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Legislative Update, Week of February 2, 2026

ChamberEconomicPoliticalCommunityHuman InterestPress Release

Legislative Update, Week of  February 2, 2026  
NOTE: After session on January 29th the General Assembly recessed for the budget hearing break until March 10t.   

Upcoming Events 
Tuesday, February 10: 2026 Economic Forecast Luncheon, featuring Dr. Anirban Basu., Riverfront Events, 
760 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801, 11:00 a.m. registration & networking, 
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. luncheon program.  (registration information). 

General Assembly & Governor’s Office Links  
2026 Legislative Session Schedule 
House Agenda 
Senate Agenda 
Committee Hearings Schedule (House and Senate)
Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearing Schedule
Recently Introduced Legislation  

New Castle County & City of Wilmington Links  
NCC Government
NCC Council  
Wilmington City Government
Wilmington City Council  

Federal Links  
U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE)
U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE, At Large)
The White House  

Federal  

Federal Budget & Partial Shutdown 
On Friday, January 30, by a vote of 71-29, the U.S. Senate passed a $1.2 trillion funding package following a week of debate and expectations of a potential prolonged shutdown of the federal government.  A partial shutdown will go into effect until the House returns from recess and passes the package.   

The House is expected to take up the package this coming week.  Based on Sunday reporting in The Hill, a vote is not expected until Tuesday (February 3rd) at the earliest.  In remarks on Fox News Sunday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed confidence that they will be able to pass the package on Tuesday. In the meantime, the Office of Management and Budget has issued an order for the partial shutdown of federal government operations.   

House leadership intended to move the package under suspension of rules, which would require a two-thirds vote.  The current composition of the House is 218 Republicans, 213 Democrats, and four (4) vacancies.  70 Democrats would need to vote along with Republicans with all Republicans voting “yes” on motion for that to occur.   

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) also indicated that his caucus would not commit to providing the necessary votes.  House Republican leadership responded by moving to consider the package under regular rules.  There are strong indications that additional negotiations in the House will be necessary, as the following excerpt from the same article, quoting indicates:  
“We need a full and complete debate,” Jeffries said of the decision on MS NOW’s “PoliticsNation” on Saturday. “And what I’ve made clear to House Republicans is that they cannot simply move forward with legislation, taking a my way or the highway approach in the absence of House Democrats convening, which we’re going to do tomorrow, and having a discussion about the appropriate way forward.” 

As is the case in the House, most of the controversy in the Senate was related to funding for the Department of Homeland Security.  In the wake of recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis, Senate Democrats were prepared to block the entire package in order to block funding for the Department.  Funding for the Department has been split from the rest of the package, comprised of five appropriations bills as part of the agreement in the Senate.  The remainder of the package will fund the Departments of Defense, State, Health and Human Services, and Transportation, among others.  
 
State  

SB 213 as amended by SA 1 (Townsend) 
On Thursday, January 29, the Delaware House of Representatives passed SB 213 w/ HA 1 by a vote of 33-to-7 with one member absent.  Governor Meyer signed the legislation on Friday, January 30th.  The bill arose from a settlement agreement between ChristianaCare and the State of Delaware.  

In 2024, after a pitched legislative battle in both houses, the HS 2 to HB 350 passed and was signed by Governor John Carney.  The legislation created the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board and granted it sweeping powers, including the authority to review and veto hospital budgets.  The NCC Chamber opposed the legislation, as did a number of other business organizations and hospitals.  High among Chamber concerns were the powers granted to the Board to review and exercise a veto over the decisions of corporate officers and management.  

Following enactment, ChristianaCare brought suit in Delaware Chancery Court.  A settlement was reached in January of this year which gave rise to SB 213.  Among SB 213’s provisions is the removal  of veto authority over hospital budgets which HS 2 to HB 350 granted the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board.   
 
House and Senate Override Vetoes of Two Bills    
This past week, the House and Senate held successful override votes on two measures vetoed last year.  The first bill,  Senate Bill 63, as amended, created additional and enforcement and civil liability provisions where contractors and subcontractors are concerned.  The second, Senate Bill 75, as amended, limited the restrictions that a county may impose on the operations of marijuana establishments (zoning, etc.).  

Senate Bill 63 

Supporters of Senate Bill 63 viewed the bill as a means to close a “loophole” in Delaware law concerning the classification of subcontractors and/or independent contractors by contractors.  Opponents of the legislation noted a significant potential for unintended consequences – such as disparate impacts for minority enterprises -  and the imposition of joint and several liability on contractors and subcontractors for violations of the statute.  

The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce opposed Senate Bill 63 last session.  Following the bill’s passage, the Chamber, along with ABC Delaware, the Delaware Contractors Association, the Delaware Business Roundtable, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, the Homebuilders Association of Delaware, the Delaware Alliance of Latino Entrepreneurs, the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Delaware Hispanic Commission joined a letter to Governor Meyer requesting a veto.   

Governor Meyer, citing concerns similar to those expressed by the business community, vetoed the legislation in August.   

The New Castle County Chamber will monitor the implementation of the bills provisions and will seek statutory and regulatory changes when needed.   
 
Budget break  
As was noted above, the General Assembly is in recess until Tuesday, March 10th.  During the recess, legislators on the Joint Finance Committee and the Joint Capital Improvements Committee hold hearings wherein agencies present and the public is afforded the opportunity to testify.  

The Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearing Schedule is posted and other information can be found on the Committee’s page on the Delaware General Assembly website. 
Dates and times of pending hearings of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee can be found on the Committee’s page on the Delaware General Assembly website. 
 
FY 2027 State Budget Information 

Governor’s Recommended Budget Presentation  

Yesterday (Thursday, January 29th) Governor Matt Meyer delivered his FY 2027 Governor’s Recommended Budget Presentation.   

 
FY 2027 Appropriations Bills:  
  • Governor’s Recommended Operating Budget SB 225 
  • Governor’s Recommended Capital Budget HB 275 
 
Governor Meyer’s 2026 State of the State Address 
On Thursday, January 22, Governor Meyer delivered the 2026 State of the State Address before a joint session of the Delaware General Assembly.  Following are pertinent links:   
  • video of the Governor’s address;  
  • press release proving a summary;  
  • text of Governor Meyer’s address.  

Legislative Update, Week of February 2, 2026