Rep. Kendra Johnson

The House officially passed HB 418. Thank you to my colleagues and DOJ for your support in this important measure and ensuring public safety remains a top priority in our state.

June is National Homeownership Month!

Delaware is home to over 286,000 owner-occupied housing units, yet we still face the serious issue of affordability. Limited housing inventory and rising costs are only some of the things that contribute to the crisis we face, yet they perfectly underscore the importance of programs and partnerships that help Delawareans achieve and sustain homeownership.

To date, in 2026, the Delaware State Housing Authority has served 303 families, providing more than $93.3 million in first-mortgage production and over $2.1 million in down payment assistance. And while we celebrate these successes, we must also acknowledge the challenges ahead. Recent reports have ranked Delaware among the states with the highest foreclosure rates in the nation.

As we recognize National Homeownership Month, let us recommit ourselves not only to expanding access to homeownership, but also to actually addressing affordability challenges, preventing foreclosures, and preserving the stability that homeownership brings to families and communities across Delaware.

Mental health touches almost all of us here in Delaware, either through our personal journeys or as we support our friends, loved ones, and community members.

1 in 5 Delaware adults struggle in some capacity with mental health. And while this General Assembly has already taken some great steps to support Delawareans this session, I am very excited to share that we took another critical one yesterday with the passage of Senate Bill 22, the Fair Standards in Mental Health Care Act.

Senate Bill 22, sponsored by my colleagues Sen. Bryan Townsend and Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, mandates that insurers adopt evidence-based standards for coverage decisions, to address mental health emergencies on par with physical health crises. This bill will safeguard Delaware families against potential federal rollbacks of mental health parity protections, and further offers patients assistance when their insurance is insufficient.

The goal of this legislation is to enhance access to care, assist families, and guarantee that Delaware residents get treatment when necessary. No Delawarean should have to struggle with mental health without proper care. Thank you to my colleagues for your support, and to Speaker Minor-Brown for allowing me to floor manage this important legislation.

Happy Pride Month!

This month and every month, I am proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community here in Delaware, in their continued fight for equality under the law.

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember and honor the heroes who gave their lives in service to our nation. Their sacrifice is not forgotten. 🇺🇸

Dr. B. as he is affectionately known as, is not only a great chiropractor, but he truly epitomizes the essence of a practitioner with superb bedside manner. He has genuine care for his patients often asking about family updates and remembering specific details about ones' life. He is empathetic, his style and approach has led to better patient outcomes. Enjoy your retirement! Bear Chiropractic Center

Today is Direct Support Professionals Day in Delaware!

Our DSPs are an essential part of the healthcare workforce, providing care for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities 24/7/365. I want to thank Governor Meyer for seeing their importance, and backing that up with some very important funding, as seen in the FY 2027 Recommended Budget.

There is a significant amount of uncertainty surrounding medicaid-funded services like those offered by some of our community-based providers. Cuts to medicaid, constant changes in work requirements, and scrutiny for Home and Community-based services have caused ripple effects that can be felt throughout Delaware.

Across our state, from Seaford to Wilmington, you’ll find patients in need of DSPs, and DSPs who want to support them. But without funding, they’re barred from providing their essential care to those who desperately need it.

It is so important, now more than ever, that we continue to protect our DSPs and ensure that our future funding efforts include them. We simply can’t afford not to.

🌱 Cover crops are an investment in healthy soil.

Last week, Rep. Kendra Johnson, Toby Hagerott of WPHS Penn Farm, and the NCCD team discussed the value of cover crops.

Delaware’s cover crop program is already one of the strongest in the nation—second in total acres planted—and that success didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of consistent, long-term investment that farmers can count on year after year.

Committed funds build on that foundation. It allows the District to expand participation, reach more acres, and keep Delaware at the forefront of environmental conservation and preservation of open space.

Cover crops are also an investment in the soil that:
🌎 Reduce fertilizer needs, which is especially critical right now as global instability has driven input costs sharply higher
🌱 Improve soil health and water retention, leading to more resilient landscapes, including those downstream during extreme rain events
💲 And ultimately put dollars back into farmers’ bottom lines at a time when commodity prices are at extremes, helping to prevent farmland from being sold

Investment in cover crops is investing in a proven system that delivers both economic and environmental returns for New Castle County and Delaware.

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For many of us, renting has been a part of our story. Moving is already stressful enough between the packing boxes, coordinating timelines, and settling into a new chapter. The last thing families should have to worry about is confusion over something as simple as returning their keys after their lease ends.

My HB 217 came from a simple but important conversation about the uncertainty many tenants face when leasing offices are closed on weekends or holidays. Currently, Delaware law does not clearly explain how or when keys should be returned. Unfortunately, that lack of clarity has led to confusion, unexpected fees, and unnecessary stress for renters in the past. HB 217 helps establish clearer guidance for both tenants and landlords so everyone understands the process and is protected by a more defined system.

Thank you to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this legislation, and thank you to the Delaware Association of REALTORS® for your partnership and collaboration and Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. - CLASI for your feedback which helped to strengthen the key return process.