This week in dover

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].