First State Action

Greetings! Check this page for updates on AARP Delaware’s advocacy activities and other policy news. Contact me at sagrant@aarp.org to RSVP for in-person meetings in Dover, get the link for our Third Thursday Noon Zoom calls, or learn more about how you can get involved. 

12/24/24

MEMBERS ONLY

2024 may be coming to a close, but AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. Here’s what's happening and a look ahead:

What's Happening?

Since the General Assembly wrapped up in June, AARP has been supporting options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units located in walkable neighborhoods. Recently all three counties in Delaware and the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on accessory dwelling units — ADUs or "mother-in-law suites". In other housing news, New Castle County just passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods” — clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.

What's Next?

• AARP is following a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers.
• We're also following a bill that will encourage homeowners to build accessory dwelling units,
• A proposed Transfer on Death Deed would allow homeowners to transfer property to a beneficiary without a will.
• AARP will continue to help enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force and the Caucus on Aging.
• We'll stay connected with the Affordable Housing Task Force and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition.
• And we'll support improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing.
• We'll also host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.

What Can We Do?

We're looking for a few volunteers who'd like to make a difference by learning about issues, writing letters to the editor, talking to legislators, helping to plan events, take photos and help with social media posts, and more. If you’d like to learn more about our work, email sagrant@aarp.org for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3^rd Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, meet other dedicated advocates, and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.

Thanks for checking in with First State Action. Keep warm, be well, and stay engaged!

-Sheila

July 8, 2024

2024 Advocacy Wrap-up

Preventing fraud, increasing the supply of housing, ensuring accessible polling places, and improving the quality of long term care—AARP Advocates have a lot to celebrate this year! Here's the rundown:

• Gift Card Fraud — We worked with Rep. Larry Lambert and Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos to pass HB 317, which will educate shoppers on the dangers of gift card fraud. We know that when people are warned in advance, they can spot a scam and avoid losing money.
• Nursing Home Safety and Quality — AARP has participated in task forces in recent years that explored long term care, dementia care, aging in place, and caregiving. Recommendations from those task forces led to a package of bills this year which increase oversight and improve the quality of care in long-term care facilities. (HB 204, HB 300, SB 150, SB 151, SB 215, SB 216).  
• Affordable Housing — AARP supported several bills that aim to increase the supply of affordable housing by removing regulatory barriers and providing incentives to build more housing. (SB 22, SB 25, SB 244, SB 245, SB 246)  
• Voting — 2024 is an election year, and AARP heard from local disabilities groups that some polling places in Delaware were not accessible to people using wheelchairs. We supported HB 293, which ensures accessible polling places, as well as bills preventing discrimination against renters and people experiencing homelessness (SB 293, HB 439, HB 440)  
• There's Always Next Year — There were a few bills AARP supported that didn’t make it past the finish line this year. We hope legislators will re-introduce them next year. HB 17 requires employers to offer sick time for workers. HB 147 prevents "tangled titles by allowing homeowners without a will to transfer property to a beneficiary with a simple Transfer on Death Deed. And SB 23 will promote Accessory Dwelling Units (sometimes called “in-law suites”) throughout the state as a way to increase the supply of affordable housing.

We appreciate all of our AARP Advocates who called and emailed their legislators in support of these bills. Their voices really made a difference!

Thanks for checking in with First State Action. Keep cool, have fun, and stay engaged!

-Sheila

April 11, 2024

What's Happening?

• The General Assembly will return to session next Tuesday 4/16, and HB 17 is expected to be heard in the House Labor Committee. The bill ensures Delaware workers will have access to paid sick leave. AARP believes workers shouldn't have to choose between earning a living and taking care of themselves or their loved ones when they're sick. We're urging lawmakers to pass HB 17!
• We're also getting ready for a committee hearing on HB 317, the Stop Gift Card Fraud Act, so please scan the QR code below to email your legislator and ask them to vote "yes".

What can we do?

You can always find the most up-to-date information about what's happening in Legislative Hall here: https://legis.delaware.gov/. The schedule of meetings is listed on the right, and you can click around the rest of the site to learn about committees, bills, legislators, and more.