Legislative Priority

General Assembly Gavels into Session

BY VERITY WATSON

AS THE HOLIDAY BELL RINGING SUBSIDES, those of us working in government affairs are preparing for the bells of Legislative Hall to ring; calling legislators to their desks on the chamber floor. The second leg of the 151st Delaware General Assembly convenes on January 11th and the Delaware State Chamber continues to engage on legislation introduced last year while monitoring what is to come.

Key bills that carry over from session last year include:

• Senate Bill 1, The Healthy Delaware Families Act, would create a statewide family and medical leave insurance program and would require employers to provide employees with 12 weeks of paid leave under certain circumstances. An updated version is expected to be introduced prior to being considered in committee. The State Chamber hosted Senator McBride, the prime sponsor of the bill, on a few occasions to discuss the concept with members and walk through concerns. If passed, the bill will impact all businesses in Delaware regardless of size or nonprofit status.

• House Bill 150, which would legalize recreational marijuana, stalled in the House at the end of last session. The State Chamber is particularly focused on liability protections for business. Other items expected to be proposed are wide ranging and include criminal justice and law enforcement reform, environmental justice, employee/employer relations including tip wage reform, death with dignity, ranked-choice voting, and addressing gun violence.

The State will continue to grapple with how contracted service providers, who take care of the most vulnerable Delawareans— those with disabilities, mental health diagnoses, and substance use disorders—are reimbursed for the work that they do. The cost of providing quality care continues to increase while the rates of reimbursement lags behind. We will also see the rollout of the newly formed Opioid Commission, placed under Lt. Governor Hall-Long’s Behavioral Health Consortium, and how the group decides to disperse funds to address the immense opioid crisis. These dollars are available due to Attorney General Kathy Jennings’ legal action against pharmaceutical companies and Senator Stephanie Hansen’s legislation creating an opioid impact fee.

Implications of redistricting

As a result of the recent redistricting and the shifting population, every legislative district’s boundaries will change to some degree with one relocating to the other end of the state. Representative District 4 will be moved out of Wilmington and nestled into the Long Neck area. Rep. Gerald Brady, the current seat holder, has already announced his retirement. He is not alone—Rep. David Bentz and Sen. Ernie Lopez also announced they are not seeking re-election. It is likely this list will grow, ushering in more new faces to Legislative Hall.

Tell your story

It is not too late to get involved and tell your story. Your experience and expertise are powerful tools. Remember, your business is an important part of a legislator’s district. The State Chamber stands ready to assist members with organizing in-person or virtual meetings, will provide talking points, and will help facilitate the discussion if needed. A couple small actions that can go a long way include:

• Adding your local elected official’s email to your distribution list for newsletters and press releases.

• Invite your local elected officials to special events you are hosting. These can include ribbon cuttings, employee recognition luncheons, graduations, and more.

If you would like to host a Member-to-Member meeting with your organization’s senator or representative, contact Tyler Micik at tmicik@dscc.com.

Verity Watson, Ruggiero Wilson and Associates