AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms this is a constitutional amendment proposal requiring voter approval; it does not take effect immediately upon legislative passage.

HB428: Proposing a Crossover Day Deadline in Delaware

This bill proposes amending the state constitution to set June 20 as the deadline for most bills to move from one legislative house to the other.

What This Bill Does

• Proposes creating a rule called 'Crossover Day' that sets a deadline of June 20 each year.
• Requires all regular bills starting in either House to be sent to the other House by this date, unless waived.
• Excludes specific items from the deadline, including budget acts, grants-in-aid acts, bond and capital improvement acts, and resolutions.
• Allows one House to skip the deadline if two-thirds of its members vote for a waiver.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Delaware General Assembly
• Members of the House of Representatives
• Members of the Senate

Terms To Know

Crossover Day

A deadline by which bills must move from one legislative chamber to the other.

General Assembly

The state legislature made up of two houses: the House and the Senate.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill is only a proposal; it must pass both chambers again before voters can decide on it.
• The text does not say what happens to bills that miss the June 20 deadline without a waiver.
• No effective date is listed because this proposal requires voter approval.

Official Summary Text

AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
This is the first leg of a constitutional amendment creating a "Crossover Day" deadline for each House of the General Assembly to send legislation over to the other House. The annual budget appropriation act, grants-in-aid act, bond and capital improvements act, and resolutions are excluded from this deadline. Currently 26 states, including Maryland, have crossover day deadlines for passing legislation between their two legislative chambers.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Yearick & Sen. Pettyjohn

Rep. D. Short; Sens. Lawson, Buckson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 428

AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend Article II of the Delaware Constitution by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

“

§ 26. Legislation Crossover Day deadline.

Except for the annual budget appropriation act, grants-in-aid act, the bond and capital improvement act, or resolutions, all bills originating in a House of the General Assembly must be presented to the other House on or before June 20 of each year. This date is to be known as “Crossover Day”. A House may waive this restriction by a resolution of that House passed with the concurrence of two-thirds of all members elected to that House.

”.

SYNOPSIS

This is the first leg of a constitutional amendment creating a "Crossover Day" deadline for each House of the General Assembly to send legislation over to the other House. The annual budget appropriation act, grants-in-aid act, bond and capital improvements act, and resolutions are excluded from this deadline. Currently 26 states, including Maryland, have crossover day deadlines for passing legislation between their two legislative chambers.