Message from the President
My first job out of college was working as a staff member on a committee in the U.S. Senate. One night, during a debate on the Senate floor between several respected senators from both parties, I recall the words of then-Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democrat from New York, who said, “We are all entitled to our own opinion; however, we are not entitled to our own set of facts.” While he may not have been the first person to make that comment, they are words I never forgot.
This past January, we published the first “Delaware Competitiveness Bluebook” so our members, the public, and policymakers could see where our state ranks on important issues We are continuing that work by launching this new tool, “How They Voted,” to highlight how members of the General Assembly voted on issues employers and employees believe are important to their shared success. This tool will help us dig into the “why” behind our state’s ranking and whether legislation is helping to improve our standing or eroding our growth potential. With this knowledge, employees and employers can evaluate which legislators are advancing policies that grow the economy, benefit Delaware’s workforce, and promote shared prosperity and which are casting votes that threaten that progress.
Together, with the “Competitiveness Bluebook” and this new tool, our goal is to illuminate the facts and shed light on the direction our elected officials are taking us
Michael J. Quaranta
President, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
About Us
The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce (DSCC) has a long history as the largest, most influential business organization in the state. Since 1837, we have been identifying challenges and turning ideas into actionable solutions that make lasting impacts.
We believe in the importance of a strong, vibrant private sector to create jobs and increase prosperity for all Delawareans As bipartisan advocates, we work to support policies that promote economic growth and business success. By acting as a unified voice for business, we are committed to leading the conversations that can address Delaware’s biggest challenges with practical, forward-thinking solutions.
Developing our Policy Priorities
The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce serves as the leading voice for our state’s employers and employees, advancing policies that strengthen our competitiveness and drive job creation. Each year, our “Competitiveness Agenda” is shaped through detailed input from members, policy committees, and strategic partners, and approved by our Board of Directors to ensure they reflect the real needs of Delaware’s diverse business community.
At the start of every new legislative session, we release these priorities to provide policymakers with a clear roadmap of what employers need to grow, invest, and support their employees. Our advocacy team works diligently to keep members well-informed on policy developments in Dover, while fighting for pro-growth policies that support businesses of all sizes and industries. As bipartisan advocates, we recognize the complex and challenging issues our elected leaders face, and we remain committed to working with balance, respect, and candor to make and sustain Delaware as a top state for job creation, economic activity, and quality of life.
OurCompetitiveness Agenda in Action:
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION
EO #1: Increasing youth apprenticeships and earn-and-learn opportunities
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SS1 1 for SB21: General Corporation Law
EO #4: Fast track affordable housing permits
SB 63: General Contractor Liability
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, AND SUSTAINABILITY
HB 175: DNREC Permitting Fees
SB 60-61: Public Utilities
FISCAL POLICY
HS 2 for HB 13: Personal Income Taxes*
HB 164: Transportation Trust Fund
Pain Points for Delaware Businesses
Delaware’s business community is clear about the challenges they face From workforce shortages and rising costs to regulatory hurdles and uncertainty in state policy, these pain points directly impact businesses’ ability to grow and compete Responses from our 2024 stakeholder survey highlight where action is most needed and show why our 2025 Competitiveness Agenda focuses on tackling these barriers head-on.
TOP FOUR ISSUES IMPACTING BUSINESSES:
43% of respondents ranked government regulations/ mandates as the biggest barrier facing Delaware's business community
68% of respondents believe that the education system in the city or area where they live is insufficiently preparing people for the workforce
83% believe the General Assembly does not prioritize the needs of Delaware's business community
78% believe the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst to lead on projects of importance to the business community
Session by the Numbers
14,800+
people reached through DSCC policy communications and updates
884+
business leaders engaged by DSCC in the 2025 policymaking process
250
member organizations participated on a DSCC policy committee
22+
partner organizations strategically collaborated on a DSCC backed position
400+
total bills and resolutions introduced by the General Assembly
29
bills and resolutions DSCC identified as critical to the business community
Building on the session data above, the following pages show how every member of the Delaware Senate and House voted on the bills and resolutions tracked by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce in 2025. Click any bill or resolution number or visit legis.delaware.gov to read bill details.
If you want to support informed voting in Delaware, contribute to the Delaware Employers and Employees Education Fund, the State Chamber’s 501(c)(4) affiliate that provides voters with resources, publications like this one, and other tools that spotlight critical issues and candidates. Scan the QR code to learn more and donate:
2025 How They Voted Senate
Darius J Brown
Buckson
Daniel Cruce
Stephanie L Hansen
Gerald W. Hocker
Kyra L Hoffner
Huxtable
S
Pinkney
Poore
Bryant L Richardson
2025 How They Voted House
Stephanie T. Bolden
Frank Burns
William Bush
William J Carson
Nnamdi Chukwuocha
Richard G. Collins
Franklin D Cooke
Timothy D. Dukes
Valerie Jones
Gorman
Ronald E. Gray
Griffith
Snyder-Hall
Heffernan
2025 How They Voted House,
Cont.
The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce promotes a statewide economic climate that enables businesses of all sizes and types to become more competitive in a constantly changing, increasingly global, and unpredictable environment.