By Tyler Micik

Key decisions are being made as the legislative session nears its end. Although this week was shortened due to the Juneteenth holiday, it was an eventful one. The General Assembly considered several bills that the State Chamber has been actively involved in. Of note was HS 2 for HB 13, a proposal to increase personal income taxes, which failed to be released from the House Revenue & Finance Committee. We commend the legislature for thoughtfully considering our feedback and for pausing the bill's advancement.
 
HB 175 and HB 164 passed the Senate and now await the Governor’s signature. These bills are DNREC’s and DelDOT’s respective fee adjustment packages, which the State Chamber supports. While it’s rare for the State Chamber to support fee increases of any kind, both bills represent practical, well-considered efforts to strengthen state services that support Delaware’s economic vitality. HB 175 modernizes DNREC’s outdated fee structure while prioritizing service improvements and responsiveness—outcomes our members value and expect. HB 164 strengthens the Transportation Trust Fund to address pressing infrastructure needs vital to business operations, workforce mobility, and long-term competitiveness.
 
In the House Labor Committee on Tuesday, HS 1 for HB 181 (Paid Family Medical Leave) and SB 63 (General Contractor Liability) were released from committee and moved to the House Ready List. HS 1 for HB 181, which the State Chamber supports, would extend the compliance grace period for employer violations under Delaware’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, delaying certain penalties until January 2027. SB 63, which the State Chamber opposes, makes a general contractor jointly and severally liable for restitution and penalties assessed against the subcontractor. We urge lawmakers to vote against the bill. Delaware is facing a housing crisis. Targeting the state’s long-standing, reputable contractors—many of whom are Chamber members—for the actions of their subcontractors is not a productive solution.
 
Over on the Senate side, HS 2 for HB 105 (Pay Transparency), was released from the Labor Committee and moved to the Senate Ready List. The State Chamber appreciates Representative Ross Levin’s ongoing engagement with stakeholders to thoughtfully amend and improve the bill, and we expect it to pass.
 
Lastly, SB 60 (Public Utilities), was the topic of a lengthy debate in the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. At this time, the bill is being walked for signatures. We expect it to be released and moved to the House Ready List. The State Chamber testified at the hearing, requesting a removal of the $125 million cap on annual capital expenses for electric distribution companies. The cap is arbitrary and fails to reflect the complex realities of maintaining and modernizing an aging electric distribution system. Utilities must continue to make critical, long-term investments in infrastructure to ensure reliability, support grid expansion, and meet the state’s climate and energy goals. Without those investments, Delawareans risk facing more frequent and prolonged outages and a grid unprepared for the demands of a cleaner future.
 
With just four days remaining in the session, next week marks the General Assembly’s final full week. While there are many issues still lingering that the State Chamber is engaged in, one in particular that we oppose and have serious concerns about is HB 210, the Pollution Accountability Act, which is on the House Ready List. This bill significantly increases the fines that commercial entities, small businesses, and homeowners could face for repeated violations of environmental laws or policies. Small businesses, in particular, may struggle to absorb penalties that could reach up to $40,000 per day.

While we are proud of the meaningful investments our members continue to make in responsible environmental stewardship, we are concerned that these excessive fines could disproportionately impact smaller employers and create unintended financial hardship. An amendment (HA 1) was added to the bill on Wednesday to exempt the agricultural industry—likely in response to concerns raised by the sector about how natural disasters can cause environmental accidents beyond their control. We urge members of the General Assembly to hold off on moving forward with this proposal due to the significant impacts it could have on our state and hope to have a broader conversation later this year – to sit down and talk about their concerns and hopefully come to a reasonable solution that recognizes the concerns of businesses while accomplishing their goals. 

As session reaches its final days, we’ll continue to advocate for policies that support our members, strengthen our economy, and reflect the real-world challenges Delaware businesses face. With key legislation still on the table, now is the time for thoughtful, measured action that keeps Delaware moving forward.

By Michael J. Quaranta

This is crunch time in the General Assembly as they returned to work for the final session days of 2025.  The situation is always very fluid this time of year, so stay tuned because bills thought to be dead somehow find new life, and things thought to be “greased” get sidetracked. 
 
We are grateful that legislators heard the business community loud and clear about our concerns regarding personal tax increases. The letter we co-authored with the Delaware Business Roundtable served as the catalyst for other groups to sign on and engage with policymakers. At this point, the likelihood of a vote to increase personal income tax rates (HS 1 for HB 13) is diminishing by the day. While we understand the optical challenge of having roughly half of the states’ taxpayers in the highest tax bracket, we believe there are other factors to consider and better revenue options to explore.  You can read the letter here. 
 
Our Environmental Committee has worked diligently with DNREC Secretary Patterson and his team on a bill to increase fees on several departmental permits that have not been adjusted in decades. The bill, HB 175, raises the permit fees the department may charge in many cases. We successfully negotiated lower increases in some cases, but more importantly, conditioned our support of the bill on the Secretary committing to improve the speed which permit decisions are made and cultural shifts within the department.  It is rare for the State Chamber to support fee increases of any kind, but we did so in this case and take the Secretary at his word that he will improve the customer experience. On Wednesday, the bill successfully passed out of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee. 
 
The State Chamber and others expressed opposition to HB 210, the Pollution Accountability Act, which was also heard in the Natural Resources and Energy Committee the same afternoon. This bill greatly increases the fines commercial businesses, homeowners, small businesses, and farms could incur for repeated violations of environmental law or policy. While we are proud of the investment our members have made and continue to make to manage air, water, and more in meaningful ways, we are opposed to fines that could reach an amount of $40,000 per day. The committee heard from agriculture interests about how natural disasters such as hurricane damage or floods could result in environmental accidents completely out of their control. The State Chamber testified and stated that passage of legislation like this will signal to the insurance industry greater risk of substantial penalties, thus elevating business liability and result in higher insurance rates for everyone. The bill did not receive the required number of votes to be released from committee; however, a few members were absent, and we expect this bill to move to the House for consideration.  In the meantime, efforts will be made to amend the bill or work to push this off until next session where more time and consideration may be given to the details. 

​Finally, HS 2 for HB 105, or the Pay Transparency Act, passed the House of Representatives earlier this week. The bill now moves to the Senate where we expect it to pass easily, and the Governor has signaled his support and intention to sign the bill into law. We compliment the efforts of Representative Ross Levin to meet regularly with stakeholders to amend and improve the bill. Delaware would join almost 20 other states with similar laws on the books, including our immediate neighbors Maryland and New Jersey, and not-too-distant neighbors New York, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.  A side-by-side analysis of this bill and its comparison to the others make this new policy more practical for our members and job seekers than many of the provisions found in other state laws. 

By Tyler Micik

Today wraps up an eventful week in Dover. On Wednesday, the State Chamber held its End-of-Session Policy Conference, where policymakers discussed key issues making their way through the General Assembly, such as personal income taxes, pay transparency, energy costs, permitting fees and more.

Several bills that the Delaware State Chamber is following saw action this week, including:
 
HB 164 (Transportation Trust Fund): The act attempts to stabilize the Transportation Trust Fund by adding additional registration fees for electric, plug-in hybrid, non-plug-in hybrid, and alternative fuel vehicles to compensate for lost fuel tax revenue. It sets various fee increases related to licensing, registration, and vehicle documentation.

• State Chamber Position: Support. The State Chamber signed onto this coalition letter. 
• Status: On the House Ready List

 
HB 162 (Multilevel Distribution Company): Establishes new requirements on direct selling businesses in an effort to enhance consumer protection, including a mandatory waiting period before signing up as a direct seller, detailed disclosure requirements, and a three-month right of rescission for participants.

• State Chamber Position: Opposed
• Status: On the House Ready List

 
SB 89 (Credit Card Transactions): Prohibits a seller that regularly accepts payment by credit card from (1) imposing a credit card surcharge greater than the percentage processing fee charged by the credit card company, for transactions of $1,500 or less, and (2) refusing to accept payment by credit card or imposing any credit card surcharge for transactions that exceed $1,500.

• State Chamber Position: Engaged and gathering feedback
• Status: Heard in the Senate Executive Committee (not yet released as of 3:30 p.m. on 5/22)

House Bill 174 was introduced this week. The bill imposes a surcharge on business, residential, wireless, and prepaid wireless services that will be used to fund suicide assistance services for families of individuals who have died by suicide. The fee is 12 cents per month on subscription services or 12 cents per retail transaction for prepaid services. Any funds in excess of $5 million at the end of the fiscal year will be returned to the general fund.
 
In 2023, the General Assembly passed a similar bill, HS 2 for HB 160, which established a 60-cent per month, per line fee on phone lines and a 60-cent one-time fee on prepaid services to help fund the state’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. HB 174 would be an additional fee on top of this. It has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, and the State Chamber is seeking feedback from our members on the bill.

The General Assembly is on Joint Finance Committee markup for the next two weeks and will return to session on Tuesday, June 10. Upon return, lawmakers will have only nine session days left to pass any bills they plan to get done for the year. It’s important to note that any pending legislation, not defeated or enacted, will carry over to next year. As session winds down, the State Chamber will continue to advocate for our members. If you have any thoughts or questions on the bills mentioned above or others, please reach out to me at [email protected].

By Tyler Micik

Today wraps up a busy week in Dover. Many bills saw movement that the State Chamber is following, including SB 63 (General Contractor Liability), SB 46 (Autonomous Vehicles), HS 1 for HB 48 (Accessible Parking Spaces), and SB 130 (Expanded Polystyrene Foam Products).
 
SB 63 (General Contractor Liability): Makes a general contractor responsible for a subcontractor’s compliance with Chapter 35 by making the general contractor jointly and severally liable for restitution and penalties assessed against the subcontractor.
State Chamber Position: Opposed
Status: Passed the Senate and assigned to the House Labor Committee 

SB46 (Autonomous Vehicles): Requires a human observer to be physically present in all autonomous vehicles that require a Class A commercial driver license without an O restriction—meaning tractor-trailers or trucks transporting large loads.
State Chamber Position: Opposed
Status: Released from the House Transportation Committee and placed on the House Ready List
 
HS 1 for HB 48 (Accessible Parking Spaces): This act makes changes to Delaware law to better regulate, define, and enforce accessible parking spaces in Delaware, including the following:

• Creating a new state requirement that one of every three accessible parking spaces be van accessible in large parking lots. Under the ADA, only one of every six accessible parking spaces must be van accessible in large parking lots.
• Adding provisions in Titles 9 and 22 to require county and municipal governments to adopt regulations and ordinances incorporating Title 21’s new accessible parking space requirements, including the requirement that property owners obtain a permit, and that the permitting agency verify that the new or modified accessible parking spaces are compliant with the law. 

State Chamber Position: Opposed
Status: Released from the House Health & Human Development Committee and placed on the House Ready List
 
SB 130 (Expanded Polystyrene Foam Products): Prohibits retail stores and wholesalers from selling, distributing, or offering for sale expanded polystyrene foam products, including expanded polystyrene foam food service packaging, expanded polystyrene foam coolers used for cold storage of food, and expanded polystyrene foam loose fill packaging.
State Chamber Position: Working with the sponsor to amend the bill.
Status: Released from the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee and placed on the Senate Ready List
 
Lastly, a proposal that the State Chamber opposed failed to receive a motion to be released from committee--HB 115 (Weight/Height/Body Size Discrimination). The bill prohibits discrimination based on weight, height, or body size in transportation, public accommodation, housing, commerce and trade, employment, jury selection, education, and public administration. The State Chamber provided the following testimony against the bill:

“This Bill imposes broad and ambiguous requirements that may create significant compliance burdens and legal uncertainties for employers. The definitions could increase employers' exposure to discrimination claims, even in the absence of any evidence. This uncertainty could lead to costly litigation and administrative challenges, especially for small and mid-sized businesses that lack the resources to handle these claims. Lastly, employers may have legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for considering physical characteristics in certain job functions, such as safety-related roles. This does not allow for such considerations, potentially placing employers in a position of having to choose between compliance and workplace safety. We oppose HB 115.”
 
The State Chamber remains committed to advocating for our members and will continue to engage on these bills, among others, through June 30. As we approach the final weeks of session, we invite you to join us at the End-of-Session Policy Conference next Wednesday, where we’ll be discussing several of these key issues. For more information, please contact me at [email protected].

The General Assembly returned to session this week after a two-week break. One bill of note that saw movement was HS 1 for HB 105. The bill was released from the House Labor Committee and has been placed on the House Ready List.
 
The bill requires businesses with over 25 employees to post salary or wage ranges in job advertisements and to maintain detailed records of job descriptions and compensation histories for each employee. It also grants the Delaware Department of Labor enforcement authority and imposes penalties for violations. The State Chamber is opposed to the bill and offered the following testimony:

“We want to recognize and thank Representative Ross Levin for engaging with the business community and making thoughtful changes to the bill. The exemption for employers with 25 or fewer employees, removing the requirement to internally post all job openings, and extending the law’s effective date by two years represent meaningful progress. However, while HS 1 for HB 105 is a step in the right direction, we remain concerned that it still presents significant challenges—especially for small and mid-sized businesses. Many of these businesses do not have dedicated HR teams or legal counsel to manage the complexities of compliance. Public pay disclosures may lead to unrealistic expectations, disrupt workplace culture, and weaken a company’s ability to negotiate individualized compensation packages. We support efforts to promote fairness and equity in the workplace, but we believe this legislation needs more time and refinement to ensure it doesn't put Delaware employers—especially small businesses—at a disadvantage. We oppose HS 1 for HB 105 and look forward to continued collaboration to amend the bill and craft balanced policy that works for both employers and employees.”

House Bill 135, known as the Dr. DeBorah Gilbert White Anti-Cruelty to Delawareans Experiencing Homelessness Act was introduced this week. The Act establishes certain protections for individuals experiencing homelessness, including:

• Permits an individual experiencing homelessness to conduct life sustaining activities in public, so long as such activities do not obstruct the normal movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic in such a manner that creates a hazard to others, unless adequate alternative indoor space is available to the individual in a given jurisdiction and has been offered to the individual, including transportation for the individual and their belongings.
• Mandates that an individual experiencing homelessness receive the same degree of protection for personal property stored in public places as personal property stored in a private dwelling, which includes protections against unreasonable search and seizure.
• Prohibits the State or local jurisdiction from requiring an individual experiencing homelessness to move a motor vehicle or a recreational vehicle provided that the vehicle is parked on public property and the vehicle is not parked in a position to obstruct the normal movement of traffic or create a hazard to other traffic upon the highway.
• Provides that, if a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle must be moved because the vehicle is obstructing normal movement of traffic or creates a hazard to other traffic on the roadway, the individual experiencing homelessness must be permitted to relocate the vehicle before a parking ticket is issued, or the vehicle is towed.

The State Chamber is seeking feedback on the bill. If you have thoughts, please let me know at [email protected]. 

Next week, the State Chamber will host its Small Business Day in Dover event on Thursday, May 15th at Legislative Hall. The following week, on Wednesday, May 21st, End-of-Session Policy Conference will be held at Delaware State University in Dover. This annual event brings together business leaders, policymakers, and influential voices to discuss critical legislation and policy priorities before the General Assembly adjourns on June 30th.

​Attendees will hear legislative updates from Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown and Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola, as well as policy spotlights on key bills related to pay transparency, energy costs, and permitting fees, presented by Rep. Ross Levin, Sen. Hansen, and Sec. Patterson, respectively. You can learn more and register here. Sponsorship opportunities are still available! Please contact Kerri Welcher at [email protected].

By Tyler Micik



As the General Assembly continues its 153rd session, the State Chamber remains actively engaged on several issues that could have significant implications for Delaware’s business community. From pay transparency to updates to Delaware’s corporate law, the diversity of proposed legislation reflects the evolving challenges facing our members.

In March, Governor Meyer presented his FY 2026 budget reset—totaling over $6.58 billion, which is about a 7.4% increase over this year’s budget, while the state’s revenue is only expected to grow by 1.9%. To help close this gap, the budget calls for the creation of three new personal income tax brackets for those who make $125,000; $250,000; and $500,000, along with raising the cigarette tax by 50 cents. That said, expenses are outpacing revenues, and determining what gets funded—and what doesn’t— will require making some hard decisions.

There are several bills the State Chamber is particularly engaged on that recently passed or are making their way through the legislative process.

Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 21 was passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Meyer in late March. The bill amends Delaware’s corporate law by providing clearer frameworks for transactions involving interested parties and refining stockholder rights to provide legal clarity and predictability for corporations—essential qualities in maintaining Delaware’s status as the nation’s preferred place of incorporation. The State Chamber has always been committed to supporting policies that are in the best interest of our state, and this is no exception. That said, the State’s reliance on substantial sums of money coming from outside its borders to fuel government spending demonstrates the need for pro-growth policies and the diversification of its economy.

House Bill 105, pay transparency, is another bill that our members have expressed concerns over. The bill requires businesses with 11 or more employees to post salary or wage ranges in all job advertisements, both internally and externally, and to maintain detailed records of job descriptions and compensation histories for each employee. It also grants the Delaware Department of Labor enforcement authority and imposes penalties for violations.

While we support the goals of pay transparency and equity, the bill’s strict compliance requirements, potential for costly penalties, and administrative burden pose challenges for employers, especially small businesses. Additionally, wage ranges can vary based on market demand, candidate experience, and other dynamic factors. Requiring rigid disclosures risks reducing flexibility in hiring and may unintentionally deter some businesses from expanding or posting new roles.

For example, in states where pay transparency laws are already in effect, a common concern among employers is that once salary ranges are posted, current employees may expect to be paid at the top of the range, leading to internal dissatisfaction and tension. These postings could also encourage more job shopping and higher employee turnover, potentially driving wage inflation and putting small businesses at risk of closure.

Other bills we are following include Senate Bill 63, general contractor liability; House Bill 84, employer-sponsored meetings and communications; House Substitute 1 for House Bill 13, personal income tax changes; Senate Bill 89, credit card transactions; House Bill 111, single-use food service items; House Bill 115, discrimination based on weight, height or body size; and a draft chatbot disclosure bill.

The State Chamber remains committed to advocating for our members and will continue to work on these bills through June 30. To stay informed, we hope you will consider joining one of the State Chamber’s policy committees and attending our Small Business Day in Dover on May 15 or End-of-Session Policy Conference on May 21. For more information, please contact me at [email protected].

The General Assembly wraps up a busy week today and will go on spring recess for two weeks. They’ll return to session on Tuesday, May 6, with 18 session days remaining. One bill of note heard in committee was HB 57, which pertains to home construction contracts. The State Chamber is opposed to the bill as written because it limits deposits in a way that forces small contractors to front material costs out-of-pocket, something many simply can’t afford. It also requires work to begin within thirty days of receiving a 50% deposit, regardless of supply chain delays. The bill was tabled in committee.
 
A substitute bill to HB 48 (accessible parking spaces) was introduced this week. You can view the bill here. The Act adds provisions to Title 21 to better regulate, define, and enforce accessible parking spaces in Delaware. The Delaware State Chamber is seeking feedback on the bill.
 
Although the General Assembly is on break, our work continues, and we’ll be having conversations on these and other key bills like HB 105 (pay transparency) and HS 1 for HB 13 (personal income tax changes), among others.
 
The Delaware State Chamber will also be discussing these topics at our End of Session Policy Conference on May 21. Attendees will hear about key bills before the General Assembly from the policymakers sponsoring them, as well as from Speaker of the House Melissa Minor-Brown and Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola, who will share their respective chambers’ priorities ahead of adjournment. Register here >

By Tyler Micik

This was a busy week for the Delaware General Assembly – especially the House of Representatives. Most notably, SS 1 for SB 21 was passed by the House and signed by the Governor. The bill makes changes to Delaware’s corporation law. The State Chamber and Delaware Business Roundtable released a joint statement on the bill in mid-March.
 
Earlier today, Governor Meyer presented his FY26 budget reset. His plan includes updating Delaware’s tax code by adding three new tax brackets of $125,000, $250,000, and $500,000. It also includes investments in education, housing, healthcare, and government efficiency and transparency. You can watch the full recording of his budget address here.
 
Additionally, there are several bills which we are seeking our members' feedback on, including:

• HB 105 – Pay Transparency: Requires employers with 11 or more employees to include salary or wage range information in all postings for job opportunities, both internally and externally. Also requires employers to maintain records of job descriptions and salary or wage rate history for each employee for the duration of employment plus three years after their departure. Contains civil penalties from $2,000 - $10,000 per violation and gives the Department of Labor administrative action to enforce the pay transparency provision.
• HB 84 – Employer Sponsored Meetings and Communications: Prohibits employers from requiring employees to participate in mandatory meetings or communications that are religious or political in nature. Also, it prohibits employers from punishing employees for refusing to participate in the same. Meetings or communications necessary for their job duties or those that are voluntary are accepted. Violators of the bill are subject to civil penalties between $1,000 - $5,000 per violation.

• Chatbots (Draft bill – not yet introduced): Makes engaging in a commercial transaction with a consumer who interacts with computer technology, without notifying the consumer that they are not communicating with a human being, an unlawful practice. It provides a civil cause of action for damages and permits the Attorney General to seek injunctive relief and a civil penalty of not more than $5 million. You can view a copy of the draft here.

 
The General Assembly has bond hearings next week and will return to session on Tuesday, April 8th. We expect some of these bills to be heard in committee when they return. If you have any questions or feedback on any of these, please contact me at [email protected]. 

Today wrapped up a busy week in Dover in which several bills saw movement.
​

• SS 1 for SB 21 – Corporate Law: Act updates Delaware’s corporate law.
  • State Chamber Position: Support
  • Status: Released from House Judiciary Committee and placed on the House Ready List
• SB 46 – Autonomous Vehicles: Requires a human observer to be physically present in all autonomous vehicles that require a Class A commercial driver license without an O restriction—meaning tractor-trailers or trucks transporting large loads.
  • State Chamber Position: Opposed
  • Status: Passed the Senate and moves to the House for consideration
• SB 60 with SA 2 – Public Utilities: Requires the Delaware Public Service Commission to ensure that all regulated utilities do not use customer funds to subsidize unregulated activities and places a cap of $125 million per year on capital expenses for electric distribution companies.
  • State Chamber Position: Neutral based on amendment (previously opposed)
  • Status: Passed the Senate and moves to the House for consideration
• SB 61 with SA 1 – Public Utilities: Requires the disclosure of votes cast at meetings of, or matters before, the PJM Interconnection Regional Transmission Organization.
  • State Chamber Position: Neutral based on amendment (previously opposed)
  • Status: Passed the Senate and moves to the House for consideration

 
Earlier this week, Representative Ross Levin shared a draft “salary transparency” bill and requested feedback from our members. You can view the draft bill here >
 
The bill would require that employers disclose the following in internal and external job postings: (1) The hourly or salary compensation or the hourly or salary compensation range; (2) A general description of the benefits and other compensation applicable to the job opportunity; and (3) The date the application window is anticipated to close. It also requires internal postings to be provided to all employees on the same day or earlier than an external posting. Employers are required to maintain records relating to job descriptions and wage rates. The Department of Labor is empowered to enforce and investigate alleged violations.
 
We ask that employers review this draft and send any feedback or reactions to me at [email protected]. While Rep. Ross Levin gave a deadline for feedback of Thursday, March 20, we will continue to communicate any comments we receive to her. However, if you find this issue to be concerning, we encourage you to share your thoughts directly with Representative Ross Levin or your local representative. 
 
Thank you for staying engaged. Your input helps shape our advocacy efforts and ensures the unified voice of Delaware’s business community is heard. Updates on these bills and others will be continued to be provided as we move through session.