Capital projects in the governor's recommended bond package featured prominently during the hearing. Director Maxwell and OMB outlined allocations for school construction and renovation, higher education campus improvements, affordable housing, environmental conservation, and several large state facility projects including the Emily P. Bissell Forensic Science Facility, Legislative Hall expansion and an associated parking garage.

Maxwell detailed amounts recommended for the bond bill: $171.5 million for school construction and renovation; $42 million for higher education campus improvements (split across institutions); $30 million for school building deferred maintenance; and funding directed at housing, downtown development, riverfront work and park improvements. On public safety and corrections the recommendation included $41.3 million for statewide correctional facility and safety improvements and $30 million for an Emily P. Bissell forensic science facility construction allocation.

OMB and Facilities Management also described the Legislative Hall expansion ($50,000,000 in the capital request) and a separate parking garage project for the downtown legislative campus, including a plan to connect the garage to Legislative Hall via an underground pedestrian tunnel. During public comment John Flaherty of the Delaware Coalition for Open Government urged the committee to reject the Legislative Hall expansion and parking garage, calling the projects an unnecessary use of scarce capital dollars and noting available public parking nearby.

Committee members and presenters discussed the Legislative Hall scope and cost, the design choices that affect price, and alternatives. Maxwell and Facilities officials said funding decisions tried to balance preservation of historic character and functional needs, and explained some design elements (such as façade treatments and roof lines) that add cost; Facilities said construction plans include energy features like solar panels on the parking structure. Public commenters and at least one committee member questioned whether the project should move forward while federal grant uncertainty and other capital needs persist.

Ending: Officials said the projects are included in the recommended bond bill and construction will proceed when funding and permitting milestones are completed; the committee requested more detailed cost breakdowns and materials to address public concerns ahead of markup.