A Call to Action as Change Approaches

BY TYLER MICIK

AT THE TIME of this writing, there are only nine session days remaining before the second leg of the 152nd session of the General Assembly comes to an end. Many bills that the State Chamber has been engaged on have passed or been defeated thus far, and there are others we will continue to monitor or work on in the last days of session. It’s important to note that after June 30th, any pending bills not defeated or on their way to the Governor for signature will be considered dead and must be reintroduced next year.

Some key bills the State Chamber opposed this year that will impact businesses included:

• HS 1 for HB 17: Paid Sick & Safety Leave

• HS 2 for HB 350: Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board

• HB 415: Rights of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

• HB 248: Pre-Permit Outreach in Underserved Communities

• HB 249: Permitting Fees

• HB 422: Cumulative Impacts

The status of the first two bills mentioned above is final. Paid sick and safety leave was defeated in committee and the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board bill is on its way to the Governor for signature—which the Governor publicly stated he intends to sign. The last four bills have been assigned to committee and are awaiting consideration. Whether any of them will pass is speculative at this time. However, if any do not, we will continue to have conversations with the sponsors during the offseason because they will likely be reintroduced next year, among others.

Unlike most off-seasons where the first few months after session are relatively quiet, this year will be extra busy and eventful with all eyes on the upcoming primaries and general election. The deadline for candidates to file is July 9th at noon. With Delaware’s lone U.S. House seat; U.S. Senate seat; Gubernatorial seat; Wilmington Mayoral seat; 10 of 21 State Senate seats; and all 41 State House seats up for grabs, Delaware could see more change this year than ever before. These changes and the decisions that follow, such as appointments the future Governor makes to their cabinet, will impact businesses for years to come.

Business leaders should take this time—specifically before the primary elections—as an opportunity to meet with candidates, especially those who are running for the district in which your business is located. Invite them into your business, give them a tour, and listen to their priorities and where they stand on business issues. It’s never been more important to engage with them to show the business community is interested and watching. The State Chamber’s Member-to-Member program can help you arrange and prepare for a meeting. Reach out to me at tmicik@dscc.com if you’re interested.

Change is inevitable and the outcomes are unclear. But one thing is certain: if business leaders never raise their hand to run for office or they’re not active participants in the process, then we get what we get. It may be too late to file to run for office by the time you read this message, and if so, I’d ask you to consider it in the future. Too often I’m asked why a particular bill sailed through the legislative process without any discussion or consideration of businesses concerns. To ensure a more robust discussion, we need more people who have business experience to serve in public office. Your knowledge in healthcare, banking, and the trades, among other areas, could be very helpful in ensuring Delaware’s future success.

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