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I hope that you and yours are doing well. The New Year is well underway, and I want to reach out with a few important updates from our district and the legislature. As always, I am mindful of the pandemic’s impact on our state. To remain informed, please visit or call to for the most up to date information on the pandemic, testing sites, vaccine information, and more. https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/and https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/vaccine/or the hotline 1-833-643-1715.

As soon as I receive updates that would be helpful to you, I push them out on my Facebook which you can follow here https://www.facebook.com/RepPeteSchwartzkopf 

Please know I am here to help you in any way I can. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please reach out to me at peter.schwartzkopf@delaware.gov. You can reach my office by calling 302-744-4351. You can also reach my assistant, Eric Hastings, at eric.hastings@delaware.gov or 302-577-8481.

Sincerely,

Pete

As you may have noticed, the beginning of the 151st General     Assembly’s second leg began a lot like our last. Due to the significant     rise in COVID cases and extremely contagious nature of the Omicron variant,     we are taking several steps to limit exposure and mitigate the chances of     spreading the virus. Ensuring the health and safety of legislators, staff     and the public is a top priority. Additionally, the work of the General     Assembly is critical, and we want to reduce the chances of an outbreak,     which could potentially cripple the operations of this branch of     government. That is why many of our operations were virtual and or with     limited in-person staff.

The safety of our legislators, staff, and the public is my     highest priority. Fortunately, we have phenomenal staff who put forth great     effort to ensure our work has remained effective as ever, and that     legislators can work on behalf of their districts with as little     disruptions as possible despite the severe challenges the pandemic brings.

By the beginning of February, the General Assembly will     adjourn for Joint Finance Committee Hearings. You can keep informed about     all events at Legislative Hall here: legis.delaware.gov.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Delawareans have looked for ways to continue supporting their local restaurants while being mindful of covid-19 safety measures. In our district, there is no shortage of fantastic eateries, and understandably, many have leaned on creativity and support of the public to survive.

HB 290 is the final iteration of my bill that allows alcoholic beverages in transactions for take-out, curbside, or drive-through service and to use outdoor seating for serving of food and drinks so long as the licensee satisfies certain conditions. In previous sessions, there was an end-date to these allowances, now, the sunset provision is removed, and this may become a more permanent way of life.

Supported by stakeholders, legislators, and most importantly, the public, I’m hopeful this will be a win-win for all of us in the years to come. I have worked diligently alongside my co-sponsor Sen. Ernie Lopez to alleviate any concerns that remained, as evidenced by the amendments to the bill. and I want to thank everyone who emailed, called, and supported this measure in the past and now. 

Online: Due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and demand for surf fishing permits and annual passes, the quickest and safest way to purchase permits and passes is online at www.destateparks.com. Sales will start online 10 a.m. Feb. 1 for surf fishing permits and Feb. 15 for annual park passes.

At state parks: Permits and passes will be on sale at offices within Delaware State Parks starting at 10 a.m. on Feb. 1 for surf fishing permits and Feb. 15 for annual park passes. Those who choose to purchase annual passes or surf fishing permits at a park office should expect long wait times and must wear a mask inside the building. Park office locations are listed at www.destateparks.com/FindPark. (Please note: Permits and passes are not available at DNREC’s Dover office.)

https://news.delaware.gov/2022/01/20/delaware-state-parks-surf-fishing-permits-annual-passes-on-sale-in-february/ 

I’m proud to sponsor upcoming legislation alongside Sen.     Ernie Lopez that will prohibit discrimination based on an individual’s     status as a living organ or tissue donor in the offering,     issuance, cancellation, coverage, price, or other condition of an insurance     policy, including a life, health, disability, or long-term care insurance     policy.

Regarding protections for donors, Delaware lags behind our     neighboring states, and we simply need to do more.

You can now order four at-home COVID tests delivered     straight to your home, completely free of charge.

Frequent testing is key to putting this pandemic behind us.     Take a moment and order your tests today at CovidTests.gov. A     reminder that you are limited to one order (four tests) per residential     address. https://www.covidtests.gov/ 

In addition, President Joe Biden's administration will     ship roughly 400 million free N95 face masks nationwide starting in     late January. Distribution centers will be identified, like pharmacies and     community centers. The CDC recently updated their guidance to recommend N95     masks over all other types, as they are respirators, unlike cloth or     surgical masks.