By Mike Finney

DOVER — With the number of legislators who have received their COVID-19 vaccinations growing daily, House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, announced Friday that the House of Representatives will convene in Legislative Hall later this month for the first time since the pandemic began.

On April 29, the House will hold a hybrid in-person session for floor votes and party caucuses, with legislators in attendance at Legislative Hall but working virtually from their offices there. It will be possible because a vast majority of the representatives and essential staff will be fully vaccinated by that date.

The building will remain closed to the public, opening only for elected officials and essential staff. Social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines must be followed.

Rep. Schwartzkopf said the return to live sessions is not in response to former Republican gubernatorial candidate Julianne Murray, who filed a lawsuit April 9 with the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and the leadership of the Delaware General Assembly, urging an end to virtual meetings immediately.

“I want to be clear that this return to an in-person session has been discussed for months among staff and legislators and was not prompted by some outside pressure,” Rep. Schwartzkopf said. “In fact, this plan was vetted by the leaders of both caucuses last month, as will our ongoing efforts to conduct legislative business on the House floor.”

He added the plans to return to live sessions at Legislative Hall have been in development by House staff and leadership for months, with members being notified more than a month ago that discussion was underway for a return.

He said details for the in-person session April 29 were considered by House Republican leadership March 29.

Ms. Murray said it has been more than 400 days since Gov. John Carney declared the COVID-19 state of emergency, leading the General Assembly to meet virtually ever since.

She said the restrictions that are imposed during the online meetings have allowed lawmakers to avoid dissenting voices.

“Gov. Carney and the General Assembly are using the state of emergency to push through a far-left legislative agenda, while denying Delawareans the right to speak out and be heard in the General Assembly,” Ms. Murray said. “They don’t want to deal with any in-person opposition. It is much easier to deal with opposition remotely.

“This is a clear violation of the U.S. and Delaware constitutions. The public must be able to participate fully in the legislative process. These virtual hearings allow the General Assembly to dodge constituents that oppose legislation. It is chilling that they can be keyboard warriors that shut down opposition with a click of the mouse.

“The public must be able to participate in government in person. The General Assembly must go back to meeting in person and hearing from all citizens and not a select few. Delawareans should be outraged and need to be outspoken about this travesty. If they don’t speak up and oppose these virtual sessions, they are going to wake up with no rights and freedoms at all.”

Ms. Murray noted that more than 21% of Delawareans do not have access to high-speed internet and cannot participate in the virtual legislative process, which limits the amount of voices heard.

She added that the U.S. Congress and many state legislatures throughout the nation are meeting in person despite COVID-19.

Legislative Hall has been closed to the public since the pandemic hit Delaware in March 2020.

Citing the close confines of the building and the risk of virus transmission, the House and Senate have worked virtually using Zoom webinars since May.

This month’s return to Legislative Hall is the first phase in an ongoing effort to resume in-person legislative sessions safely.

The Senate is working towards an in-person return to the chamber on May 11.

“We plan to allow for senators to be socially distanced on the floor and permit witness testimony via Zoom,” according to a statement from the Senate Democratic Caucus Friday afternoon.

“In the meantime, we continue to monitor the rate of cases and hospitalizations in Delaware, both of which are currently on the rise. We are committed to safely reconvening in person while preserving the record virtual public engagement we have seen in recent months.

“We have said all along that we would return to Legislative Hall when it becomes safe, as guided by Delaware’s public health experts. We believe the hybrid plan we are working towards is consistent with public health directives.”

Even with other legislators opting to meet virtually, Sen. Dave Lawson, R-Marydel, has continued to come in and work in the chamber each day.

“I was surprised and pleased to hear that at least the House is reconvening in person,” Sen. Lawson said. “I have been advocating for this since the beginning of session.

“I have been the lone senator in person on the Senate since then. Zoom is not the same as in person. The people of Delaware deserve and are demanding better.”

Sen. Gerald W. Hocker, R-Ocean View, agreed.

“It is beyond time to return to in-person meetings,” he said. “Now that the majority of legislators and staff have either received or are able to get the vaccine, we can safely return and conduct business as our constituents expect us to. Most importantly, we must figure out a way to allow the public to participate in person, as well.”

Rep. Schwartzkopf insisted that the virtual meetings continued in an effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

“As I have stated numerous times, the health and safety of fellow legislators, our staff and the public are my primary responsibilities,” he said. “Remaining in virtual session has been critical to that goal.

“However, we are thankfully in a position where lawmakers and staff have been able to get vaccinated, which greatly reduces the risk to them and their families, and we can begin the process of resuming in-person session.”

More details are in the works, but the April 29 session will consist of representatives participating via Zoom from their respective Legislative Hall offices.

The upcoming two-week segment of the legislative session will begin Tuesday, with virtual committee meetings scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday and April 27-28. A virtual floor session will be held Thursday for House votes on legislation.

Decisions about continuing or advancing in-person days for the remainder of the year will be announced at a later date.

“Returning to session in person will give us the opportunity to discuss issues and interact with each other in a way that is both familiar and more productive for many members,” Rep. Schwartzkopf said. “However, it will require us to first ensure the safety of all those who would be present and to plan for contingencies.

“The health and safety of all those involved is our top priority. This is a deliberate process that is being guided by the science and recommendations from experts.”