiding officers of both Houses must act to recall the General Assembly into special session. This means the General Assembly no longer has to remain in session until midnight to recall itself into special session. This Act does not change the date of or process for “final adjournment,” as defined in Opinion of the Justices, 175 A.2d 543, 545 (Del. 1961) (“‘[F]inal adjournment’ . . . means the adjournment sine die of the second regular session, or, in the absence of such adjournment, the extinguishment of the particular General Assembly by reason of expiration of the terms of office of the members.”). In addition, this Act contemplates that each House will continue its traditional practice of recessing to the call of the chair. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution.

Bill Sponsors (36)

Votes


Jun 14, 2022

May 12, 2022

Actions


Jun 14, 2022

Senate

Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

May 18, 2022

Senate

Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
Executive

May 12, 2022

House

Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT

Senate

Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Executive

May 11, 2022

House

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

  • Committee-Passage
Administration

May 05, 2022

House

Introduced and Assigned to Administration Committee in House

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Administration

Bill Text

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Related Documents

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Sources

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