This Week in Dover

By Tyler Micik

Time is winding down for the 152nd Delaware General Assembly with only six session days remaining. Despite the number of days, several important bills that will impact the business community saw movement this week and one was introduced.
 
Bills that saw movement included:

HS 1 for HB 248 (Pre-Permit Outreach in Underserved Communities): Establishes a pre-permit community outreach process for any qualified project, as defined in DNREC Regulations, that wishes to apply for a permit within 3 months, in an underserved community.

• Status: Released from House Natural Resources & Energy Committee and has been placed on the House Ready List | Position: Opposed and seeking amendments

HB 433 (Unemployment Insurance): Revises the experience rating methodology for assigning unemployment assessment rates to employers under the Unemployment Insurance Code in Delaware, replacing the current benefit wage ratio methodology with the benefit ratio methodology used by 19 other states. The new methodology is meant to be more responsive to changes in the economy over time, to better sustain the solvency of the Unemployment Trust Fund, and to be easier to administer.

• Status: Released from House Labor Committee and has been placed on the House Ready List | Position: Support

HB 317 (Notice Involving Gift Cards): Creates a requirement for all sellers of third-party gift cards to display a notice of potential scams involving gift cards.

• Status: Released from Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee and has been placed on the Senate Ready List | Position: Support based on amended language (HA1)

HB 435 (STAR Program): Creates a new chapter in Title 30 and establishes the STEM Talent Advancement and Retention Program (STAR Program) and the STEM Talent Advancement and Retention Fund (STAR Fund). The purpose of the STAR Program is to incentivize and attract individuals graduating with an associate, bachelor’s, graduate, or post-graduate degree in STEM to stay and work in Delaware.

• Status: Released from House Revenue & Finance Committee and has been placed on the House Ready List | Position: Engaged and gathering feedback

 
Also, HB 127 (Fire Protection Fees) passed the Senate and moves to the Governor for signature, and SS1 for SB 258 (Autonomous Vehicles) and SB 313 (General Corporation Law) passed the Senate and head to the House for consideration.
 
A bill that was introduced this week, which we’re gathering feedback on, is SB 324. The Act amends provisions in Title 19 and Title 29 of the Delaware Code relating to the Department of Labor’s enforcement procedures and wage and hour enforcement.
 
The General Assembly will return to session on Tuesday, June 18th. They’ll have off on Wednesday for Juneteenth and return that Thursday. Please contact me at [email protected] if you have questions or concerns with any of these bills.