THIS WEEK IN DOVER

Next week, the General Assembly will go on Joint Finance Committee break and return to session on Tuesday, March 11. Here’s an overview of what has happened this month:

EXECUTIVE ORDERS

• EO #1: Increasing youth apprenticeships and earn-and-learn opportunities: Establishes a statewide working group consisting of at least 15 members from across labor, educational, and non-governmental sectors. The group's goal is to develop proposed processes and policies to expand youth apprenticeships and workforce development across the state. 
• EO #4: Fast track affordable housing permits: Establishes a working group of at least 16 members to review, provide recommendations, and develop a plan to create a “one-stop shop” for projects in all three counties to streamline permits and licenses in state and local governments.

The State Chamber supports these orders and applauds Governor Meyer on prioritizing apprenticeships and streamlining Delaware’s housing permit process. Both issues are top priorities in our 2025 Competitiveness Agenda.

GOVERNOR'S CABINET
The Senate confirmed Governor Meyer’s 16 cabinet nominees. Their names are listed below. The State Chamber congratulates these Cabinet members on their confirmation and looks forward to working with them to improve Delaware's business community.

• Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez, Secretary of State
• Michael Smith, Secretary of the Department of Finance
• Brian Maxwell, Director of the Office of Management and Budget
• Yvonne Anders Gordon, Secretary of the Department of Human Resources
• Don Clifton, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture
• Joshua Bushweller, Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security
• Cynthia (Cindy) Marten, Secretary of Education
• Terra Taylor, Commissioner of the Department of Correction
• Matthew Heckles, Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority
• LaKresha Moultrie, Secretary of the Department of Labor
• Greg Patterson, Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
• Josette Manning, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services
• Steve Yeatman, Secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families
• Brigadier General (BG) James A. Benson, Adjutant General Delaware National Guard
• Shanté Hastings, Secretary of the Department of Transportation
• Gregory Lane, Chief Information Officer, Department of Technology and Information

FRESHMAN LEGISLATORS AND LEADERSHIP CHANGES

• House of Representatives – Six freshman legislators were sworn into office this month: Claire Snyder-Hall (RD14), Frank Burns (RD21), Josue Ortega (RD3), Kamela Smith (RD15), Mara Gorman (RD23), and Melanie Ross Levin (RD10). Additionally, the House confirmed new leadership. Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown was sworn in as Speaker of the House. Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris and Rep. Ed Osienski moved up in their roles as Majority Leader and Majority Whip, respectively. Rep. Tim Dukes stepped into the Minority Leader role and Rep. Jeff Spiegelman became Minority Whip. 
• State Senate – The special election to fill Delaware’s two open seats created by the departures of Congresswoman Sarah McBride and Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay will be held on February 15. Dan Cruce (D) will face Steve Washington (R) in the race for Senate District 1. In Senate District 5, former state Rep. Ray Seigfried (D) will face Brent Burdge (R). Early voting runs February 4–13. You can find more information here.

BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

• 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: On Senate Ready List
• HB 13 – Personal Income Taxes: Adjusts the existing tax brackets and the tax rate for each bracket, combining some existing brackets and creating two new ones.
  • State Chamber Position: Engaged and gathering feedback
  • Status: Assigned to House Revenue and Finance Committee
• HB 40 w/ HA 1 – Registration of Trade Names: Modifies the effective date of Chapter 459, Volume 84 of the Laws of Delaware from February 1, 2025, to June 2, 2025. The law allows One-Stop business registration by making trade name registrations fully online. It codifies existing practices regarding trade name registration for corporations and LLCs and adds a $25 annual license fee for Delaware corporations and LLCs that are not doing business in Delaware but desiring a Delaware trade name registration.
  • State Chamber Position: Monitored
  • Status: Awaiting Governor’s signature
• SCR 12 – Retail Crime Prevention Task Force: Establishes a Retail Crime Prevention Task Force, which the State Chamber has a seat on. The group will examine and recommend courses of legislative, regulatory, operational, and judicial action that consider or address retail crime broadly. The co-chairs of the Task Force are directed to compile a report containing a summary of the Task Force’s work regarding the issues assigned to it, including any findings and recommendations no later than February 1, 2026.
  • State Chamber Position: Support
  • Status: Passed