Honoring a Good Man, Early Voting, and Bills Passed on the Floor

May 8, 2023

Amid the frenzy of debating and passing bills, I learned of the death of my dear friend and Chester resident Peter Good. I asked the House to pause in his honor.
 
 
The most important bill we passed on Thursday was HB 5004, An Act Implementing Early Voting. You will recall that after years of trying, the Legislature was able to pass a resolution that put a referendum question on the ballot last November to allow us to change the State Constitution to allow early voting. I'm grateful to all the voting access advocates whose dogged determination really helped move the needle on this bill which includes, among other expansions, a 14-day period in which citizens could vote in general elections. 
I received many emails about HB 6607, commonly called the "Dark Skies" bill, which would require State agencies to dim their bright upward-facing lights so as to protect migrating birds, which are often confused and endangered by such light. Dimming these lights would also save the State money. It passed unanimously. 
 
Other bills passed Thursday include:
  • House Bill No. 6553.  AN ACT CONCERNING VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND AMBULANCE COMPANIES AND THE DEFINITION OF EMPLOYER UNDER THE STATE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT.