Legislative Priority

And That’s a Wrap

BY TYLER MICIK

THE 151ST SESSION of the General Assembly has come to an end. Unlike last year where much of the work was conducted virtually—the work this year, like many businesses, saw a mix of in-person and virtual meetings, and a slew of bills were passed that will impact the business community and Delawareans.

Most notably was the passage of the Healthy Delaware Families Act, which made Delaware the 11th state to offer a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program. The bill offers eligible Delaware workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave to address their own or a family member’s serious health condition; to bond and care for a new child; or to address a family member’s military deployment.

Other bills the State Chamber weighed in and provided feedback on included issues such as data privacy, legalization of recreation marijuana, paid time off to vote, paid sick and safety leave, predictive scheduling, a State-run IRA program, insurance coverage for Transportation Network Companies (TNC’s), increases in Natural Minor fees, and a Community Workforce Agreement (CWA), among others.

Additionally, the State Chamber supported legislation such as House Bill 420, which aimed to improve efficiency within the State’s permitting process for economic development projects by making the State’s Preliminary Land Use System (PLUS) process optional. The PLUS process adds approximately three months to the permitting process. The speed of decisions is critical. Proposals—such as this one—that improve efficiency without putting health and safety at risk help Delaware compete for economic development projects, which in turn provides good paying jobs and opportunities for Delawareans.

Inflation and the cost of fuel, food and raw materials continue to be a concern. According to AAA, as of June 20, the national average price for gasoline was $4.98 per gallon. To assist Delawareans with rising costs, Governor Carney signed House Bill 360, the Delaware Relief Rebate Program, and provided one-time, direct payments of $300 to each Delaware resident who filed a 2020 personal income tax return.

Although Session has ended for this calendar year, the State Chamber remains committed to advocating for the business community. Employers still face significant challenges pertaining to talent pipeline shortages and decisions regarding remote work. This offseason is a crucial time for business and community leaders to meet with policymakers and talk about issues impacting the business community—especially with fall elections around the corner. The State Chamber’s Member-to-Member program brings legislators and their constituent business owners together to show how businesses operate and discuss the impact various policy proposals—like the ones mentioned above—have on employers, employees, and customers.

Like customer relationships, establishing and maintaining connections with elected officials is important as it fosters a stronger understanding for all parties and leads to better policy decisions. To learn more about our Member-to-Member program or schedule a meeting with your state senator or representative, reach out to me at tmicik@dscc.com.

Tyler Micik is the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s manager of public policy and government relations.