​By Evan R. Park

Gift card scams are on the rise, and Delaware lawmakers are taking notice with Senate Bill 280.

Nationally, the Federal Trade Commission logged more than 41,000 gift card fraud reports in 2024, totaling over $212 million in losses, with 2025 numbers expected to be just as bad.

Introduced by Sen. Bryan Townsend, Senate Bill 280 would amend Title 11 of the Delaware Code to create a specific crime for gift card theft. Under the proposal, someone commits gift card theft if they act with intent to defraud and:

• Take or keep a gift card (or the info needed to use it) without permission from the cardholder, issuer, or seller
• Tamper with a gift card or its packaging
• Run a scam to trick someone into handing over a gift card or its access information
• Use a gift card obtained through any of the above to get money, goods, or services

The bill defines key terms including "closed-loop" cards (usable at one store or chain) and "open-loop" cards (usable anywhere, like a prepaid Visa or Mastercard) and sets penalties under existing theft statutes (§841(c) and (d)).

Why does this matter for Delaware businesses?

• Retailers sell the product that gets exploited. Any business that sells gift cards — convenience stores, grocery chains, restaurants, big-box retailers — is a potential entry point for fraud, whether that's a scammer tampering with cards on a display rack or draining a card's value before it's even purchased.
• Customers blame the business first. When a customer discovers their gift card has been drained or stolen, the retailer or restaurant that sold it is usually the first call not law enforcement. Clear, enforceable criminal statutes give businesses something concrete to point to and can support faster law enforcement response, which helps protect customer trust and your brand's reputation.
• This bill would close a legal gap. Delaware currently relies on general theft and fraud laws that weren't written with gift cards in mind. This bill creates a tailored statute that's easier for prosecutors to apply, which could mean more successful prosecutions and a stronger deterrent effect.
• This bill could affect loss-prevention and compliance planning. Businesses that issue or sell gift cards may want to revisit how cards are displayed, secured, and monitored in stores, since clearer legal definitions of tampering and fraud could shape what "reasonable care" looks like going forward.

Overall, Senate Bill 280 has a low compliance burden, and a high upside. Unlike many regulatory bills, this one doesn't impose new paperwork, reporting, or operating requirements on businesses. It strengthens the legal tools available when your business or your customers are victimized.

Senate Bill 280 was on the legislative agenda for consideration Thursday June 25th, and the Delaware State Chamber is optimistic about its passage. 

*Legislation update as of 6/26/26: Senate Bill 280 passed. 

By Evan R. Park
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As the 153rd General Assembly inches toward its close on June 30, several bills are moving that could have a meaningful impact on Delaware businesses. Here's what the Delaware State Chamber is supporting:

Innovation and Small Business Funding
Senate Bill 315, sponsored by Sen. Darius Brown, would allow the Division of Small Business to provide matching grants to Delaware small businesses that receive federal SBIR or STTR awards, a potential boost for homegrown research, development, and commercialization efforts. The bill has already passed the Senate.

House Bill 211, introduced by Rep. Bill Bush, would create a tax credit for business accelerators to incentivize the growth of innovative companies in Delaware. Eligible recipients could reduce their tax burden by up to 50%, with the program administered by the Division of Revenue. As of yesterday, this bill is out of the House Appropriations committee. 

Child Care and Workforce
House Bill 447, sponsored by House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, would coordinate state-level planning around child care affordability, including voluntary cost-sharing among the state, employers, and families. For businesses struggling with workforce recruitment and retention, expanded access to affordable child care could be a valuable tool. HB 447 voted out of the Senate Education committee today. 

Housing and Land Use
Senate Bill 23, sponsored by Sen. Russ Huxtable, aims to increase Delaware's housing supply, a key factor in attracting and retaining workers. This is now out of the House Housing committee. 

House Substitute 1 for House Bill 450, or the ROAD-DE Act, is being led by Rep. Bill Bush and would overhaul Delaware's land-use permitting process, building on Gov. Matt Meyer's Permitting Accelerator initiative to address regulatory delays affecting jobs, housing, and infrastructure projects. This bill is also out of the House Appropriations committee. 

Real Estate Transfer Tax Relief
Two bills, House Bill 416 and House Bill 286, propose reductions to Delaware's realty transfer tax.

​House Bill 416, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, would reduce the statewide rate from 3% to 2%, effective Jan. 1, 2027.

House Bill 286, introduced by Rep. Lyndon Yearick, would provide targeted relief for residential properties by eliminating the state transfer tax on homes valued at $350,000 or less and phasing in reductions for properties valued up to $500,000.

Environmental Permitting and Compliance
House Bill 456, sponsored by Rep. Cyndie Romer, would streamline DNREC's subaqueous lands permitting process by adding exemptions, expanding the use of general permits, and establishing processing timelines, a welcome change for businesses navigating waterfront or coastal projects. This bill passed the house and is waiting for consideration from the Senate Environment, Energy, & Transportation committee. 

House Bill 402, sponsored by Rep. Debra Heffernan at the request of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, would reauthorize Clean Air Act Title V operating permit fees through 2029 while updating the fee structure for facilities operating under air quality permits. The bill made it out of the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation committee last week. 

House Substitute 1 to House Bill 407, also sponsored by Rep. Heffernan, would clarify and expand DNREC's authority to respond to environmental emergencies and recover associated costs.

We will continue monitoring and advocating for these bills as they advance. If you have any questions about any of these bills or more, feel free to email me at [email protected]. 

By Evan R. Park

With just seven days remaining in Delaware's legislative session, several bills have significant implications for our membership. As lawmakers work toward the June 30 deadline, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce is closely monitoring legislation that could impact public construction projects, tax policy, and housing development.

Senate Bill 272: Mandatory PLAs on School Construction Projects
One of the most closely watched bills is Senate Bill 272, sponsored by Sen. Jack Walsh. The legislation would require Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on public school construction projects exceeding $5 million.

PLAs are pre-hire agreements that establish labor and contracting conditions before construction begins. Supporters argue that these agreements improve coordination among contractors, reduce labor disputes, and help keep projects on schedule.

However, the business community has raised significant concerns about the proposal. We, among with other critics, argue that mandatory PLAs may discourage non-union contractors from bidding on projects, reducing competition and potentially increasing costs for taxpayers. There is also concern that smaller and locally owned construction firms could face additional barriers to participating in public projects.

Despite considerable opposition expressed during public comment before the House Labor Committee, the bill was released from committee and now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives. SB 272 is expected to remain a focal point of debate as session moves towards its end.

DSCC Position: Opposed

House Bill 417: Targeted Gross Receipts Tax Relief for Restaurants
Another bill advancing through the General Assembly is House Bill 417, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams. The measure would increase the monthly Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) deduction available to restaurants from $100,000 to $250,000. It would also raise the quarterly deduction for qualifying restaurants from $300,000 to $750,000.

Delaware has approximately 2,286 licensed restaurants, with 695 who have paid the Gross Receipts Tax during the past year. If enacted, the legislation would eliminate GRT liability for roughly half of those restaurants.

Since some businesses, but not all, would benefit from the proposal, we have concerns about providing tax relief to a single industry rather than pursuing broader GRT reform that benefits Delaware's entire small business community. More than 60,000 Delaware small businesses are subject to various tax and regulatory burdens, and we believe that any meaningful GRT reform should be comprehensive and inclusive of all of those businesses. We also worry that industry-specific tax relief creates divisions among sectors that would otherwise benefit from working together on broader business policy priorities. 

We have actively pursued, and will continue to pursue, legislation that benefits all GRT payers, and have shared a proposal that would provide meaningful relief for the broader business community.
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DSCC Position: Opposed

Senate Bill 23: Expanding Delaware's Housing Supply
Senate Bill 23, sponsored by Sen. Russ Huxtable, represents a different policy focus: increasing Delaware's housing supply.

The bill recently passed the Senate and is designed to address housing availability challenges across the state. While additional details and amendments may emerge as the bill advances, supporters view it as an important step toward expanding housing opportunities and supporting Delaware's long-term economic growth. Adequate housing supply remains a critical issue for employers across the state, affecting workforce recruitment, retention, and affordability.

The bill passed the Senate on Thursday afternoon. We will continue monitoring the bill's progress as it moves through the House in the final days of session.

DSCC Position: Supporting

HCR 144: Exploring New Uses for Public Properties
House Concurrent Resolution 144, sponsored by Speaker of the House Melissa Minor-Brown, was released from the House Administration Committee this week and would direct state and local officials to develop a framework for identifying underutilized public properties and evaluating potential future community uses, including affordable housing, affordable senior housing, and child care.
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We applaud Speaker Minor-Brown's leadership on this thoughtful initiative, which mirrors ongoing Delaware State Chamber Foundation efforts to examine how communities can better leverage existing state buildings to address housing, child care, and workforce needs.

DSCC Position: Supporting

Looking Ahead
As the General Assembly enters its final days of session, these bills highlight several key issues facing Delaware businesses: maintaining competitive public contracting, pursuing fair and broad-based tax reform, and addressing the state's housing needs.
Our members should continue to follow these proposals closely, as the decisions made before June 30 could have lasting implications for Delaware's economic competitiveness, workforce, and business climate.

*This blog was updated on 6/13/26 to add a sentence regarding HB 417 and our ongoing efforts to pursue alternative legislation that would benefit all impacted businesses across Delaware.

The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest team member, Kiley Michulka, who joined the organization this week as events manager. Kiley will oversee the State Chamber’s full calendar of events, helping to deliver programming that brings together business leaders, policymakers, educators, and community partners from all across Delaware.

Where are you from?
I am from North Wilmington, Delaware. I graduated from Concord High School in 2022. 

You just earned your degree in hospitality business management from the University of Delaware. What originally drew you to the program, and what made you decide to stay in Delaware after graduation?
​I was drawn to the University of Delaware's hospitality program because of its hands-on approach and strong reputation. It aligned well with my passion for planning, organization, and creating memorable experiences. One of the most valuable parts of the program was the opportunity to gain real-world experience working in Vita Nova, the student-run restaurant on campus. I chose to stay in Delaware after graduation because it's home, and I love the state and everything it has to offer. I'm also currently pursuing my MBA through the University of Delaware's 4+1 program.
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What excites you most about joining the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce as events manager?
This is my first full-time role after graduating with my Bachelors degree, so I am most excited to learn from my colleagues, build relationships within Delaware's business community, and help create meaningful events that bring people together.

The State Chamber hosts everything from networking receptions to large-scale conferences. What do you enjoy most about planning and managing events?
What I enjoy most about planning and managing events is the organization and problem-solving that happens behind the scenes. I spent time as a wedding planning assistant, so I understand the level of detail and work required to put on events of all sizes. It's very rewarding to see an event come together after months of work. 

What do you love most about Delaware?
What I love most about Delaware is having easy access to the beaches while still being close to major cities. I also enjoy supporting the state's many locally owned coffee shops and small businesses. My personal favorite coffee shop is Cafeneo Bakery in Newark. I lived right behind it when I lived in Newark as a student. 

Do you have a favorite Delaware spot?
My favorite spot in Delaware is Lewes Beach. My family has a house there! 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you're not planning events?
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends, whether that's trying a new restaurant, grabbing coffee, or heading to the beach.

What's something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am one of six kids. People may be surprised to learn that I share a birthday with my younger brother, but I am exactly 11 years older. 

If you could attend any event in the world, past or present, what would it be?
I'd have to say either Oktoberfest in Germany or New Year's Eve in Sydney, Australia. 

Please welcome Kiley to the Delaware State Chamber! Or join us next week at our Networking Breakfast at Armco Aquatics to meet her in person!