Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.head.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_global_js_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_global_js.html"); ?>
<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.head.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }'include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.head.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_global_js_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_global_js.html"); ?>
<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.head.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }'include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.head.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }'include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.head.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }'include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:
In 2024,
· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.
· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.
· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.
· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.
· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.
· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.
· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.
We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.
In 2025,
As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.
In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.
If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the First State Action Blog or email sagrant@aarp.org for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3rd Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.
This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the AARP Delaware page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.
Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Zoom
Online Event
Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET
Zoom
Online Event
Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Zoom
Online Event
Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/dover-de/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Dover, DE</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/dover-de/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="containerx"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu containerx" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/dover-de/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Dover, DE</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/dover-de/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="containerx"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu containerx" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/dover-de/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Dover, DE</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/dover-de/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="containerx"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu containerx" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/dover-de/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Dover, DE</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/dover-de/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="containerx"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu containerx" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]Code Contextinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/dover-de/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Dover, DE</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/dover-de/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="containerx"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu containerx" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]Code Contextinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 12/18/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed. We’ve been supporting local efforts to create affordable housing throughout the summer and fall. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead:<br><br> <b>In 2024,</b><br><br>· AARP led the effort to pass a bill educating consumers about the risks of gift card scams.<br><br>· We helped to pass a package of bills to raise standards in long term care facilities.<br><br>· We supported a bill to ensure that people with disabilities have access to voting in our state, and we’ve already seen improvements during the 2024 election.<br><br>· We aided passage of bills to encourage more affordable housing to meet the needs our growing older population.<br><br>· We helped to pass new protections for renters and create a revolving fund to help low-income residents pay for home repairs.<br><br>· We helped to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan included support for older Delawareans who need access to broadband and other supports to stay connected.<br><br>· And, we helped to secure funding for a new retirement savings program, Delaware EARNS, so younger workers can easily save for retirement.<br><br>We’ve also been supporting more options for “missing middle housing” – house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighborhoods. Since AARP began working on housing issues, all three counties in Delaware and also the town of Lewes have loosened restrictions on which are accessory dwelling units ((mother-in-law suites) and New Castle County passed an ordinance to allow “pocket neighborhoods”. These are clustered groups of smaller houses gathered around a shared open space—some call it a “neighborhood within a neighborhood”. Creative ideas like this will allow more people to age in their communities and stay connected with their neighbors and the activities they enjoy.<br><br> <b>In 2025,</b><br><br> As we ring in the New Year, our work will continue. We will support a bill guaranteeing sick time to Delaware workers, which stalled in committee last year. You can expect efforts to pass a statewide ADU (accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites) bill; and a bill that will homeowners to transfer their property to a beneficiary without a will.<br><br>In 2025, AARP Delaware will continue working to enact recommendations from the 2024 Caregiving Task Force. We’ll also stay connected with the Caucus on Aging, the Affordable Housing Production Task Force, and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition. We’ll keep pushing to make Delaware’s communities more livable by supporting improvements in transportation, walkability, and age-friendly housing. And unfortunately, there is an ongoing need to prevent fraud, so we plan to host shred events, tele-town halls, and other fraud prevention events throughout the year.<br><br> </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="center"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/38/a4/19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195/delaware-flag.jpg" alt="Flag of Delaware (USA)" width="5500" height="3654"/> <div class="Figure-credit">Ji?? Fl?gel/Getty Images/Hemera</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>If you’d like to learn more about our work, check out the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/first-state-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First State Action Blog</a></span></span> or email <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="mailto:sagrant@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sagrant@aarp.org</a></span></span> for a link to the First State Advocacy Team’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Thursday Zoom Call. It’s a great way to catch up on local issues, You will meet other dedicated advocates and learn what you can do to make life better here in Delaware.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Delaware. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank">AARP Delaware</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Dover</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DOVER-DE">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Delaware Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Delaware</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:DEAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/delaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Delaware</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarps-delaware-state-office-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DOVER-DE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AARP-Delaware/111505852238468" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpdelaware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead</title> <meta name="page_title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed." name="description"/> <meta content="AARP, s, Advocacy, in, First, State, Looking, back, looking, ahead" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/delaware/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/aarps-advocacy-in-the-first-state-looking-back-looking-ahead-de-2024-12-18.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="AARP’s Advocacy in the First State: Looking back, looking ahead"/> <meta property="og:description" content="As 2024 comes to a close, AARP Delaware’s advocacy work hasn’t slowed down. We’ve won in our efforts to advocate for you as 2024 bills are signed."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e84ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5500x3536+0+59/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F38%2Fa4%2F19a722c14abdaa0a5d683e9bb195%2Fdelaware-flag.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/dover-de/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Dover, DE</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/dover-de/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="containerx"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu containerx" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/dover-de/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/dover-de/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118