By Joseph Edelen

DOVER — Gov. John Carney reflected on the accomplishments of his administration, while emphasizing his final priorities as Delaware’s chief executive during the last State of the State address of his tenure Tuesday.

As the term-limited governor spoke to a joint session of the General Assembly inside the House of Representatives, he looked back on the highs and lows of his terms and made clear his final act as governor: leaving the state in a better place than he found it.

“It’s hard to believe, but this is my last State of the State address as governor, and I think it’s worth a little reflection on what we’ve accomplished together and on our unfinished business,” Gov. Carney said in front of a packed House chamber.

“First and foremost, we’ve helped create more than 30,000 new jobs since 2017. That’s a big deal. … For the first time in Delaware history, we’ve provided funding dedicated for low-income students and English learners in our public schools. We’ve given teachers a big raise. ... For three years running, we’ve implemented the largest infrastructure plan in state history.

“That means good jobs; building new schools, safer roads and bridges; and connecting Delawareans to the internet, up and down the state.”

During the speech, Gov. Carney first urged lawmakers to pass legislation to codify “budget-smoothing” measures that maintain spending benchmarks.

The legislature did not pass a constitutional amendment in 2018 that would “permanently control operating spending at sustainable levels,” the governor referenced. But he advocated for such, stating, “Let’s not go backwards; instead, let’s build on the progress we’ve made.”

Despite recent state budget growth — from $4.5 billion in pandemic-affected fiscal year 2021 to the $6.1 billion proposal for the upcoming fiscal year — Gov. Carney said Delaware’s financial house is in order, noting a jump from a $400 million deficit in 2017 to the current $400 million in reserves.

A component of spending is the rising amount for health care, which has been driven by inflation. Gov. Carney referred to the approximately $2 billion in such costs the state has carved out in the recommended budget, as well as its share of about $1 million in Medicaid expenses alone.

“It’s almost a third of our state budget. It’s only going up, and taxpayers are footing the bill,” he said.

In addition, education was once again a focal point of the State of the State — as it has been each year the governor has served.

He applauded recent legislative efforts and capital projects that will bring equitable and efficient schooling for children living in Wilmington, like the Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy, the first new public school in the city in 50 years.

But, despite these improvements and recent investments in supports like mental health services, Gov. Carney emphasized one of his key priorities: making sure students can read on their levels.

Less than 40% of third grade students are reading proficiently, the governor said, noting that many individual schools are even lower than that average.

To eradicate these challenges, Gov. Carney highlighted the approximately $3 million in his recommended budget dedicated for early literacy coaches, who will be responsible for implementing recent legislative strides like carrying out the “science of reading.” He also noted that, in his budget, more than $135 million was carved out for early childhood education.

“The research is clear; it shows that children who have access to quality early childhood education have better outcomes,” Gov. Carney said. “That includes higher graduation rates and more financial stability into adulthood.”

Another key point of the address was exploration into alternative energy, such as the state’s involvement in the federal push for a regional hydrogen hub and the possibility of bringing offshore wind to Delaware.

Gov. Carney also touted the General Assembly’s efforts to protect the environment, specifically under House Bill 99, which became law last year. It set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

“We have a General Assembly full of leaders who understand the threat of climate change and who have the political will to take action. ... The transition to clean energy won’t be easy; at times, it will be controversial,” Gov. Carney said in reference to recently adopted regulations that require 82% of new vehicles delivered to the state be zero-emission by 2032.

“That will help us reach our targets under House Bill 99, and we’re following industry trends across the country.”

In addition, before praising his administration’s work with group violence intervention to curb crime, the governor committed to the enactment of Senate Bill 2, also known as the permit-to-purchase bill. It would allow Delawareans to buy handguns only if they have completed a firearm training course in the previous five years and have obtained a legal permit.

“If we want to keep good jobs and workers in Delaware, we need to make sure families feel safe in their communities,” Gov. Carney said. “I know fighting gun violence has been a shared priority. Over the past seven years, we’ve banned assault weapons, bump stocks and high-capacity magazines. We’ve passed red-flag laws and prevented straw purchases.

“This year, we’ll take another big step forward and pass the permit-to-purchase law.”

Also during Tuesday’s address, pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the governor multiple times.

At least four individuals, who sat in the gallery overlooking the chamber, were removed from the premises after demanding Gov. Carney call for a cease-fire in Gaza to minimize civilian casualties, as the war between Israel and Hamas rages on.