By Matt Bittle

DOVER — Following a six-week break, the Delaware General Assembly will reconvene Tuesday. Despite some hopes at the start of the year lawmakers would be able to gather in the state capitol come March, senators and representatives will continue to meet in a virtual format due to COVID-19.

Legislators will hold committee meetings and floor votes through Zoom, taking part from their homes or offices, while Legislative Hall will remain closed to the public indefinitely.

The full legislature has not met in person since January 2020.

The General Assembly will spend the next month debating issues, potentially including a minimum wage hike and a measure to legalize marijuana, before the two-week Easter break.

Officials are still holding out hope they can return to Legislative Hall at some point this year, even in a more limited fashion than normal. Session runs until the end of June.

“Although we have made good progress in combating the virus, administering more than 228,000 doses of the COVID vaccine, we still are in a situation where we cannot fully open the building safely,” House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, said. “As I have stated numerous times, the health and safety of my fellow legislators, our staff and the public are my primary responsibilities. Remaining in virtual session for the time being is critical to that goal.”

This week could see both the marijuana and minimum wage bills filed. The two are sure to draw strong reactions from the public and legislators, with a wide partisan gap between Democrats and Republicans.

Democrats are hopeful they have the votes to make Delaware the 15th state to approve recreational cannabis use, even though Gov. John Carney does not support the bill.

A proposal lifting the minimum wage from $9.25 to $15 by 2025 will be especially controversial, with business organizations already speaking out against the concept. The Delaware Working Families Party, along with several unions, will hold a news conference Monday urging legislators to pass the bill.

While most if not all Democratic legislators will be onboard for minimum wage and marijuana, the two bills will see fierce resistance from the GOP.

House Minority Leader Danny Short, R-Seaford, said businesses, particularly in the hospitality field, are reeling from COVID-19 and cannot afford big jumps in their labor costs. He wants Democrats to hold major bills like marijuana and minimum wage until in-person proceedings resume, allowing for greater public participation.

“I really believe the things that impact lives and people who are very personally involved with those topics ... that create divide need to be done when in the Hall,” Rep. Short said.

Democrats, however, have resisted such promises, touting the turnout for virtual proceedings. The House and Senate’s 22 combined January committee meetings averaged 64 attendees each, exceeding the typical turnout, the Democratic caucuses pointed out last week when they announced the continuing virtual format.

“One of the more positive outcomes of this pandemic has been the enhanced ease and convenience with which the public is able to actively participate in the legislative process from the safety and comfort of their own homes,” Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola, D-Newark, said.

“Our public health workers deserve an enormous amount of credit for the strides they have made in vaccinating our state’s most vulnerable residents, but we are not yet in a position where we can safely return to the world we left one year ago.

“Fortunately, the General Assembly has proven that we can continue to debate and pass meaningful legislation that will improve the lives of Delawareans, even when we are not all in the same room together.”

Sen. Sokola noted what one person considers controversial may be common sense to another. He plans to run bills when they and the sponsors are ready, although he said Democrats “aren’t going to surprise anybody with anything.”

Rep. Short wants to see the state do more to help landlords who have been unable to collect rent payments due to emergency restrictions during the pandemic. Republicans plan to introduce some legislation this week, he said, although he declined to specify exactly what the bills will cover.

Even during the February break, lawmakers have been busy helping constituents, he said, expressing a desire for the General Assembly to focus on things that benefit people at the local level rather than sweeping “global” topics.

In the end, though, with Democrats holding 60% supermajorities in both chambers, Republicans have limited options.

Currently, the House plans to hold committee meetings on most Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the next four weeks, with floor votes scheduled for Thursdays.

The Senate will continue to convene on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Committee meetings will be held primarily on Wednesdays with some hearings scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays as needed. The full Senate may convene Wednesdays after committee meetings to consider gubernatorial nominations and other business.

Sessions are viewable both live or at any time afterward on the legislative website (legis.delaware.gov/) under the “Meetings and Archives” tab.

Rep. Schwartzkopf and Sen. Sokola are continuing to monitor the situation regarding COVID, and legislative staffers are working to develop plans that would allow the legislature to safely return to some form of in-person session this year, provided the conditions continue to improve and vaccinations continue to increase.