Establishes new formulas that a community owner is allowed to use to increase rent in a manufactured home community.
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Jack Walsh
Signed into Law
Deters future unsafe driving by increasing the severity of punishment for drag racing and closing previous loopholes in the law related to drag racing and stunt driving.
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Jack Walsh
Passed into Law
This bill ensures equal access to diaper changing tables in restrooms in public buildings regardless of the gender for which the restroom is designed.
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Jack Walsh
Passed the Senate
Requires landlords of manufactured home communities to provide water and septic system tests regularly and report their findings to tenants.
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Jack Walsh
Passed the Senate
Passed the House
This bill holds employers accountable for paying employees wages earned between this last paycheck and their last day, regardless of whether they quit, resigned, were suspended or laid off.
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Jack Walsh
Passed the Senate
Passed the House
Protects Delaware workers and Delaware taxpayers from employers who pay their employees “under the table” by defining wage theft more specifically and clearly delineating penalties for wage theft violations.
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Jack Walsh
Passed the Senate
Passed the House
Friends and neighbors,
Spring is almost here, which means things are getting busier in Legislative Hall and across the Ninth District.
In Delaware, our regular legislative session runs each year from the second Tuesday in January through June 30. To watch Senate proceedings live or if you want to come back later to watch recordings of past proceedings, click here. To view daily Senate Agendas, click here. To view upcoming committee meetings, legislative session start times, and more, click here.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, community concerns, or just to say hi. I can be reached by email at john.walsh@delaware.gov, on Facebook, or by calling my Senate office at (302) 744-4163.
Sincerely,
Jack Walsh
Senator, District 9
Earlier this year, my bill SB208 was released from the labor committee. This legislation will help return unpaid wages to employees who leave their job for a variety of reasons.
I was proud to join my colleagues in supporting SB1, The Healthy Delaware Families Act. This bill guarantees 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave to Delaware workers.
This legislation, alongside raising the minimum wage to $15, are some of the many things we must do to lift up working families across our state.
I am also working on the following legislation:
On Friday, March 18 starting at 10 a.m., Food Bank of Delaware will be hosting a drive-thru mobile food pantry at the DelTech Stanton Campus. Please pre-register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/march-new-castle-county-drive-thru-distribution-tickets-290099725087
AARP Delaware invites local nonprofit organizations and governments across the state to apply for the 2022 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through March 22, 2022.
AARP Community Challenge grants can be used to support:
The Delaware Division of Small Business “Encouraging Development, Growth & Expansion” grant cycle is open all month long. Eligible businesses can be awarded up to $100,000 in funding.
Don’t wait to apply — applications are due at 5 p.m. on March 31.
To learn more, visit business.delaware.gov/edge.
The deadline for organizations to submit applications for the FY23 Community Reinvestment Fund is May 15, 2022.
Eligible applicants include county and local governments, community-based nonprofit organizations, and private sector nonprofit organizations.
Please direct any questions to the Office of the Controller General at 302-744-4200 or send an email to Bond_Public_Comment@delaware.gov.
Delaware is currently facing a winter surge that has led to a record-breaking number of positive COVID cases and hospitalizations, as well as an overwhelming increase in the demand placed on COVID testing sites. Our healthcare system, local businesses, and even testing sites are facing staffing shortages as the Delta and Omicron variants spread at increased rates.
All Delawareans — regardless of vaccination status — are encouraged to avoid social gatherings and mask up when you’re around others outside of your household.
If you have not done so already, please sign up now to get fully vaccinated and boosted. Click here to find a list of vaccination sites. Individuals over the age of 16 who received their second shot over 6 months ago are encouraged to get their booster shot. Click here to find out where to get your booster.
To access a comprehensive collection of resources, including updated guidance and other tools to fight the spread of COVID-19, visit de.gov/coronavirus
Interchange improvements to improve safety and reduce congestion.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2025
Project Update: Design is underway. In June 2020, DelDOT received a federal grant for $56.8 million that will allow this project schedule to be moved forward approximately two years sooner than originally anticipated. A virtual public workshop was held on February 16, 2021. Workshop displays have been updated on the project website.
Construction is anticipated to begin in 2022.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2022
The project is in design.
Construct a new DART transit facility, including a park & ride, near the Christiana Mall. The project will include roadway connections from Center Boulevard to Churchmans Road. All new infrastructure will also provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: TBD
Project Update: Concept design is underway.
Provide safety and capacity improvements at the intersection.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2024
Project Update: Right-of-way acquisition is underway. Design is progressing. Advanced utility work is expected to begin in early 2022.
This project includes widening the westbound SR 273 to northbound I-95 Ramp to include an additional lane to the inside. The two left turn lanes from northbound Chapman Road will be restriped to turn into the ramp lane and a choice lane. Along the I-95 ramp, the two lanes will merge as a zipper merge.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: Winter 2022/2023
Project Update: Design is underway. Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2022, following the construction of the current I-95/SR 273 construction project.
Friends and neighbors,
Before 2021 is over, I want to give you an update on several job-creating transportation projects underway in the 9th Senate District thanks to the $1.35 billion Bond Bill passed by the Delaware General Assembly in June – the largest infrastructure improvement and jobs creation act in Delaware history.
Below is a list of just some of the major Delaware Department of Transportation projects occurring in the 9th Senate District.
Be sure to click on the blue links below for more information.
Sincerely,
Jack Walsh
Senator, District 9
Project Description: Bridge replacement
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: 2022
Project Update: Mumford & Miller Concrete began construction on December 2, 2019. The contractor has installed erosion & sediment control devices, cleared the work area, and installed construction fencing. Several utilities will now relocate their facilities over a 10-month timeframe. Once the utilities are relocated, Mumford & Miller will construct the new bridge adjacent to the existing bridge. Two weekend closures of the road will be required during construction and will be coordinated with area businesses and the traveling public closer to that time.
Project Description: Construct a new DART transit facility, including a park & ride, near the Christiana Mall. The project will include roadway connections from Center Boulevard to Churchmans Road. All new infrastructure will also provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: TBD
Project Update: Concept design is underway.
Project Description: Construct a new bridge adjacent to the existing Road A bridge to provide additional capacity between Center Boulevard and Del. 7.
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: Spring 2021
Project Update: The project is substantially complete
Project Description: Identify and prioritize cost-effective short, mid- and long-term transportation infrastructure improvements along Del. 1 from the Roth Bridge to south of I-95 that will reduce congestion and travel times and improve safety, while minimizing environmental impacts.
Project Phase: Planning
Projected Construction Completion: TBD
Project Update: Planning for the widening of Del. 1, including various interchange improvements, has been ongoing. A project of this magnitude takes many years of planning, environmental approvals, public outreach, design, and ultimately construction. Fortunately we have been able to implement several smaller scale upgrades while the larger project continues through the process. A virtual public workshop was held October 27, 2021, to present the recommended preferred alternative and updates to the noise study and other environmental efforts.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2022
Project Update: The project is in design.
Project Description: Spray liner for bridge rehabilitation
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: Winter 2021/2022
Project Update: The project has been awarded to a contractor. Construction is anticipated to begin in December 2021.
Project Description: Bridge rehabilitations.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: TBD
Project Update: The project is in design
Project Description: Provide safety and capacity improvements at the intersection.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2024
Project Update: Right-of-way acquisition is underway. Design is progressing. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2022.
Project Description: Improvements include adding turn lanes and geometric improvements; and pedestrian, bicycle, and transit improvements.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2026
Project Update: Alternatives to be developed starting in 2021
Project Description: Relocate the I-95 southbound ramp to Del. 273 westbound and provide a signalized intersection to improve safety.
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: Summer 2022
Project Update: Construction began in March 2021. Phase 2A of the project, which limited westbound Del. 273 to one through lane, is now complete. Traffic has been switched to Phase 3, allowing for two through lanes on westbound Del. 273. The westbound Del. 273 ramp to southbound I-95 has also been re-opened. The northbound I-95 ramp to eastbound Del. 273 was re-opened to traffic prior to Thanksgiving 2021. See www.sr273-i95improvements.com for more information.
Project Description: This project includes widening the westbound Del. 273 ramp to northbound I-95 to include an additional lane. The two left turn lanes from northbound Chapman Road will be restriped to turn into the ramp lane and a choice lane. Along the I-95 ramp, the two lanes will merge together as a zipper merge.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: Winter 2022/2023
Project Update: Design is underway. Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2022, following the construction of the current I-95/SR 273 construction project.
Project Description: This project provides a two-way separated bicycle facility along Delaware Avenue between Orchard Road and Library Avenue that will accommodate both eastbound and westbound bicycle travel.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: Fall 2022
Project Update: Construction began November 29, 2021
Project Description: This project will address capacity issues at the Del. 4/Del. 7 Stanton Split intersection by adding turn lanes and other geometric improvements. The project will also include pedestrian and transit facility improvements.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: TBD
Project Update: Traffic analysis and development of alternatives are currently being reviewed.
Friends and neighbors,
The Red Clay Consolidated School District will host an online town hall later this month to review a proposal to construct a cell phone tower on the grounds of Dickinson High School, which would provide upgraded cell service for local residents, including for emergency calls.
A site plan application has been filed with New Castle County by Milestone Communications and AT&T to install a 132-foot wireless telecommunications tower at the high school.
Residents interested in learning more about the proposed tower and application can attend the virtual meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 16.
To learn more and register for the virtual town hall, visit: http://www.johndickinsonhswireless.com/
Thank you,
Jack Walsh
Senator, District 9
Friends and neighbors,
Starting today, Delaware’s vaccine providers are now administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 pediatric vaccine to children ages 5 to 11.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact your child’s pediatrician to schedule a vaccination appointment. If your pediatrician is not offering the vaccine at this time, children also can be vaccinated at a limited number of large chain pharmacies, at federally qualified health centers if you are a patient, or at the following Division of Public Health pop up sites:
This announcement from the Delaware Division of Public Health comes after the FDA and CDC approved the Pfizer vaccine for children in this age group.
The reduced Pfizer dose for children was found to be more than 90% protective against developing symptomatic COVID-19.
For a complete list of locations where adult vaccines are available, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine.
Thank you,
Jack Walsh
Senator, District 9