With only seven scheduled legislative days left before the 153rd General Assembly adjourns at the end of the month, the sense of urgency is quickening the pace at which bills are moving through the legislature.
With this being the second year of the two-year General Assembly, any bill not winning approval by the time the gavel drops on June 30 will be effectively dead.
The following are some of this week’s bill actions.
House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Create Delaware Film Tax Credit
The House on Thursday passed legislation to establish a new tax credit for film projects created within the state.
Sponsored by Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris (D-Dover East), Rep. Mike Smith (R-Pike Creek Valley) and Sen. Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman ( D-Wilmington), House Bill 364 (as amended) would create the Delaware Entertainment Production Tax Credit. The benefit is intended to encourage media production activity in the First State.
“Creative industries, digital entertainment, streaming content, esports, and videogame development are all rapidly expanding sectors that other states are aggressively competing to attract,” Rep. Harris said.
To qualify for the Delaware Entertainment Production Tax Credit, companies would need to demonstrate that they invested more than $100,000 in eligible activities over a 12-month period. Qualified companies could then receive a tax credit equal to 30% of those investments, which could be applied toward certain Delaware state taxes.
Independent verification of spending would also be required, as well as public reporting requirements and interagency oversight.
The bill also prioritizes productions that hire Delaware residents, use Delaware businesses, and make long-term commitments to the state.
“After trailblazing this effort with HB 237 last year, I was proud to work with Rep. Harris on HB 364 to give Delaware a competitive tool to attract the film production industry,” Rep. Smith said. “This measure is intended to bring new revenue to local businesses and create real jobs for Delaware workers. With most states already offering similar incentives, this bill ensures we stay competitive and strengthens our economy through smart, accountable economic development.”
The bill is now pending consideration in a Senate committee.
Bill to Require Narcan in Bars Tabled in Bipartisan Vote
A proposal seeking to require that taprooms and taverns keep drugs used to treat opioid overdoses on hand was tabled yesterday by a coalition of House Republicans and Democrats.
House Bill 403 seeks to require at least two “opioid antagonists” — sold under various brand names, including Narcan — to be kept on-site and that instruction on how to administer these drugs be included as part of the state’s mandatory alcoholic beverage server training.
State representatives from both sides of the aisle questioned why these businesses were singled out for the mandate when there is no data indicating their establishments were any more likely to be the site of an opioid overdose. “Why are we requiring bartenders to be medical professionals?” asked State Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton (D-Newark).
State Rep. Valerie Jones Giltner (R-Georgetown), a former nurse who regularly carries Narcan to aid others, raised concerns that the bill could create liability issues if an overdose occurred in a taproom or tavern and the required medications could not be located quickly, were missing, or had inadvertently been kept after their effective dates.
Twenty-five House members (12 Republicans and 13 Democrats) voted together to table the bill.
