Legislative Priority: Unprecedented Times

BY TYLER MICIK

THE 152ND SESSION of the General Assembly adjourned after introducing 438 bills between January 9 and June 30 (this count includes 84 substitutes). Twentyfour of those bills were pre-filed in December before session began.

If I could describe this session in one word, it would be unprecedented. First, due to the volume of bills introduced and the speed with which they moved through the legislative process, it was challenging for legislators and stakeholders alike to fully discuss the proposals and understand their potential impacts. Second, more committee meetings are being scheduled than ever before, many of which conflict with one another. Lastly, and most notably, the General Assembly passed some highly controversial bills like HS2 for HB350 and SB313. Both bills impact two of Delaware’s largest industries—hospitals and corporate law, respectively—and signify extraordinary steps by the General Assembly.

These decisions come at a time when we’re entering uncertain and uncharted economic territory. In good economic times, policy decisions can afford to be “roughly right” but with national real GDP growth rates shrinking, policy decisions need to be more accurate now than ever before. This includes decisions like the ones mentioned above as well as the State’s budget. Once again, the General Assembly passed the largest budget in state history. The $6.1 billion operating budget (SB325) for FY25 represents approximately a 9% year-over-year growth. Three Republican members of the House opposed the bill, noting that State spending has repeatedly outpaced revenues and claimed this level of growth is unsustainable. The General Assembly also passed a $168 million supplemental budget (SB326) in one-time measures and contingency funds.

It is very important for policymakers to understand the implications of individual bills under consideration, and the connected nature those decisions will have on existing laws and regulations. We worry that the hectic pace of the hearings and legislative actions we witnessed this year will create a fertile ground for unintended consequences to emerge. In coming years, we hope the General Assembly will act more deliberately and spend an equal amount of time reviewing existing laws and regulations, while taking measure of their relevance and impact.

Any bills that did not make it through this year are considered “dead” and will have to be reintroduced next session if the sponsor intends to work them. Many of these outcomes will be decided in the primaries this September 10.

After the filing deadline in mid-July, only one state senator, David Wilson (R) is facing a primary opponent. In the House, five Democrat incumbents (Bolden, Longhurst, Parker Selby, Morrison, and Bush) and one Republican (Shupe) have primary opponents. Also, there are five open seats in the House due to retirements or decisions to run for another office (Schwartzkopf, Baumbach, Matthews, Ramone, and Dorsey Walker). Of these five, there’s a three-way Democratic primary for three of them, two-way Democratic primary for House District 21 (Ramone’s former seat), and Mara Gorman (D) is running unopposed for House District 23 (Baumbach’s former seat).

After a session characterized by a high volume of bills, accelerated decision-making, and significant policy shifts, the upcoming political landscape will shape the future direction of the state. No matter the outcome of the elections this fall, it’s our goal to work with those elected to support our members and provide businesses with the predictability they are looking for so that Delaware can thrive.

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