Joint Finance Committee

DelDOT Secretary Shanté Hastings says the department intends to introduce a bill this year that would double the length of time before a missed toll becomes a violation, allowing drivers more time to pay.

Delaware’s Medicaid program is requesting a 7.7% budget increase for inflation and growth needs but braces for the possibility of federal funding cuts.

The Delaware Department of Justice tells the Joint Finance Committee it is “critically understaffed,” noting the agency faces a revolving door of attorneys leaving to make more money in the private sector.

The proposed fee increases are expected to add $8 to $9 million to DNREC’s base budget of $160 million.

The Delaware Department of State (DOS) is requesting a nearly $3.3 million budget increase for FY 26.

The University of Delaware and Delaware State University are seeking multi-million dollar budget increases left out of the former governor’s spending proposal.

The Joint Finance Committee holds its first budget hearing for fiscal year 2026, and discussions on budgetary cuts are already underway.

Delaware’s budget writing committee begins solidifying changes to the state’s budget before it heads to the full General Assembly for approval.

Legislation to codify Gov. John Carney’s budget smoothing process heads to the Senate Floor, but Republican State Rep. Danny Short (R-Seaford) calls for more.

The Department of Health and Social Services Division of Health Care Quality is facing a growing backlog in granting home care agency licenses.