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Legislative Update, Week of June 23, 2025

ChamberPoliticalHuman InterestPress Release

House Agenda    
  
There are four (4) legislative days remaining until the end of the First Session of the 153rd General Assembly.  The final day of regular session will be Monday, June 30.  
 
Events:  
  
2025 State of the County:  Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Clayton Hall Conference Center, University of Delaware, 100 Hollowell Drive, Newark, DE 19716 [Registration & Event Information]  
 
State Budget  
The First Session of the 153rd General Assembly is nearing its conclusion.  The FY  week two bills constituting fee packages for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) passed the Senate and were sent to the Governor.  A third revenue measure, which would have increased the personal income tax for incomes committee.  
  • The DNREC fee bill, HB 175 w/ HA 1, raises licensing and number categories and creates a number of new fees.  It is projected to raise $7 million for DNREC, an increase of $5.3 million over the current year.  DNREC fees have not been raised since 1991. The bill, which required a three-fifths vote in each chamber, passed the House by a party-line vote of 26-to-14, with one member absent.  It went on to pass the Senate, also by a party-line vote of 15-to-6, with one member absent.   
  • The DelDOT fee bill, HB 164 w/ HA 1,  raises , the most notable increase is the vehicle documentation fee, which is being increased from the current 4.25% to 5.25% of the purchase price of a vehicle. The fees raised and created in the bill are expected to raise roughly $39 million per year.  On a related note, DelDOT has indicated the Department’s intention to raise toll fees on Route 1, I-95, and Route 301.  Increases are expected to range between 50 cents and $1.50. Legislative approval Personal Income Tax increase legislation, HS 2 for HB 13, was considered by the House Revenue & Finance Committee last :  the Joint Committee on Capital Improvement (Bond Bill) will meet to vote on appropriations for the FY 2026 Capital Budget. [Hearing Notice]
  • FY 2026 State Operating Budget (HB 225) & One-Time Supplemental Appropriations Bill (HB 226) both bills are on the House Agenda for Tuesday, June 24, 2025.   
  • Grants-in-Aid: Mantzavinos , An ”End of Session Wrap-Up,” including a comprehensive list of “Legislation of Interest & Concern” will be posted on the Chamber’s Government Affairs Blog & Legislative Update on the Chamber’s website following the end of session.  The bills are listed by category with status and other pertinent information.   
  • HB 195 w/ HA 1 (Speaker Minor-Brown, establishing a new Grants-in-Aid Subcommittee to the Joint Finance Committee)  HB 195 w/ HA 1 is scheduled for consideration by the Senate Executive Committee on Thursday, June 26 at 12:00 p.m. [Hearing Notice] 
  • HB 210 (Rep. Lambert, Environmental Penalties): HB 210 w/ HA 1is on the House Agenda for Tuesday, June 24.  The NCC Chamber is seeking an amendment to this bill that would provide additional discretion to the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, and to Superior Court where penalties or fines are issued to small businesses, individuals, family farms, counties, and municipalities.  
  • HS 2 for HB 105 (Rep. Ross Levin, Salary & Wage Transparency): HS 2 for HB 105 was released from the Senate Labor Committee on June 18 and is currently on the Senate Ready List awaiting consideration.  
  • HS 1 for HB 128 (Rep. Heffernan, Paid Family & Medical Leave):  HS 1 for HB 128 amending the Paid Family and Medical Leave Program (Chapter 37, Title 19 of the Delaware Code) was released from the House Labor Committee and is on the House Consent Agenda D for Tuesday, June 24.   
  • SB 72 w/ SA 1 (Sen. Brown, PFAS Reporting and Public Drinking Water Systems): SB 72 w/ SA 1 was released by the House Health & Human Development Committee on June 28 and is scheduled for consideration by the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, June 25 at 1:00 p.m. [Hearing Notice]  
  • SB 46 (Sen. Autonomous Vehicles): SB 46 is on the House Agenda for Tuesday, June 24. 
  • SB 60 w/ SA 2 and HA 1 – PWB (Sen. Hansen, Cap on Capital Expenditure Recovery and Limitations on Use of Certain Funds): SB 60 w/ SA 2 and HA 1 – PWB. As of this writing (Sunday, June 22) this bill’s status on the General Assembly website indicates that the bill remains in the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee (will advise of any change in status).  The NCC Chamber opposes the limit on capital expenditures under in the legislation and has testified to that effect before the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee on March 12 and before the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee on June 18.   
  • HB 175 w/ HA 1 (Rep. Heffernan, DNREC Fee Package): HB 175 w/ HA 1 passed the Senate on June 18 and awaits action by the Governor.  
  • HB 164 w/ HA 1 (Rep. Morrison, DelDOT Fee Package): HB 164 w/ HA 1 passed the Senate on June 18 and awaits action by the Governor.  
  • HS 2 for HB 13 (Rep. Lynn, Personal Income Tax Increase – Additional Brackets): HS 2 for HB 13 was tabled in the House Revenue & Finance Committee. The Chamber testified in opposition to this legislation.  It was also opposed by the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, and other business organizations.   
  
​An ”End of Session Wrap-Up,” including a comprehensive list of “Legislation of Interest & Concern” will be posted on the Chamber’s Government Affairs Blog & Legislative Update on the Chamber’s website following the end of session.  The bills are listed by category with status and other pertinent information.   

 

Legislative Update, Week of June 23, 2025