First State Action

Greetings! Check this page for updates on AARP Delaware’s advocacy activities and other policy news. Contact me at sagrant@aarp.org to RSVP for in-person meetings in Dover, get the link for our Third Thursday Noon Zoom calls, or learn more about how you can get involved.

12/24/24

2024 may be coming to a close, but AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. Here’s what's happening and a look ahead:

What's Happening?

Since the General Assembly wrapped up in June, AARP has been supporting options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units located in walkable neighborhoods. Recently all three counties in Delaware and the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on accessory dwelling units — ADUs or "mother-in-law suites". In other housing news, New Castle County just passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods” — clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.

What's Next?

• AARP is following a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers.
• We're also following a bill that will encourage homeowners to build accessory dwelling units,
• A proposed Transfer on Death Deed would allow homeowners to transfer property to a beneficiary without a will.
• AARP will continue to help enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force and the Caucus on Aging.
• We'll stay connected with the Affordable Housing Task Force and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition.
• And we'll support improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing.
• We'll also host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.

What Can We Do?

We're looking for a few volunteers who'd like to make a difference by learning about issues, writing letters to the editor, talking to legislators, helping to plan events, take photos and help with social media posts, and more. If you’d like to learn more about our work, email sagrant@aarp.org for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3^rd Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, meet other dedicated advocates, and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.

Thanks for checking in with First State Action. Keep warm, be well, and stay engaged!

-Sheila

July 8, 2024

2024 Advocacy Wrap-up

Preventing fraud, increasing the supply of housing, ensuring accessible polling places, and improving the quality of long term care—AARP Advocates have a lot to celebrate this year! Here's the rundown:

• Gift Card Fraud — We worked with Rep. Larry Lambert and Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos to pass HB 317, which will educate shoppers on the dangers of gift card fraud. We know that when people are warned in advance, they can spot a scam and avoid losing money.

E.W. Faircloth

• Nursing Home Safety and Quality — AARP has participated in task forces in recent years that explored long term care, dementia care, aging in place, and caregiving. Recommendations from those task forces led to a package of bills this year which increase oversight and improve the quality of care in long-term care facilities. (HB 204, HB 300, SB 150, SB 151, SB 215, SB 216).
  
• Affordable Housing — AARP supported several bills that aim to increase the supply of affordable housing by removing regulatory barriers and providing incentives to build more housing. (SB 22, SB 25, SB 244, SB 245, SB 246)
  
• Voting — 2024 is an election year, and AARP heard from local disabilities groups that some polling places in Delaware were not accessible to people using wheelchairs. We supported HB 293, which ensures accessible polling places, as well as bills preventing discrimination against renters and people experiencing homelessness (SB 293, HB 439, HB 440)
  
• There's Always Next Year — There were a few bills AARP supported that didn’t make it past the finish line this year. We hope legislators will re-introduce them next year. HB 17 requires employers to offer sick time for workers. HB 147 prevents "tangled titles by allowing homeowners without a will to transfer property to a beneficiary with a simple Transfer on Death Deed. And SB 23 will promote Accessory Dwelling Units (sometimes called “in-law suites”) throughout the state as a way to increase the supply of affordable housing.

We appreciate all of our AARP Advocates who called and emailed their legislators in support of these bills. Their voices really made a difference!

Thanks for checking in with First State Action. Keep cool, have fun, and stay engaged!

-Sheila

April 11, 2024

What's Happening?
The General Assembly will return to session next Tuesday 4/16, and HB 17 is expected to be heard in the House Labor Committee. The bill ensures Delaware workers will have access to paid sick leave. AARP believes workers shouldn't have to choose between earning a living and taking care of themselves or their loved ones when they're sick. We're urging lawmakers to pass HB 17!

We're also getting ready for a committee hearing on HB 317, the Stop Gift Card Fraud Act, so please scan the QR code below to email your legislator and ask them to vote "yes".

What can we do?
You can always find the most up-to-date information about what's happening in Legislative Hall here: https://legis.delaware.gov/. The schedule of meetings is listed on the right, and you can click around the rest of the site to learn about committees, bills, legislators, and more.

What's next?
We'll be meeting for breakfast and strategy on Wed. 4/17 at 9:30 in Dover, and our next Third Thursday Noon Zoom call is Thurs. 4/18. Email me to RSVP and to get details and a Zoom link. I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for checking in with First State Action. Be well, have fun, and stay engaged!

-Sheila

March 22, 2024

What's Happening?
I met with the fabulous South Coastal AARP Chapter this week to talk about our advocacy work. They have a Legislative Committee that works on issues affecting older Delawareans, along with several active committees and fun activities going on—a great group!

Bills are moving pretty quickly at this point in the legislative session. A package of bills has been introduced aimed at improving care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Another package is aimed at creating more affordable housing in Delaware. There are several bills that will impact how we vote in the 2024 elections, and we are keeping a close eye on those. Here's a link to AARP's Delaware Voting Guide: https://states.aarp.org/delaware/election-voting-guide We'll keep it updated if things change.

What Can We Do?
AARP is working hard to pass HB 317 which will help to prevent gift card fraud. Please use the QR code below to email your legislator and ask them to pass HB 317!

What's Next?
The General Assembly will start its Spring Recess on 3/29 and return on 4/16. The First State Action Team will meet for breakfast this Wed. 3/27 at 9:30 in Dover and then not again until Wed. 4/17. Please email me if you'd like to join us.

Thanks for checking in. Be well, have fun, and stay engaged!

-Sheila

March 1, 2024

What's Happening?
AARP Delaware is supporting HB 317, a bill to protect Delawareans from gift card fraud. It requires sellers of gift cards to post a warning sign so shoppers will be aware that scammers often use gift cards as a way to steal money. Once scammers get the numbers off the card, that money is gone, and it's not likely to be recovered. If someone asks you to pay a bill with a gift card or read the numbers off a gift card to them over the phone, they are probably scamming you.

What can we do?
Rep. Lambert and Sen. Mantzavinos are the bill's prime sponsors. Huxtable, Baumbach, Harris, Morrison, and Phillips are co-sponsors. If any of them represents you, please thank them. You can find your state legislators and their email addresses HERE. If your legislator is not listed, feel free to contact them and ask them to sign-on as a co-sponsor.

What's Next?
DE Governor John Carney will give his State of the State Address Next Tuesday 3/5 at 2 pm. You can WATCH LIVE HERE.

On Wednesday 3/6, AARP Advocacy Volunteers will be meeting in Dover for a 9:30 breakfast and then heading over to Legislative Hall. Email me at sagrant@aarp.org if you'd like to join us.

Thanks for checking in. Be well, have fun, and stay engaged!

-Sheila

February 9th, 2024

What's Happening?
We had a good meeting with Senator Hocker and with the Aide to Rep. Gray a couple of weeks ago. I shared with them AARP's 2024 priorities of fighting gift card fraud, improving pedestrian and traffic safety, supporting family caregivers, and increasing the availability of affordable housing.

Speaking of housing, did you know that almost half of those experiencing homelessness or eviction in Delaware are aged 45+? I gave AARP testimony this week to Delaware's Joint Finance Committee, urging them to fully fund affordable housing programs.

What Can We Do?

• Learn more about the lack of affordable housing in Delaware here: Delaware Public Media article on housing in DE citing our data.
• If you know of a non-profit or a government organization that has a worthy project in need of funding, please encourage them to apply for an AARP Challenge Grant.

What's Next?
Our next Third Thursday Noon Zoom Strategy call is this Thurs. 2/15. If you'd like to join us, email me, and I'll send you a zoom link: sagrant@aarp.org.

Thanks for checking in. Be well, have fun, and stay engaged!

-Sheila

January 17th, 2024

Well, we had some bad luck with the weather today! Roads are icy and slick, and the Governor has issued a Level 1 Driving Warning, so we canceled the trip to Leg Hall in Dover. The Governor also postponed his State of the State Address until Thurs. 1/18/24 at 2 pm. You can watch online HERE.

The weather can't stop our 3rd Thursday Zoom call, so I hope you can join us Thurs. 1/18 at noon for an advocacy update. REGISTER HERE FOR 3RD THURS. ZOOM MEETINGS (It's super quick—I promise—just name and email address!)

Stay warm and safe, and I hope to see you on Zoom at noon on Thursday.

-Sheila

January 9, 2024

Welcome to The Grant Report, AARP Delaware's new advocacy blog! This is the place to find out about AARP’s work on key legislative issues for older Delawareans, like caregiving, Social Security, livable communities, and retirement security. Check the blog for legislative updates, links to resources, and ways to pitch in as an advocacy volunteer.

What's happening?
The Delaware General Assembly is getting ready to begin the 2024 session in the second week of January, and AARP is calling all advocates to help make sure older Delawareans voices are heard.

What can we do?
We'll gather virtually each month for a 3rd Thursday Noon Zoom Strategy Call, and we'll head to Dover on Wednesdays while the legislature is in session to attend committee hearings and connect with legislators.

Thanks for taking time out of your day to read up on what is happening in AARP DE advocacy. Be well, stay engaged, and have fun!

—Sheila