The Senate Executive Committee heard five gubernatorial appointments — to the Harness Racing Commission, Water Infrastructure Advisory Council, State Board of Elections, State Board of Education, and Environmental Appeals Board — and received testimony on SB219, a bill to increase Delaware's military pension tax exclusion from $12,500 to $25,000 by 2029. No recorded votes were taken on any appointment or on SB219 during the session.
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Senator Buckson explicitly asked the committee to set aside fiscal note concerns initially, arguing the merits of the legislation should come first and that a $3.2 million fiscal impact is not significant relative to the almost $300 million currently generated by military retirees in Delaware. Eugenia Thornton argued the fiscal note focuses only on lost tax revenue and does not address income taxes paid through second careers, the salaries of working spouses, or community contributions by veterans. No named committee member pushed back on this framing on the record.
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“I humbly request that this committee start with a focus on the merits of the legislation, recognizing that a fiscal note is relevant, but speaking to the merits of the legislation with a temporary pause of the fiscal note conversation, which I will get to in due time.”
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Sign in to subscribeThe Senate Executive Committee meeting is called to order. As chair of the Senate Executive Committee and in accordance with Senate rules, this committee is authorized to meet in a hybrid format. Committee members and members of the public can participate either in person or virtually through zoom webinar. Should any member experience technical difficulties, please call or text 302-545-0158. The public may participate virtually by registering via the meeting link that is posted on the General Assembly's website. Instructions for providing public comment are posted in the website under the committee's meeting notice. Members of the public here in person should sign in the document in the front row on my right at the front of the chamber. Let's begin today's meeting by taking a roll call. Attendance of the members present. Senator Brian Townsend, vice chair, is not here yet, but I expect him here soon. Senator Gerald Hocker, Senator Elizabeth Locke, Senator Russell Huxtable, Senator Brian Pettyjohn. I have seen him, so I expect him to be here soon. Senator Marie Pinckney and Senator Dave Sicola, myself. With a sufficient number of members present, the committee will move to the agenda. The first item on the posted…
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