Gov. Meyer declares January “Human Trafficking Awareness Month” in Delaware and sign Executive Orders

DOVER— Today (Jan 21), Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed Proclamation #1, declaring January 2025 as HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH in the State of Delaware. Governor Meyer was joined by Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay, Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, Steven Yeatman, the Secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families, several Delaware state senators and representatives, employees of the Delaware Department of Justice, and community advocates from across the state and the nation.  

“Protecting the rights and livelihoods of residents is top of mind for my administration and so is combatting the growing scourge of human trafficking across our state,” said Governor Meyer. “With my first proclamation, I’m proud to declare January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in the State of Delaware, and I encourage all residents to stay vigilant in their own communities. If you see something, say something.”  

Read the full declaration here.

Also, Governor Meyer announced his Good Governance Executive Order, delivering on a key campaign promise. The order directs state employees and agencies to prioritize transparency and ethical practices in conducting all state business.  

“Delawareans should trust that their state government is working for them, and that’s why transparency and accountability is at the heart of everything we do for you,” said Governor Meyer. “This executive order is the first step in delivering an ethical government you can believe in.” 

Read the full Executive Order here

This executive order commits the Office of the Governor to working with state agencies to expand best practices in the areas of transparency, ethics and efficiency in state government, with a focus on how to improve state mechanisms in order to respond to and prevent misconduct, as well as streamline government services. The Office of the Governor will also work with the appropriate state agencies to develop a statewide policy for ethics training for state employees. A draft of this plan will be completed by April 1, 2025. 

Today, but in Wilmington, Governor Meyer announced his Workforce and Affordable Housing Permitting Executive Order, establishing a statewide working group tasked with providing recommendations on the creation of a “one-stop-shop” for projects in each county, streamlining the permitting and licensing processes in state and local governments. The goal of Executive Order #4 is to enhance collaboration, predictability, public awareness, and efficiency for projects to quickly increase the stock of workforce and affordable housing across the state.  

“Housing is a human right, and no Delawarean should be left out in the cold,” said Governor Meyer. “With this Executive Order, we take the first step in overhauling and streamlining our permitting and homebuilding process, bringing folks across the state together to collaborate and provide solutions on how we can get people in quality homes they can afford as soon as possible.” 

Read the full Executive Order here 

This executive order delivers on Governor Meyer’s core campaign tenet to address Delaware’s affordable housing crisis quickly and efficiently, bringing the weight of state government to bear on one of the most critical issues of our time.