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. 

Today wraps up the first week back for the General Assembly from Joint Finance Committee break. Several bills which the State Chamber is engaged on saw movement.
 
Of note, SS 1 for SB 21 passed the Senate and now moves to the House for consideration. The bill updates Delaware’s corporate law. The Delaware State Chamber and Delaware Business Roundtable released the following joint statement:
 
“Delaware has been the incorporating jurisdiction of choice for businesses seeking balance and predictability in matters of corporate law for generations. In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, changes to Delaware’s corporate law are inevitable. As a result, it is essential that adjustments are carefully and collaboratively considered.

We applaud Governor Meyer and the General Assembly for their leadership in addressing Delaware’s corporate franchise in the face of competition from other states that do not have the distinctive advantages of Delaware corporate law, including its expert judges on the Court of Chancery, talented corporate bar, rich caseload of decisions, and the willingness of its elected leaders to ensure that Delaware remains the gold standard for corporate law. Accordingly, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and the Delaware Business Roundtable support Senate Bill 21.

Delaware’s business community has always been committed to supporting policies that are in the best interest of our state. The State’s reliance on substantial sums coming from outside of the state to fuel state government spending demonstrates the need for pro-growth policies and diversification of the Delaware economy.” 
 
Other bills that saw movement included SB 59, 60, and 61 related to public utilities. All were released from the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee and placed on the Senate Ready List. The State Chamber testified in opposition to SB 60 and 61.
 
Other bills introduced and awaiting consideration:

• HB 48 – Accessible Parking Spaces: Act adds provisions to Title 21 to better regulate, define, and enforce accessible parking spaces in Delaware.
  • State Chamber Position: Opposed
  • Status: Assigned to House Health & Human Development Committee

 

• 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. This Act also allows the Department to deny, suspend, or revoke the certificate of registration of a contractor who contracts with a subcontractor who has not registered on any project.
  • State Chamber Position: Opposed
  • Status: Assigned to Senate Labor Committee

 

• HB 36 – Discrimination: Delaware has several broad laws that prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, employment, and insurance, but it also has many narrow non-discrimination laws that apply to a specific entity or type of entity, even though a broad law also prohibits discrimination by that entity. This Act aligns the narrower non-discrimination laws with the applicable broad non-discrimination law by also prohibiting discrimination on any other basis protected under the applicable broad law.
  • State Chamber Position: Engaged and gathering feedback
  • Status: Assigned to House Administration Committee

 

• HB 67 – Private Tow Companies: Creates a new chapter in Title 21 pertaining to the towing of vehicles without the consent of the owner or operator. It makes violations of the chapter an unlawful practice enforceable by the Consumer Protection Unit of the Department of Justice and creates certain requirements for the towing and storage of vehicles without the consent of the owner or operator.
  • State Chamber Position: Engaged and gathering feedback
  • Status: Assigned to House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

 
Please let me know if any of these bills impact your business.
 
Lastly, our 2025-2026 Legislative Roster is now available in both print and electronic formats! If you’d like to place a Roster order, please complete this form and return it to me at [email protected].