House Corrections Committee Meeting

Tuesday, March 24, 2026·2h 0m·▶ Watch / Listen

The House Corrections Committee advanced HB 291 banning for-profit inmate labor contracts 8-1, then blocked HB 289 — which would have excluded Class A felons from Delaware's new sentence modification program — after an emotionally charged hearing featuring victim testimony against criminal justice advocates.

Key Actions

·HB 291 – Prohibit For-Profit Inmate Labor ContractsPassed

+ 4 more actions

Controversies

Whether HB 289 undermines judicial authority or corrects an overreach by SB 10

Representative Morrison argued HB 289 'guts the powers of the Superior Court' similarly to how a prior bill gutted the Chancery Court, and that it is 'a solution looking for a problem' since no Class A felons had been released under SB 10. Representative Spiegelman countered that if HB 289 guts the courts, then SB 10 itself gutted the courts first by removing a judge's ability to sentence someone to die in prison.

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“It is morally wrong that these companies should make profits while paying anyone working for them such paltry wages and not at least the minimum wage. It is akin to slave labor.”
Representative Morrison (HB 291 sponsor) — Morrison's core moral argument for HB 291, which bans for-profit entities from contracting with the Department of Corrections for inmate labor.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Motion to release HB 291Passed

Yes (8)Chair Lambert, Vice Chair Cook, Representative Chukwuocha, Representative Gorman, Representative Morrison, Representative Neal, Representative Morrison, Representative Vanderwyn

No (1)Representative Vanderwyn

Absent (1)Representative Valerie Jones Giltner

Motion to release HB 289Failed

Yes (2)Representative Jones Giltner, Representative Morrison

No (6)Representative Lambert, Vice Chair Cook, Representative Chukwuocha, Representative Gorman, Representative Morrison, Representative Neal

Absent (1)Representative Vanderwin

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TranscriptPreview

Good morning everyone. Our meeting is being called to order. Members, please be aware that there are microphones at your desk that will pick up conversations easily. These mics are connected to the live stream so that the public may watch the proceedings. The public may participate virtually via Zoom webinar by registering via the meeting link posted on on the General Assembl website. Instructions for providing public comment are posted on the General Assembly's website under the committee meeting's notice and will be provided during the public comment portion of this hearing. Members of the public physically present for the meeting may sign up on the list for the bill they would like to speak on. The list is now at the front table. Please note that any votes taken will be by roll call. We will offer the bill for signatures to committee members not present if it secure if it secures enough signatures for release from committee, it will be reported out of the legislative website, out on the legislative website and announced on the House floor during session. Let's begin today's meeting by taking a roll call. Attendance of the committee members. Present. Chair Lambert. Present.…

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