Legislative Priority

Looking Back on 2025

BY TYLER MICIK

AS THIS YEAR comes to an end, I thought this would be a good opportunity to reflect on 2025 and focus on what may lie ahead in 2026. As I mentioned in my last article, this year was one marked by transition. Delawareans witnessed significant changes regarding the state’s elected and appointed leadership. This included the swearing-in of a new governor, lieutenant governor, and mayor of the state’s largest city; nine new legislators to the Delaware General Assembly; new leadership across state departments and agencies; and changes to Delaware’s congressional delegation.

With so much change happening around us, it has never been more important for business leaders to build relationships with their elected officials. Throughout this fall, the State Chamber has helped organize several of these meetings, and we plan to schedule more before year-end. This included a meeting at The Bonadio Group, a certified public accounting firm, with Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos. Meetings like this are a perfect example of our members and elected officials coming together to build relationships and discuss issues.

The State Chamber would like to extend a thank-you to our members for hosting these meetings and to members of the General Assembly for taking the time to participate. These conversations not only highlight the priorities of business owners and the challenges they face but also the challenges that lie ahead for the General Assembly.

One issue is the state budget. The General Assembly passed a $6.5 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2026. If revenues soften, as expected, the state may need to rely on its Budget Stabilization and Rainy Day Fund. More importantly, less money means that the General Assembly’s ability to fund any bills requiring a fiscal note becomes increasingly difficult.

While we may not always agree on policy issues, a lot can be learned by sitting down at the table and listening to one another. Differences aside, we’re all working toward making Delaware a better place.

As we approach a new year, the State Chamber is in the process of drafting its 2026 Competitiveness Agenda. We’re looking for recommendations and feedback from our members on issues we can prioritize to enhance Delaware’s competitiveness and improve the state’s rankings on key indicators, including factors like business friendliness and the cost of doing business. Data points like these highlight areas where Delaware is doing well and, alternatively, where it has room for improvement.