The Delaware General Assembly is postponing next week’s session at Legislative Hall in Dover in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth) and State Senate President Pro Tem David McBride (D-Hawk's Nest) announced the move in a joint statement Thursday.
The legislature has been on break for the Joint Finance Committee budget hearings since the begining of February. Lawmakers were scheduled to return March 17th.
“After careful consideration and consultation with various state agencies, we believe delaying our return is the right decision to ensure the safety of our staff, fellow lawmakers and members of the public who visit Legislative Hall when we are in session,” Schwartzkopf and McBride said their statement.
Schwartzkopf and McBride said for now the postponement will run through March 24th, but that could change.
"We will carefully monitor the spread of COVID-19 in Delaware and across the country, and we will re-evaluate when to return to session on a weekly basis" read Schwartzkopf and McBride's statement. "As we have said before, this is a rapidly shifting situation and we must remain flexible based on the changing circumstances.”
Legislative Hall will be closed to the public starting this Friday, including for tours.
Any meetings scheduled there next week are also postponed.
