[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6106756,"mediaKeyId","2779531-610ea47d4a5be0f10b70d14a53cb85ca","parentId",2779531,"title","Committee hears bill to expand use of Delaware telecommunications fund for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing supports","audioSeconds",958,"startMs",760000,"endMs",1718000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779531-610ea47d4a5be0f10b70d14a53cb85ca&start=760&end=1718","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779531-610ea47d4a5be0f10b70d14a53cb85ca/thumbnail_760000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6106756/Delaware/Committee-hears-bill-to-expand-use-of-Delaware-telecommunications-fund-for-deaf-and-hardofhearing-supports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106756-a42a221ae054fc2919e4aad01206bebe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534943&Signature=ibu~lMOkw~LVSG2TiCOW3YKxdC1uecSnEhP61ZUOQKU9hjQfUk5nhYjKv2yHvB42ZXRlIqtSB1L0E~gVnAXRdD8A1FJANd-c494~u4LSqMZpsHKead16aOz9vRo-pdLtl0l34kP4XR8-r9M4ai6jp2l8mDWqaWPP3uhsR2fesLlwEnjENH2ay4fXorQhKYMAM2ALqV19n-1sHQYUoDLSSJRnPzxYIrjidXYhAKrc299-30RjnLUuB-~B1gNszqIA86RRkRLoIQe5fIksbFmGvTb1twC8q1N6jLcR0BQiDZSRiwIF2BUT5GH4C9tQ2MF4vLMlw7yYOv3HjXrq4-9rbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Banking, Business, Insurance and Technology Committee on March 26 heard House Bill 53, sponsored by Representative Morrison and carried in the Senate by Senator Lachman, which would expand how the state’s telecommunications fund for deaf, hard‑of‑hearing and speech‑disabled residents may be used.

Senator Lachman told the committee the bill responds to advocacy that the existing fund—sourced from a small fee on phone bills—has accumulated an unused balance because current regulations restrict eligible purchases to a narrow set of (often outdated) devices. He said the bill would authorize purchases of modern assistive equipment such as visual alarm clocks, vibrating baby monitors, doorbells and smoke detectors designed for people with hearing loss, amplified or hearing‑aid‑compatible phones, and emergency‑response kits tailored to hearing‑related needs. The sponsor said the change would allow the division to reclassify one staff position to manage the expanded program and would not require a new fiscal note.

Under the bill text discussed in the hearing, administrative costs would be limited to no more than 15% of annual fund revenue, the program would maintain a reserve equal to at least three months of expected expenses, and the division would submit an annual report by Sept. 30 to stakeholders.

Rachel Toney, identified in the hearing as deputy secretary for the Department of Labor, spoke as a witness and described agency cooperation with the bill sponsors and advocates. Committee members asked several implementation questions: how the 15% administrative cap would be used (for a reclassified position and to cover additional accounting/procurement costs), whether Medicaid or other payers already cover some items, and whether the fund could be used to help employers adapt workplaces. Department witnesses said some items may be covered by Medicaid for certain recipients but that many people who need the equipment are not Medicaid recipients; they also said workplace accommodations are not the primary intent of the fund and that vocational rehabilitation already supports employment‑related placements and consultations.

Public commenters representing disability advocacy and health organizations testified in favor. Vita Fernsler, president of the Delaware Association of the Deaf, said that appropriate alarm clocks and specialized fire alarms can cost substantially more than mainstream consumer devices and described the bill as a way to make critical equipment affordable for independent living. Christina Brian of the Delaware Health Care Association also voiced support, saying the equipment can keep Delawareans safer and reduce hospitalization risk.

No committee vote on House Bill 53 was recorded in the transcript; committee members asked the sponsors and agency to provide follow‑up information on overlaps with Medicaid and to track the program’s regulatory implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee Meeting Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Senators on March 26 heard House Bill 53, which would broaden allowable uses of Delaware’s telecommunications fund to purchase modern assistive devices for deaf, hard‑of‑hearing, deaf‑blind and speech‑disabled residents, and would cap administrative spending at 15%.","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},6106761,"Senate committee advances resolution to study regulatory burdens on small restaurants",61,361000,422000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779531-610ea47d4a5be0f10b70d14a53cb85ca&start=361&end=422","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779531-610ea47d4a5be0f10b70d14a53cb85ca/thumbnail_361000.jpg","/articles/6106761/Delaware/Senate-committee-advances-resolution-to-study-regulatory-burdens-on-small-restaurants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106761-4d10d23ef6a19d92fe1aa174d6dbf638/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534943&Signature=mqO5CzLFoJjzX4YGIjlKUr2RXklJbEi8h7U3EO7briA8eL0M0gqmbYLpBxpxK4q192dwCklM78F~3o0bHDwQnsvtuDt09I~4l3KhFhtv2FiMejOsAcqOiSiYwxbHshvZXWspAT9wsPCvlKCybxwyKKB9nu1lpazh78N5cmv98oEEDBXSp8hQBAW4fL45FcEnTD7JkqWWPTH5ab46jNTT6rK4OGXy8DIp0ChNE1oZmagtOPCdpBE6hAaD5SdqcUPBtYFPxcDBiqSSU1ec53EvVLUIrzmTbdTDZPxLCplbVbDLmj42dgADpgTtaUXwl78Ij5MnzQHanJPrBtP-JhwpxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Banking, Business, Insurance and Technology Committee on March 26 heard House Joint Resolution 1 with House Amendment 1, which would create a task force to study regulatory burdens affecting small restaurants and recommend ways to reduce unnecessary obstacles to opening and operating food businesses.

Senator Huxtable, the Senate sponsor, said the resolution grew out of constituent concerns about small regulatory steps—using the example of adding an automatic dishwasher—that can trigger broad, costly remodel requirements. Huxtable told the committee the task force would identify where regulations impose disproportionate burdens and how agencies and municipalities might streamline compliance.

Representatives of the restaurant and business communities spoke in support. Carrie Leitzman of the Delaware Restaurant Association said reducing regulatory time and cost can help restaurants open more quickly; Dean Vendetti of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce told the committee business owners would welcome an effort to identify unnecessary requirements.

Committee members raised coordination questions with the Department of Health and Social Services. Senator Huxtable and witnesses discussed the need to avoid duplicating DHSS’s ongoing regulatory review and suggested the task force could flag immediate, narrow items—such as the dishwasher scenario—for the agency to consider while the broader study proceeds.

No formal committee vote on the resolution was recorded in the transcript. Committee members asked to be kept informed about overlaps with DHSS’s rulemaking so the task force’s work can be coordinated.

The resolution proceeds as a study tool to collect agency and stakeholder input before any statutory changes are proposed.","Senators heard House Joint Resolution 1 (with House Amendment 1), a proposal to create a task force to review regulatory burdens on small restaurants; business groups voiced support and asked for coordination with existing DHSS regulatory processes.",{"_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},6106764,"Senate committee hears bill to add online lease-purchase disclosures to Title 6",103,222000,325000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779531-610ea47d4a5be0f10b70d14a53cb85ca&start=222&end=325","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779531-610ea47d4a5be0f10b70d14a53cb85ca/thumbnail_222000.jpg","/articles/6106764/Delaware/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-add-online-lease-purchase-disclosures-to-Title-6","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106764-697d538ed63fdd4e0a80d40779cfde32/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534943&Signature=loJHnPlvkL0JvyEubtJoULwdaP7QkdeXvTljM96OtlIbVA1bw5q~S1AaA7fmPt-hKmvxYnGew6byNk-Ujy-HXaxACggKKi~DFXAyc~cTHy942cgy0cK3d0q4k8nD6cOI43ccfxzZ6wWhu-AsA9dE5fHouGZ5a5unvVL7ynkSlyOY~xjvAc9zmktZD3rqafnVShfl3L7~ymXKATqShvZjF3cn2pjGuEpWPjpVVNpyzXF4r4lTjnUx0ww8GrsmXHAXgMhHgmWkbJmUXIQzpGt45X8LFxXP-gqXKhSdOKnuVT~ljHH0UcKJZS~~1A-s2vABBUR6gUWW5nRPzTAbGbk2~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Banking, Business, Insurance and Technology Committee on March 26 heard Senate Bill 74, a consumer‑protection measure from the committee chair to add lease‑purchase property transactions to the Delaware Lease Purchase Agreement Act and extend required disclosures to online lease‑purchase contracts.

Senator Spiroz Mansovinos, chair of the committee, described the bill as aimed at ensuring people entering lease‑purchase contracts online receive the same disclosure materials they would when signing in person. He said the change would capture retail lease‑purchase arrangements that now frequently occur via websites as well as in brick‑and‑mortar stores.

Committee members asked no follow‑up questions on the bill during the hearing, and there were no registered public commenters for Senate Bill 74. The committee record shows the item was presented and public comment was opened and closed without speakers.

No formal committee vote on Senate Bill 74 was recorded in the meeting transcript. The committee moved on to other agenda items after hearing the sponsor and noting the absence of public comment.

The committee will consider the bill in later hearings as part of the chamber’s legislative schedule.","The Senate Banking, Business, Insurance and Technology Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 74, a proposal to add lease‑purchase property transactions to the Delaware Lease Purchase Agreement Act (Title 6) and require disclosures for online lease‑purchase contracts; no vote on the bill was recorded.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106751,"Insurance industry and department back bill clarifying privileged material in market‑conduct exams",155,1827000,1982000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779531-610ea47d4a5be0f10b70d14a53cb85ca&start=1827&end=1982","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779531-610ea47d4a5be0f10b70d14a53cb85ca/thumbnail_1827000.jpg","/articles/6106751/Delaware/Insurance-industry-and-department-back-bill-clarifying-privileged-material-in-marketconduct-exams","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106751-841bf71964fd03b368e3a9feb2582b06/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534943&Signature=G20k2f-TiUt91zsgsVfGEXlUbhHkE7JdWy7U2w9vTr02uLtrBGrAJkhl5lWYSSuvMDG3k11zA7W2h-0-7ZHTjuG6vAWqWn-yDmVAWkLU3~do87zLlYLUk1zeSxlqBambla2jOhnDGcZYahqI-rLlkgZqVGTf9GPA050l0TPAMza15WIHR4R-LtVbJd3q9oOUM-hmvNFqyWXQ7wKFje0~45PkJme5zYYKXT6aw8RiA20RSbSlNoSaBwMw707eDLWv2bFXUn5Y8pa1k-rY0bTFT5B~~wj-IGp6jLXceJV8ER4nsaGmINw0zIyvPitnrloWLqSYfsZvLns2tA6FLUSLdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Banking, Business, Insurance and Technology Committee on March 26 heard testimony on House Bill 74, a measure intended to align Delaware law with model language used by other states to protect privileged communications when insurers produce files for market‑conduct examinations.

Senator Spiroz Mansovinos framed the proposal as mirroring model provisions from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ market conduct surveillance model. Rebecca Chidner, representing the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said the bill clarifies that a company’s failure to redact attorney‑client privileged material when turning over files to the Department of Insurance during an examination will not be treated as a waiver of that privilege. Chidner told the committee that 19 other states and the District of Columbia have adopted similar language.

Chris Haas, speaking on behalf of Insurance Commissioner Navarro and the department, said the department does not object to the legislation but noted that if privileged communications are provided unredacted, any subsequent dispute about privilege would be resolved in court.

The bill was described as a technical change intended to streamline market‑conduct examinations and reduce the administrative burden of over‑redaction while preserving privilege protections. No formal committee vote on House Bill 74 was recorded in the transcript.","House Bill 74, modeled on NAIC language, would clarify that producing otherwise‑privileged materials to the Department of Insurance during market‑conduct examinations does not constitute a waiver of privilege; industry groups and the department expressed support or no objection at the committee hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to expand use of Delaware telecommunications fund for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing supports

Senate committee advances resolution to study regulatory burdens on small restaurants

Senate committee hears bill to add online lease-purchase disclosures to Title 6

Insurance industry and department back bill clarifying privileged material in market‑conduct exams