By Matt Bittle

DOVER — Lawmakers introduced a bill Tuesday that would mandate all General Assembly proceedings be streamed live, archived and posted online.

The resolution, which is primarily backed by Republicans but also has a few Democratic co-sponsors, directs the legislature’s Division of Research to work with the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Technology & Information to make legislative proceedings public.

While floor debates and committee hearings have been streamed online and open to the public since May, that’s not been the case for most of the General Assembly’s history. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, only chamber audio was accessible live.

“The lack of accessibility has proven that lawmakers must set clear expectations moving forward if true transparency for the public is to be achieved,” Rep. Bryan Shupe, a Milford Republican and main sponsor of the proposal, said in a statement. “Furthermore, our goal as lawmakers should not be to simply film the legislative process but to use technology to encourage active involvement from Delaware residents so their voices can be heard and considered when laws that affect their daily lives are being created and voted on.”

Rep. Mike Smith, a Pike Creek Republican, noted that many committee hearings still are not recorded. The legislation “would formalize the process, creating a clear framework, allowing for public observation and participation, and establishing a firm goal and timeline for making digital transparency a permanent feature of the Delaware General Assembly,” he said in a statement.

The resolution calls for a study on what it would take to implement streaming and archiving, including the cost, to be completed by January.

“Access to our legislative process is vital to ensuring a free and open society,” Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, a Republican representing the Georgetown area, said in a statement. “If nothing else, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that implementing livestream technology is possible and necessary to engage the public when they are not able to be present in person. Even after the doors to Legislative Hall open and we get back to normal, video and audio should always be made available for those who wish to stay informed.”

Democratic leadership has also praised the online model for allowing more people to tune in and stay updated on legislative happenings.

The resolution has been assigned to the House Administration Committee.