AGP Executive Report

Data Center Backlash: Americans are turning against proposed data centers, with activists and officials citing water use, power strain, and heat—echoing broader climate worries and prompting tighter local rules. Delaware Immigration & Courts: A Wallingford man accused of secretly recording a juvenile waives his preliminary hearing, sending a 150-count invasion-of-privacy case toward arraignment. Human Trafficking Focus: Delaware’s coalition held a two-day summit in Dewey Beach to push beyond myths and improve how the state identifies and responds to trafficking. Delaware Politics & Elections: The 14th Representative District Democrats will host U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester Oct. 12 to rally voters ahead of Election Day. Local Governance & Growth: In Sussex County District 5, candidates clash over development pace and environmental protection in a League of Women Voters forum. Statewide Policy: Delaware’s privacy law is expanding, and the state is also moving on harm-reduction regulation and other governance updates.

Delaware Federal Courts & Tuition: The U.S. government sued the University of Delaware over its in-state tuition policy, arguing it improperly lets some students who are not lawfully present qualify based on Delaware residency. Delaware Politics & Housing: In District 20, incumbent Rep. Alonna Berry faces Republican Gene Dvornick, with the Housing for Every Delawarean Act (Senate Bill 23) front and center in the Nov. 3 race. Sussex Growth vs. Environment: Sussex County Council District 5 candidates John Rieley and Jill Hicks spar over how to manage development while protecting the environment and infrastructure. Human Trafficking Focus: Delaware’s Human Trafficking Awareness, Prevention and Action Summit in Dewey Beach pushed beyond myths about how trafficking starts, bringing together law enforcement, health care, and survivors. Public Safety & Accountability: Delawareans also saw a push for better access to help—plus coverage of a “Know Your Judges” courthouse event for students. National Legal Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a major climate case, Suncor v. Boulder, testing whether state tort law can be used to target fossil-fuel companies.

Delaware Federal Courts & Tuition: The U.S. Department of Justice sued the University of Delaware over its in-state tuition policy, arguing it lets non–lawfully present students get benefits tied to Delaware residency—while U.S. citizens outside Delaware don’t. Human Trafficking Response: Delaware held a two-day Human Trafficking Awareness, Prevention and Action Summit in Dewey Beach, pushing beyond myths and focusing on how health care, law enforcement, and advocates coordinate. Voting Deadlines: A practical guide laid out key voter registration and mail-ballot timelines for Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey ahead of Election Day. Public Health & Consumer Protections: Delaware’s measles situation was updated (still localized to Kent County), and a broader look at hospital charity-care rules highlighted how patients can seek financial assistance. State & Local Civic Life: SoDel Fest donated $400,000 to 17 Delaware nonprofits, and local students took part in a “Know Your Judges” courthouse event.

Federal Courts & Immigration: The DOJ sued the University of Delaware over its in-state tuition policy for students not lawfully present, arguing it violates federal law by giving a benefit tied to Delaware residency. Health Care Costs: A KFF explainer highlights how many patients may be billed for hospital charges they never owed, and urges asking about charity care screening—especially for nonprofit hospitals. Delaware Business & Courts: Delaware’s Supreme Court upheld dismissal in Gemini’s bid tied to an insurance fight involving Bausch & Lomb. Antitrust & Consumer Protection: Iowa AG Brenna Bird joined a coalition seeking court approval of a $400M settlement with Sandoz over alleged generic drug price manipulation. Delaware Politics & Governance: Delaware’s education integrity rankings landed the state at 43rd in a national Defending Education scorecard. Elections Watch: A national roundup maps voter registration deadlines ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms, showing how close some states are to cutoff dates.

Delaware Courts: The Delaware Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of Gemini Insurance’s bid to block Bausch & Lomb’s coverage fight, a reminder that procedural fights can decide where cases live. Higher Ed & Immigration: The Trump administration sued the University of Delaware over its in-state tuition policy for undocumented students, arguing federal law bars benefits not available to U.S. citizens. State Politics: Gov. Matt Meyer announced 10 recipients of the Order of the First State, including former Sen. Ernie Lopez and Children’s Beach House leader Richard Garrett. Local Governance: Lewes’ police promotions dispute is back in play: the FOP filed an unfair labor practice charge alleging the city manager violated a 2025 grievance settlement by setting promotion rules without union involvement. Climate & Energy (multi-state): States and cities sued over the Trump EPA rollback of power-plant emissions limits, arguing the move unlawfully guts major climate protections. Public Health: CDC reported 3,887 measles cases nationwide as of Oct. 1, with Delaware still seeing localized spread in Kent County. Infrastructure: Coastal Delaware’s Indian River Inlet sand bypass resumed Sept. 29 after a nor’easter limited available sand.

DOJ vs. UD Tuition: The U.S. Department of Justice sued the University of Delaware to block its in-state tuition policy for undocumented students, arguing it unlawfully gives benefits to people not lawfully present. Courts & Governance: Delaware’s Senate confirmed Richards Layton & Finger director to a 12-year term as a vice chancellor on the Chancery Court. Public Safety: Delaware DOJ found three New Castle County officers were justified in a 2023 home-invasion shooting that left two suspects wounded. Criminal Justice: State police charged a Smyrna man in a monthlong New Castle County retail theft spree totaling more than $48,000. Health Policy: Gov. Matt Meyer signed Delaware’s harm reduction expansion, adding oversight and phased rollout requirements. Elections & Process: Sen. Bryant Richardson questioned when “random” election audits must be selected under Senate Bill 266. Education Access: A pilot program will let Delaware student IDs work as juvenile library cards starting in 2026-27. Energy & Environment: Delaware joined a broader push against federal EPA rollbacks of power-plant emissions limits, as states and cities sued to restore the rules. Local Development: Millsboro was named one of Delaware’s new Downtown Development Districts, joining Claymont and Newport. Tech & Transparency: Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Sen. John Curtis introduced bills to force more data-center transparency for communities.

Chancery Court: Delaware’s Senate confirmed a Richards Layton & Finger attorney to a 12-year term as vice chancellor, a key leadership move for the state’s business court. Health & Public Safety: Gov. Matt Meyer signed Delaware’s harm reduction licensing framework and paired it with an executive order to roll out medically informed regulations in phases. Courts & Accountability: A Delaware federal judge temporarily blocked Accord BioPharma from making a Janssen arthritis biosimilar while patent litigation plays out. Drugs & Crime: A Milford man pleaded guilty to federal meth and cocaine trafficking charges after a search found pounds of drugs and multiple guns. Workforce: Delaware will host its final statewide career fair of the year Oct. 7 in Georgetown, targeting adult and justice-involved job seekers. Local Governance: Bethany Beach officials discussed storm recovery and rising sea levels after nor’easter damage. Education & Safety: Delaware State Police arrested a 13-year-old after a knife was found at Sussex Central Middle School. Energy/Environment: Delaware AG Nick Brown joined a coalition suing to restore EPA power-plant greenhouse gas limits. Elections & Voting Access: The Trump administration began mailing $500 ACA refund checks to eligible HealthCare.gov enrollees in multiple states, including Delaware.

Delaware Film & Small Business Push: Gov. Matt Meyer signed Delaware’s film tax credit and touted early local spending tied to productions like “Unaccompanied Minor,” while also highlighting new steps to cut red tape for small businesses through the Office of Small Business Access. State Services Modernization: The Delaware State Bureau of Identification is rolling out SMART-E fingerprint kiosks starting Oct. 5, moving customers to remote-proctored capture and scheduling via IdentoGO. Education Access Pilot: A new pilot lets some students use school-issued IDs as library cards, starting with Eisenberg Elementary in 2026-27 to reduce extra forms and delays. Healthcare Money Back: The Trump administration began mailing $500 ACA “user fee” refund checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Delaware. Election Integrity Fight: Federal election-crime arrests are piling up as Democrats argue it “just doesn’t happen,” while Republicans press the Save America Act’s citizenship proof requirement. Public Safety & Courts: Two Delaware Air Force members were sentenced in a major cyber fraud scheme, and Delaware’s courts continue to churn on high-stakes business disputes.

ACA Refund Checks: The Trump administration says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states will get $500 refund checks tied to alleged Affordable Care Act exchange “overcharges,” with letters signed by Trump going out as early as Sept. 30 and payments starting in October—Delaware is on the list. Delaware Film Tax Credit: Gov. Matt Meyer signed legislation setting rules for Delaware’s Film and Entertainment Tax Credit Program, aiming to grow production activity at studios like Pine Box Studios. AI Policy Watch: At the White House, Trump unveiled a voluntary “White House Accord on Super Intelligence” asking major AI firms to build internal guardrails, but without penalties or public disclosure requirements. Delaware Courts & Business: Delaware’s Senate is set to consider Gov. Meyer’s nominee for the Court of Chancery vacancy, as the state continues implementing SB 21’s director-independence framework. Health Tech in Delaware: A federal judge in Delaware ruled against Liquidia in a patent fight with United Therapeutics, sending Liquidia shares down sharply. Housing Agency Rebrand: Delaware State Housing Authority is rebranding as “Housing Delaware,” expanding its public-facing identity while keeping the same legal agency and website.

Education & Elections: Indian River School Board is taking applications to fill a vacant District 1 seat through June 30, 2027, with a 4 p.m. Oct. 14 deadline and required background checks. AI Governance: Delaware is advancing draft legislation to create an AI “regulatory sandbox” for AI-run companies, but critics say key details on oversight and who gets access remain unclear amid reports of AI agents going rogue. Cybercrime Sentencing: Two Delaware-area residents and U.S. Air Force members, Chijioke Timothy Odimegwu and Harafat Mogaji, were sentenced to a combined 189 months for a $2.4 million phishing and wire-fraud scheme. Consumer & Data Privacy: Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced a $2.3 million multistate settlement tied to the Labcorp/AMCA 2019 data breach, emphasizing that vendor security can’t be outsourced. Public Safety & Hunting Rules: DNREC updated hunting guidance for ages 16–20 after a Delaware Supreme Court firearms ruling, tightening direct supervision requirements for certain rifle hunting. Immigration Enforcement: A report says ICE is planning a “surge in sanctuary cities,” naming Delaware among jurisdictions flagged for stepped-up enforcement. Substance Abuse Leadership: DSAMH Director Joanna Champney will receive Attack Addiction’s Medal of Honor at an Oct. 22 gala near Newark. Campaign Trail: A League of Women Voters forum is set for Oct. 15 for District 41 state representative candidates John Atkins and Ryan Stuckley.

Education Funding Fight: Delaware AG Kwame Raoul helped lead a multistate coalition urging the U.S. Department of Education to withdraw a rule that would let the Trump administration attach sweeping policy conditions to education grants and potentially cut funding at will. Corrections Tech: Delaware Department of Correction is rolling out identity verification for people using its GettingOut tablet messaging and video visitation, requiring ID uploads and a selfie before access. College Sports Overhaul: The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan college sports bill (77-22) setting national rules on athlete pay/NIL, transfers, and NCAA authority; it now heads to the House. Delaware Courts & Business: Delaware Chancery temporarily blocked Talkdesk from disposing of about 32.1M shares in a Viking Global dispute, while a separate Chancery ruling invalidated a board’s rejection of an activist director nomination notice. AI Copyright: The 3rd Circuit upheld Thomson Reuters’ Westlaw AI copyright win against Ross Intelligence. Public History: Delaware’s John Dickinson Plantation will debut its “One Land Many Voices” exhibit Oct. 10, with Gov. Matt Meyer proclaiming “One Land Many Voices Day.” Rural Health Grants: Delaware Prosperity Partnership will oversee a rural health technology accelerator offering up to $5M in federal grants.

AI & Federal Policy: Top AI CEOs are set for a White House lunch with President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson as lawmakers weigh whether to act amid warnings that AI could outpace humans. Delaware Tech Governance: Delaware CIO Bob Osmond says states are using AI to classify sensitive data and improve cybersecurity and procurement as public-sector AI matures. College Sports Law: The U.S. Senate passed a sweeping bipartisan college sports bill (77-22) setting national rules on athlete compensation, eligibility, and transfers; Delaware Democrats split, with Lisa Blunt Rochester opposing and Chris Coons supporting. Delaware Courts & Business: A Delaware judge rejected Pfizer/BioNTech/Moderna attempts to toss Bayer’s mRNA patent suits. Delaware Legal/Policy Watch: Delaware Supreme Court issued a mixed ruling in a veterinary implant patent dispute, affecting founder liability and damages. Storm Impacts: An early fall nor’easter battered Delaware’s coast, flooding roads and causing major beach erosion, with Dewey Beach officials focused on recovery timelines.

Delaware Court Watch: Delaware Court of Chancery’s first application of SB 21 in Ayers v. Foley offers early guidance on director independence and the “demand futility” test, raising the bar for plaintiffs challenging board decisions. State & Federal Civil Rights: A coalition of state attorneys general, including Delaware, issued guidance reaffirming that disparate impact and algorithmic bias protections remain enforceable under civil rights law. Consumer Finance: Delaware AG Dan Rayfield is celebrating a federal judge’s order keeping the CFPB funded, saying the Trump administration unlawfully tried to shut it down. Workplace Accountability: An ex–Delaware County official goes to trial accused of sexually harassing two female subordinates, with prosecutors arguing his authority helped him believe he’d face no consequences. Delaware Jobs: Delaware DHR announced its final statewide career fair of the year for Oct. 7 in Georgetown, targeting youth, adult, and justice-involved jobseekers for state government roles. Business & Governance: The SEC proposed rescinding Rule 14a-8 and modernizing proxy rules, a move that could shift shareholder proposal power toward state corporate law and company bylaws.

H-1B Fight in Delaware: Delaware’s attorney general coalition is weighing in against a Trump administration plan to impose a massive new H-1B visa tax, arguing it would undercut states’ ability to staff schools, hospitals, and other critical services. Housing & Local Governance: Sussex County officials are set to revisit how they’ll proceed under SB23 after pausing subdivision reviews, with the law pushing municipalities toward more affordable housing and limiting some public hearings. Courts & Corporate Records: A Delaware judge ordered Fox Corp. to turn over hundreds of internal files tied to the Murdoch-era shareholder fight, including materials about phone hacking and deleted texts. Energy & Data Centers: Regulators and analysts are warning that data-center growth is straining electricity supply and could raise outage risk in the region, while the broader AI buildout keeps colliding with water and power constraints. Public Safety & Community: Delaware County’s first-year S.H.I.E.L.D. program for first responders is reporting 70-plus engagements, pairing hotline support with weekly drop-in meetings. Immigration Work Visas: USCIS data show 545 H-2B worker approvals tied to Delaware worksites in fiscal 2026 through June 30, 2026. Education & Classroom Content: Parents and officials are challenging K-12 lessons accused of minimizing Hamas and promoting anti-Israel narratives, adding to a growing national debate over how the Israel-Hamas war is taught.

Nor’easter & Emergency Response: A powerful nor’easter battered the U.S. Northeast, knocking out power for tens of thousands, grounding flights, and prompting state emergencies, with Delaware-to-Maine gale warnings and major coastal flooding risk. Delaware County Health & Families: Delaware County launched a Medicaid-covered doula directory and training push via the Delco Doula Collaborative after Crozer’s birth center closure, aiming to expand postpartum support. Public Safety Tech Scrutiny: Columbus temporarily paused Flock Safety license plate reader cameras amid an investigation into alleged misuse, even as hundreds of similar cameras remain active across central Ohio. Energy & Data Centers: Pennsylvania regulators warned data center growth could drive more frequent regional blackouts, while the U.S. DOE unveiled a plan to boost transmission capacity. Voting & Military Participation: Pete Hegseth urged service members to register for November midterms after a reported drop in active-duty registration. Delaware Politics: Gov. Matt Meyer highlighted Working Families Party wins in Delaware’s primaries amid voter frustration over rising costs. Local Culture: Milford Public Library and Milford Museum will host a Charles Lindbergh “Hero or Villain?” program Oct. 10.

Delaware Primary Politics: Gov. Matt Meyer says Working Families Party wins in Delaware’s primary reflect voter frustration over rising costs, pointing to gas prices up to $4.35 in the First State and warning against the idea that WFP “won everything,” even as it captured 1 Senate and 5 House seats. Storm & Emergency Response: A powerful nor’easter is battering the East Coast, knocking out power for tens of thousands, canceling flights, and prompting state emergencies; Delaware is in the forecast zone for dangerous coastal flooding and high winds. Voting & the Military: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged service members to register for the November midterms after citing a drop in active-duty registration to 67% in 2024. Public Safety: Delaware State Police arrested Georgetown man William Pusey on felony theft charges tied to HVAC unit thefts in Sussex County. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports Delaware County diesel hit a week low of $5.89 per gallon (week ending Sept. 19). Local History & Culture: Milford Public Library will host a program on Charles Lindbergh’s “Hero or Villain?” legacy on Oct. 10.