4/13/26 Legislative Update

The Delaware General Assembly will return for session on Tuesday April 14, 2026. Don’t get too attached though, because they’ll only be back for another two weeks before another break. This week there are a few interesting structural bills that are being heard in committee that could have some larger consequences.

At the House Administration committee meeting on Wednesday, there are two bills being heard that deal with how the state raises and spends money. The first is HB 400, which would raise the filing fees for corporations and LLCs for the first time since 2014. With the potential of a budget deficit looming, this is one of the easiest and most pain-free ways to raise some extra revenue, and these increases are long-overdue. More interesting is HB 370, which would codify the Delaware Economic & Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC) into law. Since the 1970s, DEFAC has replaced the legislature as the group that estimates how much revenue the state has to spend — with a mixed track record. However, it was created through an executive order and never codified by the legislature. With recent controversies around appointments to DEFAC, this legislation seems to be an attempt for the legislature to get back control over something that was originally designed to cut them out.

Another important piece of legislation is SB 272, which would require Project Labor Agreements for school district public works projects costing at least $1 million. This is a pared down version of SB 241, which would have required these agreements for all state projects over $5 million. Project Labor Agreements are contracts that are assigned ahead of big projects which negotiate around a set of things: wage levels, amount of union labor used, preventing strikes, and all sorts of other things that ensure worker safety and project efficiency.

Finally, the Senate Executive Committee will also be considering SB 222, which would add term limits for state legislators, the Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, Auditor, and State Treasurer. State senators would only be able to serve for 20 years, state representatives for 16, and all statewide offices for 8. Term limits can be a great way to ensure turnover and a new generation of leadership, but they can also have unintended consequences, allowing lobbyists to have more control over the legislature when the legislators themselves are more inexperienced. However, with this legislation, after announced retirements this year, only four representatives and no senators would be past the cutoff date. Primaries have been helpful at doing what term limits are meant to do!

Make Your Voice Heard

See below for some of the most notable bills in committee this week and how to give public comment. For length and clarity, we are only putting bills that need the most public input below. Bills in green are bills we generally support, bills in red are bills we generally oppose, and bills in yellow are neutral or unknown. 

You can also check here for the full list of committee meetings and click “view” next to each meeting for the full agenda and additional information.

Bills the Week of 4/13

Bill #	Sponsor	Summary/Description	Committee and Sign-Up
HB 400	Harris	Increasing corporate and LLC filing fees. This Act increases various fees assessed by the Delaware Secretary of State. The Act provides that most changes to the fees will take effect on August 1, 2026, however changes to the partnership, limited partnership, and limited liability company annual tax and changes to the annual tax on registered series of limited partnerships and limited liability companies will take effect on January 1, 2026.	House Administration Committee Wed, 4/15/26 3:00 PM JFC Hearing Room 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom here
SB 272	Walsh	Project Labor Agreements for school district public work projects costing $1 million or more. This Act requires that if public works project is for a school district and has an aggregate cost of $1 million or more, a contract relating to that public works project, advertised after December 31, 2026, must include a project labor agreement with the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council unless there was only 1 bid for the craft under the contract.	Senate Labor Committee Thurs 4/16 at 11:00am Senate Chamber 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901Zoom here
HB 370	Harris	Codifies Delaware Economic & Financial Advisory Council (“DEFAC”). Allows the House Speaker, Senate President, and Governor to make appointments to the committee which says how much money the state is able to spend in its budget.	House Administration Committee Wed, 4/15/26 3:00 PM JFC Hearing Room 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom here
SB 222	Buckson	Sets term limits for state legislators, AG, Insurance Commissioner, Auditor, State Treasurer. Term limits for legislators are 5 times for Senators (20 years) and 8 times for Reps (16 years), and 2x for other state office positions. This is a constitutional amendment.	Senate Executive Committee Wed 4/15/26 at 3:00 PM Senate Chamber 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901Zoom here
SS 1 for SB 116 w/ SA 1	Lockman	Pay to Stay. Allows tenants who are being evicted for failure to pay rent to remain in their homes if they pay all amounts owed prior to being evicted.	House Housing Committee Tuesday, 4/14/26 10:00 AM House Chamber 411 Legislative Avenue Dover, DE 19901 Zoom here