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Senate Legislative Session - Session 2 - 1st Legislative Day

Tuesday, January 13, 2026·2h 1m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Delaware Senate opened its second session of the 153rd General Assembly with emotionally charged tributes to slain Corporal Ty Snook, a split vote that defeated a Convention of States resolution, and a contested labor dispute unemployment bill that narrowly passed 16-5 over business-community objections.

Key Actions

·SCR 125 – Law Enforcement Appreciation DayPassed

+ 6 more actions

Controversies

SCR 114 – Whether a Convention of States is the right approach to fiscal and federal overreach issues

Senator Sokola opposed the resolution, arguing that entities funding the Convention of States movement had historically worked against balanced budget efforts and citing increased federal spending under DOGE, SNAP cuts, and health care subsidy cuts as harms to vulnerable people; he stated 'the entities that are funding this, they're the ones who have nothing to lose.' Senator Buckson responded by calling Sokola's arguments 'biting and inflammatory and inviting an argument' and 'a disingenuous argument,' stating they added 'obvious disagreements on exploding budgets only under Republican leadership' and gave 'the impression that we only want to cut to bone.' Senator Townsend expressed separate reservations about vague language on limiting federal power and stated he did not have faith the convention 'would work the way it was designed to work.'

+ 2 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“The hatred, the negative rhetoric toward law enforcement in this state and in this nation has got to stop. It's costing lives. And if we don't stop it here in this chamber, then we are complicit and it's ongoing. We've got to stop it. All of us.”

Senator Lawson — Senator Lawson spoke in support of SCR 125, recognizing Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, following the death of Corporal Ty Snook on December 23rd.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Roll call on SCR 114 – Convention of StatesFailed
Yes (7)Senator Buckson, Senator Hansen, Senator Hocker, Senator Lawson, Senator Pettyjohn, Senator Richardson, Senator Wilson
No (7)Senator Huxtable, Senator Lockman, Senator Paradee, Senator Poore, Senator Sokola, Senator Sturgeon, Senator Walsh
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TranscriptPreview
It's. It's. It. Good afternoon. The Senate has reconvened the third legislative day of the first special session of the 153rd General Assembly. Members and guests, please take your seats. Sergeant. Arms. Close the back door. Thank you. And everyone, please silence your mobile devices. Senator Townsend. Thank you, Madam President. I move the first special session of the 153rd General assembly stand adjourned. Seeing no objection, the first special session of 153rd General assembly stands adjourned. The Senate will come to order. I do appreciate the enthusiasm, as always, for the legislative process. Ladies and gentlemen. Pursuant to Section 4, Article 2 of the Constitution of the State of Delaware, the Senate has now convened the first legislative day of the second session, 153rd General Assembly. this time, please stand for prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. I'll be offering prayer this afternoon. Please assume an attitude. Please assume an attitude of prayer. A prayer for community in loss and fear. Gracious and compassionate God, we come together. Community carrying heavy hearts. We gather as a community that has known loss, shared loss that has shaken us, and personal loss that may be unseen but deeply felt. We name…
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