LEGISLATIVE ACTION DAY A HUGE SUCCESS!
A special thank you to the nearly 100 REALTORS® that participated in the Delaware Association of REALTORS® Annual Legislative Action Day and Reception.
REALTORS® from across the state enjoyed a lunch discussion with several Representatives and presentations by House Majority Leader Dick Cathcart and Governor Minner's Chief of Staff Mark Brainard.
All legislators expressed the importance of DAR members staying in regular contact with their Representatives to discuss what is happening in the industry and how legislative and regulatory proposals will affect the real estate industry and those we represent.
After the presentation, DAR members visited with their elected officials about the real estate transfer tax, eminent domain and smart growth issues including overlay zones, legislation which bans deed restrictions or covenants which ban wind energy systems, and the proposed Pollution Control Strategy for the Inland Bays.
After lobbying their elected officials, everyone headed to the DAR office a block from Legislative Hall for a reception with members of the General Assembly and their staff. DAR members chatted with Senate President Pro Tempore Thurman Adams, Senate Minority Leader Charles Copeland, House Majority Leader Dick Cathcart, Senators Venables and McDowell and many members of the Delaware House of Representatives.
.32 % Increase in the Transfer Tax!?
While lobbying yesterday, members learned that there may be a new proposal coming from the Delaware Technical and Community College as early as next week that would raise the transfer tax even higher to offset an exemption for homes $150,000 or less.
REALTORS® MUST KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO OPPOSE ANY INCREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX! Visit www.delawarerealtor.com for a sample letter you can download and send to your elected officials or better yet, visit www.legis.delaware.gov for your Senator and Representatives' phone number and call them today to express your opposition.
DAR President Don Ash, Voice of Delaware Speaks on Real Estate Transfer Tax:
President Ash's Letter to the Editor "Find another way to fund Delaware Tech" appeared in Thursday's News Journal. To read the editorial, visit
www.delawarerealtor.com.
Pollution Control Strategy for the Inland Bays:
DAR is concerned about a number of issues including expansion of jurisdiction to include forested ditches, septic requirements, many loose definitions and lack of specific criteria for implementation. While at Legislative Hall, the Sussex County delegation tracked down Secretary Hughes and expressed their concerns about buffers and septic system requirements and the Secretary agreed to come to the Sussex County Association of REALTORS
® and discuss the issue further.
Eminent Domain:
SB 245, introduced by Senator Venables and Representative Williams and 30 other members of the General Assembly was voted out of the Senate Small Business Committee earlier this week. DAR again expressed support for protecting private property rights but also expressed interest in a more comprehensive approach that looked at the definition of blight, condemnation process and just compensation. DAR's legislation is now in official draft format and REALTORS
® shopped it around yesterday for co-sponsors. We expect the legislation to be introduced shortly. The House Transportation, Land Use and Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 14th to consider HB 289 and SB 194, legislation relating to real property acquisition and the exercise of eminent domain.
Recorder of Deeds Fees:
There is a draft bill circulating that would increase the recorder of deed fee collected for each document or paper recorded or filed from $5 to $17 to support the Housing Development Fund.
Energy Issues:
The Governor's Energy Advisory Council seeks public input by May 31 on Delaware's important energy issues. You can find the survey at
www.energy.dnrec.gov. The survey looks at many things including: land use, transportation, greenhouse gas emissions, recycling and energy efficiency as it relates to appliances, lighting, heating and cooling systems and building design in homes, commercial and public buildings.
Conservation Districts:
The Joint Sunset Committee will meet next Tuesday to consider their proposed recommendations for the Conservation Districts.
DAR Legislative Committees:
DAR is forming three legislative subcommittees of the Public Policy Committee to help review and establish policy in land use, housing and tax and benefits. If you have a background or keen interest in any of these issue areas, please contact your
local President or DAR's Government Affairs Director, Charlotte Herbert at
charlotte@delawarerealtor.com.
