Delaware Change Deadline for End of Regular Legislative Session Amendment (2023)
| Delaware Change Deadline for End of Regular Legislative Session Amendment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ratification date April 25, 2023 | |
| Topic State legislative processes and sessions | |
| Sponsors State Rep. Peter Schwartzkopf (D-14) and State Sen. David Sokola (D-8) |
The Delaware Change Deadline for End of Regular Legislative Session Amendment was approved by the Delaware General Assembly and added to the Delaware Constitution on April 25, 2023.
The amendment changes the required end of the regular session of the General Assembly to 5:00pm on June 30.
Overview
What did this constitutional amendment do?
- See also: Text of measure
The constitutional amendment changed the required end of the regular session of the General Assembly from June 30 to 5:00pm on June 30.[1] Before the constitutional amendment, there was no specified time that the regular session of the state legislature must end, only a date. The amendment added a specific hour at which the legislative session ends.
Who supported this constitutional amendment?
State Rep. Peter Schwartzkopf (D-14) and State Sen. David Sokola (D-8) introduced the constitutional amendment to the Delaware General Assembly for their consideration. The legislature approved both versions of the amendment with a Bipartisan Partisan Directional Index.
Text of measure
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article II, Delaware Constitution
The amendment changed Section 4 of Article II of the Delaware Constitution. The following underlined text was added and struck-through text was deleted:[1]
Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.
§ 4. Time and frequency of sessions.
Section 4. The General Assembly shall convene on the second Tuesday of January of each calendar year unless otherwise convened by the Governor, or by mutual call of the presiding officers of both Houses.
The General Assembly may continue in session each calendar year so long as, in its judgment, the public interest may require; however, each session shall not may not extend beyond 5:00 p.m. on the last day of June unless the session is recalled by the Governor or the mutual call of the presiding officers of both Houses.[2]
Full text
The full text of the measure can be found here.
Amending the Delaware Constitution
The Delaware General Assembly has the sole and complete authority to amend the state constitution. Unlike in any other state, the state legislature can amend the constitution without a vote of the people. For the legislature to amend the constitution:
- two-thirds of all the members elected to each chamber must vote in favor of a proposed amendment;
- the Delaware Secretary of State must then publish the proposed amendment three months prior to the next general election in at least three newspapers in each county; and
- the subsequent General Assembly then votes again on the proposed amendment(s) and if an amendment receives two-thirds majority approval of all members of each chamber, it becomes part of the constitution.
The amendment in the Delaware General Assembly
Senate Bill 39 (2023)
State Sen. David Sokola (D-8) introduced the amendment to the state legislature on January 26, 2023. The state Senate passed the amendment on March 15 in a vote of 21-0. On April 25, the state House passed the amendment in a vote of 38-0, with three representatives not voting.[3]
| Votes Required to Pass: 14 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Total % | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Democratic (D) | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican (R) | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Votes Required to Pass: 28 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 38 | 0 | 3 |
| Total % | 92.7% | 0.0% | 7.3% |
| Democratic (D) | 24 | 0 | 2 |
| Republican (R) | 14 | 0 | 1 |
House Bill 411 (2022)
On May 5, 2022, state Rep. Peter Schwartzkopf (D-14) introduced the amendment to the state legislature as House Bill 411. On May 12, the state House passed the amendment in a vote of 38-0, with three representatives not voting. On June 14, the state Senate passed the amendment in a vote of 21-0.[4]
| Votes Required to Pass: 28 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 38 | 0 | 3 |
| Total % | 92.7% | 0.0% | 7.3% |
| Democratic (D) | 24 | 0 | 2 |
| Republican (R) | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| Votes Required to Pass: 14 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Total % | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Democratic (D) | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican (R) | 7 | 0 | 0 |
See also
- The Delaware Constitution
- Amending the Delaware Constitution
- State constitutional conventions
- Other constitutional amendments concerning state legislative processes and sessions
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Delaware State Legislature, "Senate Bill 39 Text," accessed October 14, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source.
- ↑ Delaware General Assembly, "Senate Bill 39," accessed October 14, 2025
- ↑ Delaware General Assembly, "House Bill 411," accessed October 14, 2025
