Legislative Update

The Delaware General Assembly will be in session this week
In the House of Representatives, Tuesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 17 will be committee days.  On Thursday, March 18, starting at 3:00 p.m., they will take votes in regular session. To view the House agenda, visit https://legis.delaware.gov/Agenda/House. To watch the House in session, visit https://legis.delaware.gov/WatchAndListen?view=1.
 
The Senate will hold votes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the coming week. Tomorrow, session starts at 2:00 p.m. To view the Senate agenda, visit https://legis.delaware.gov/Agenda/Senate. To watch the Senate in session, visit https://legis.delaware.gov/WatchAndListen?view=1.
 
For a schedule of committee hearings in both the House and Senate, visit https://legis.delaware.gov/CommitteeMeetings.
 
$15 per hour minimum wage legislation to be considered in committee
On March 9, State Senator Jack Walsh (D-Stanton), introduced Senate Bill 15, legislation which would increase Delaware’s minimum wage to $15 per hour in increments over the next four years.  Should the bill be enacted the minimum wage increase schedule would be as follows: 
            January 1, 2022           $10.50
            January 1, 2023           $11.75 
            January 1, 2024           $13.25 
            January 1, 2025           $15.00
 
The bill will be heard in the Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday, March 17, at 1:00 p.m.  To register to view or participate in the committee hearing, visit the following link:  https://legis.delaware.gov/MeetingNotice?committeeMeetingId=22415.
 
The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce will be testifying in committee and expressing concern about the timing of this legislation. Many small businesses, especially in the hard-hit hospitality sector, can ill afford to have their labor costs increased as they struggle to emerge from the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic.
 
President Biden signs stimulus bill
On Thursday, March 11, President Biden signed into law the $1.9 trillion stimulus and relief package, also known as the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.”  Major elements of the bill include up to $1,400-per-person stimulus payments that will send money to about 90% of households, a $300 federal boost to weekly jobless benefits, an expansion of the child tax credit of up to $3,600 per child and $350 billion in state and local aid, as well as billions of dollars for K-12 schools to help students return to the classroom, to assist small businesses hard-hit by the pandemic and for vaccine research, development and distribution.