Jesse Vanderwende

This bill eliminates the authorization for a private person to make a warrantless arrest of an individual accused of a felony in another state. CPAC opposes this bill because it reduces the tools available for citizens to protect themselves and uphold public safety, which conflicts with CPAC’s general support for decentralized authority and individual empowerment in matters of law enforcement. The House passed the bill on June 17, 2025, by a vote of 24-12 with 5 members not voting.

This bill allows public employee unions to demand access to more private information. CPAC opposes this bill because it strengthens union influence over public employees and increases government-administered labor oversight, which conflicts with CPAC’s preference for limited government and individual choice in employment matters. The House passed it on May 13, 2025, by a vote of 22-14.

This bill clarifies that any person appointed to a school board vacancy must complete a background check. CPAC supports the measure because it expands accountability by applying the same vetting standards to appointed members that already exist for elected members, ensuring all board members meet uniform eligibility requirements. The House passed it on April 17, 2025, by a vote of 37-0.

This bill creates a class E felony for discharging a firearm at a dwelling, place of worship, vehicle, or place of business. CPAC opposes this bill because, while intended to prevent reckless gun use, it could inadvertently restrict lawful self-defense. The House passed it on June 17, 2025, by a vote of 30-1.

This bill adds military status as a protected class under Delaware’s public accommodations, housing, insurance, education, and employment laws, supplementing existing federal anti-discrimination laws. CPAC opposes the concept of “protected classes”. This bill imposes additional regulatory burdens on private businesses which conflicts with CPAC’s principles of limited government. The House passed it on June 17, 2025, by a vote of 40-0.

This bill prohibits Delaware law enforcement agencies from entering into agreements with federal immigration authorities to enforce immigration violations or share immigration enforcement–related data. CPAC believes in enforcing all immigration laws and opposed this bill. The House passed it on June 24, 2025, by a vote of 28-12.

This bill requires employers in Delaware to disclose pay ranges for job postings, aiming to give job applicants critical information for negotiating salaries and to reduce pay disparities. CPAC opposed this bill because it imposes additional bureaucratic burdens on businesses and interferes with private compensation decisions. The House passed it on June 10, 2025, by a vote of 28-12.

This bill lets Delaware’s Public Service Commission offer discounted gas or electric distribution rates (20% off) to low-income customers. CPAC opposes this bill because it raises the cost for everyone else. CPAC believes that everyone should pay for their own utilities. The House passed it on June 30, 2025, by a vote of 26-14.

This bill expands Delaware’s Equal Accommodations Law to ensure that all government services are subject to the same non-discrimination requirements as private businesses. CPAC opposes all race-based and sex-based laws and opposed this bill. The House passed it on June 17, 2025, by a vote of 26-12.

This bill would have removed the ability of Delaware public school districts to raise property taxes by up to 10% following a general reassessment, effectively capping annual school tax increases. CPAC supports this bill because it limits government taxation, protects taxpayers from large, unexpected property tax hikes, and enforces fiscal restraint at the local level. The House defeated the bill on August 13, 2025, by a vote of 15 yeas to 6 nays but 21 yeas were required to reach a majority.

This bill allows former defendants in eviction actions to have those filings hidden from public records, even if the case was decided against them. While framed as a way to reduce housing barriers, CPAC opposed this bill because it undermines property rights and transparency, and limits landlords’ ability to make informed decisions. The bill passed the House on July 1, 2025, by a vote of 27-12.

This bill significantly increases civil and administrative penalties for environmental violations, particularly targeting commercial and industrial polluters, and allocates a larger percentage of collected fines to community environmental projects. CPAC opposed this bill because it greatly expands government regulatory authority. The bill passed the House on June 24, 2025, by a vote of 28-12.

This bill eliminates the ability for private citizens to make arrests or detentions unless explicitly authorized by statute, effectively restricting traditional citizen’s arrest powers. CPAC opposed this bill because it removes a long-standing tool for private citizens to defend themselves or their property. The bill passed the House on June 17, 2025, by a vote of 24-12.