[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6629756,"mediaKeyId","2703059-86fed077aba7caf737fd8568d4e8e17f","parentId",2703059,"title","Educators, officials testify in support of restoring employer match to state deferred compensation plan","audioSeconds",271,"startMs",2181000,"endMs",2452000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703059-86fed077aba7caf737fd8568d4e8e17f&start=2181&end=2452","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703059-86fed077aba7caf737fd8568d4e8e17f/thumbnail_2181000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6629756/Delaware/Educators-officials-testify-in-support-of-restoring-employer-match-to-state-deferred-compensation-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629756-39a25d0892569c149f6ccea6a466dd9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771049890&Signature=EP0Z6-1iMECsocEZObLL0rE5h6URea0CkdFupSfNRYwGq8Nc03Fjb2XIzs6VYVZthBbnNLNLNHdbWnk0XdU6PER44rRimIc~fdiQdlYfJD8-4NG-U01GgX8R8S5TG7Y-~Woex1suHLmrO~m18~BLMQgQTjmlRdbloB8XoRpWovmpPHayfqdGmGnW-USJ-Kc-M8kcHViD5bIQgyAb6zHy3XflXLdFqw5ReHd9NcXV8gltB15oWaVYDPScMBX7l~2BUAhKgzT2SDQWD9204wYIXl09AdmtRYH0j6Hb~sFl7O3R29N0QqgSxfNOoozHlJS0tUZWpSDYUoaGOoGyYlFyaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 20, which proposes reinstating the employer contribution match for state employees’ deferred compensation accounts that was suspended in July 2008.

Senate staff described the match as a recruitment and retention tool for state government: the state previously offered an employer match to help employees save for retirement, and the match was suspended during the Great Recession. Chris Haas, identified in the hearing as representing the insurance division, said his office does not oppose the bill but warned it could impose funding responsibilities on the department: \"The bill would require the department to fully fund all matches ourselves with no support, from the general fund or any other funds,\" he said, reflecting a fiscal‑administration concern conveyed to the office of the state treasurer.

Stephanie Ingram, president of the Delaware State Education Association and a classroom teacher, testified in support of the bill on behalf of public educators, saying many members are living paycheck to paycheck and have limited ability to save for retirement. \"When you're living paycheck to paycheck, saving for retirement can feel like a luxury you can't afford,\" Ingram said, urging lawmakers to restore the state match as fulfillment of a long‑standing legislative intent.

No formal motion or recorded vote on Senate Bill 20 appears in the hearing transcript; the committee concluded testimony and adjourned the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee Meeting Mar 19, 2025 3:00 PM - 3:43 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Witnesses backed Senate Bill 20 to reinstate the employer match on state deferred compensation contributions suspended in 2008; the insurance commissioner raised funding-structure concerns. The committee heard testimony but did not record a vote.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature DE Collection, Legislative, Delaware","taxId",77708,"location","Delaware","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629762,"Committee hears routine testimony on pilotage rates bill; no public opposition recorded",145,2091000,2236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703059-86fed077aba7caf737fd8568d4e8e17f&start=2091&end=2236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703059-86fed077aba7caf737fd8568d4e8e17f/thumbnail_2091000.jpg","/articles/6629762/Delaware/Committee-hears-routine-testimony-on-pilotage-rates-bill-no-public-opposition-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629762-7db9be37ff8bde59ed9ec155e21c959b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771049890&Signature=T6mPTXDxzeg0he0Vdqc~ZYRf8cjtxI~T~7Nv3jGGwXP3roMdB8KA09kW4icCgmIb8TjmrcsPBYtcQG0HrAD0JjlROsByuAWzf6Jlbi-uBB7mn9iEVXmWJVKnQO97gDZia4NolZ~Y-CXamV3~1bQYASUyaoUrwOQVrNVmwvwIJrw98kqqBlWw~X1dA9EINaRKsC5L-L88TprPZ7LNxOr0yJMt4p7b04uSUa5XL4xs280mmFfEafpmKWxJ4Dn3DPwyGs1P0IUfnkzgu-BHHihnrn7XFgLEuagqhDJEt4qoso6ilPXIOTo4xSkPAB9mvVndG2YwTAXuZKcFSKwrrvEdVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee considered Senate Bill 68, legislation to update pilotage (pilot) rates for vessels entering Delaware waters. Committee members were given a brief explanation of the pilot role and no in‑person or virtual public testimony was recorded.

A representative identified as Dwayne, speaking for the state pilot organization, described the role: \"Well, compelled by law, every foreign ship that comes in this country is compelled to take a state pilot,\" he said, adding that pilots board incoming ships to navigate them safely to port and that the pilot service is a private company regulated by the state.

Senator Huxtable (introducing the item) characterized the bill as routine: \"It has no physical impact to the state of Delaware,\" she said, and noted the item is the periodic update the General Assembly considers for pilot rates. Committee members asked clarifying questions about what a pilot does; no members of the public had registered to testify in person or virtually.

The committee proceeded after a short exchange; no formal motion or recorded vote on Senate Bill 68 appears in the hearing transcript.","Senate Bill 68, which updates pilotage rates charged to ships calling on Delaware ports, received a brief explanation from pilot representatives and no public testimony; committee did not record a vote.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629766,"Senate committee hears testimony on bill to create Office of New Americans",1978,207000,2185000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703059-86fed077aba7caf737fd8568d4e8e17f&start=207&end=2185","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703059-86fed077aba7caf737fd8568d4e8e17f/thumbnail_207000.jpg","/articles/6629766/Delaware/Senate-committee-hears-testimony-on-bill-to-create-Office-of-New-Americans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629766-bc229983cb04eb8c63381a87f217654d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771049890&Signature=bbid404WqIbHCpC-mQDKIsen8bo30IUy9rT2olDaf2kMiNV1dU9Gz78CBcHVP7crdS6BECCAkUymXUKDZ87KNJND783R5NAU0bWItKRGcVyiAls9XcDgz2JN0C8YA55I~7cw0-yfyEsg0YO8tSqwJfUariK9uFFVrnMNxkf3BmuwDdPjBpxqbts2pWX6s6~83HWhRLJC~79Ruzuxv46-KZ-6COL4ZDpqPZrtGJZ4LivhpeO0Vk6MmCsWM-LhV7GDBaww6cG0kuQsCrK3oPxwEKtYCkxKOXJlpf9FSgKSyhhDSjI6zsRm1YztE9UjPguwYBJPnIU66Ztg7vAgfgNlqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Delaware Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee heard expert and public testimony on Senate Bill 27, legislation to establish an Office of New Americans as a central information and coordination hub for foreign‑born residents in Delaware.

Proponents said the office would help immigrants access education, workforce training, business resources and legal services, and argued it would strengthen Delaware’s economy by retaining global talent. Mike Zimmer, representing World Education Services, described the proposal as similar to offices in other states and said the model has been adopted across partisan lines: \"WES and the American Immigration Council are proud to co‑convene the Office of New Americans network,\" Zimmer said.

Supporters placed the proposal in the context of workforce needs and economic contributions by immigrants. Ajuwavi Jackie Ajuwavan, who testified in person as an immigrant, business developer and constituent advocate, told the committee, \"Establishing the Office of New Americans in Delaware is not only a moral imperative, it's not only a moral imperative, but also an economic and social necessity for Delaware's future prosperity.\" Granado Tello, speaking for the Hispanic American Association of Delaware and the newly formed Delaware Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the office would act as a “bridge” connecting newcomers to resources and supports.

Witnesses cited examples from other states. Zimmer noted roughly 22 states have offices of new Americans in statutory or administrative form and said recent statutory offices in Maine, North Dakota and Utah include explicit immigrant attraction efforts. Lorena Boa, who said she has worked with refugee resettlement and workforce programs and currently oversees a professional pathways program with New York State’s Office of New Americans, urged Delaware lawmakers to replicate similar coordination to address workforce shortages.

Committee members asked witnesses about existing services and fiscal implications. Witnesses said a patchwork of community organizations currently provides targeted services to various immigrant groups but that no single state office coordinates across needs, languages and agencies. Committee discussion also touched on whether the governor’s administration supports the concept; a committee member said the governor had publicly supported creating such an office during the campaign, but no budgetary commitment was recorded in committee testimony.

No formal motion or vote on Senate Bill 27 was recorded during the hearing; the committee concluded the testimony and proceeded to the next agenda item.","Supporters and immigrant advocates told the Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee that a centralized Office of New Americans would help immigrants access services, fill workforce gaps and support entrepreneurship; committee took testimony but did not vote on Senate Bill 27.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Educators, officials testify in support of restoring employer match to state deferred compensation plan

Committee hears routine testimony on pilotage rates bill; no public opposition recorded

Senate committee hears testimony on bill to create Office of New Americans