DOVER, Del.– First State lawmakers are responding after Gov. Matt Meyer (D) vetoed $35 million previously earmarked for a Legislative Hall expansion.
The governor used a line-item veto to halt these particular funds, while passing the rest of the projects included in the Fiscal Year 2027 Bond and Capital Improvements Act.
Lawmakers say the bond bill, which outlines the budget for statewide projects, includes over $200 million in school construction costs and over $838 million for executive branch capital improvements.
The governor cited Delawareans' ongoing affordability concerns and public pushback to the proposed Legislative Hall expansion.
"When Delaware residents are struggling, when families are struggling to pay their rent, healthcare costs, their utility bills, or their grocery bill, this is not the time to spend 35-million of taxpayer dollars on the Legislative Hall expansion," Meyer said in a letter to lawmakers.
Meyer describes the proposed $35 million appropriation as a "down payment" for the expansion, estimated to cost approximately $116 million in total.
Joint Capital Improvement Committee Chairs Rep. Debra Heffernan (D-District 6) and Sen. Jack Walsh (D-District 9) say the investment is needed, citing seating, parking accessibility and security concerns in a joint statement.
“These are not frivolous or cosmetic upgrades – this is a carefully planned and well-thought-out project that would address problems that legislators, members of the public, the press, and staff have experienced for several years now," Rep. Heffernan and Sen. Walsh said.
Leaders from both sides of the aisle in either legislative chamber also issued a joint statement condemning the veto and defending their decision to include the $35 million appropriation.
"The decision to include a $35 million authorization in the FY 27 bond bill came after we proactively announced a temporary pause on the expansion plans that would have commenced this year, delaying the implementation of guidance we received from state and federal law enforcement and the formal recommendations of the Legislative Building Committee," the statement says in part.
While the proposed expansion has been in discussion for years, Meyer criticized lawmakers' move to pass the bond bill in the early hours of July 1 while many Delawareans were sleeping.
"Several bills traveled between the chambers at a pace and at a time where the public could not keep up," the letter said. "Bills were drafted, introduced, amended, and passed without enough scrutiny by stakeholders."
State senators passed the bill at 4:12 a.m. July 1 in a special session following the last day of legislative session June 30.
Following Gov. Meyer's veto, lawmakers could call a special session to vote on the measure again.
