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Senate Legislative Session - Session 2 - 7th Legislative Day

Wednesday, January 28, 2026·1h 52m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Delaware Senate overrode Governor Matthew Meyer's vetoes of two major bills — SB 63 (making general contractors jointly liable for subcontractor wage theft and worker misclassification) and SB 75 (establishing a statewide floor for cannabis retail zoning to prevent disguised prohibition by counties) — both passing 15-6 and 14-6-1 respectively, the exact margins required for a three-fifths majority.

Key Actions

·SB 63 – General Contractor Joint Liability for Wage Theft (Veto Override)Passed

+ 6 more actions

Controversies

Procedural transparency — advance notice of veto override votes

Senator Pettyjohn argued he had no advance notice of the veto overrides, stating 'This was thrown at me at this time, at this particular minute. And this to me is not process,' and observed that '15 members of this chamber had advanced notice...because there's prepared statements.' Senator Townsend responded that stakeholder outreach had already flowed 'for and against,' that he had received an inquiry on Monday asking 'is there a veto override tomorrow,' and that he believed the public announcement canceling Tuesday's session and scheduling Wednesday made the timing 'abundantly clear,' adding 'I apologize if that wasn't abundantly clear.'

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“By misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor, employers avoid paying Social Security contributions, unemployment compensation contributions, payroll taxes and workers compensation premiums. Misclassified workers are ineligible for workers compensation or unemployment benefits. These Delaware families confront outrageous medical care costs from on the job injuries and are excluded from the unemployment compensation safety net.”

Senator Walsh — Senator Walsh, arguing for the SB 63 veto override, explaining the concrete economic harm suffered by workers misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

SB 63 – Repassage notwithstanding the objections of the Governor (required three-fifths majority)Passed
Yes (15)Senator Brown, Senator Cruce, Senator Hansen, Senator Hoffner, Senator Huxtable, Senator Lockman, Senator Mancinos, Senator Paradee, Senator Pinkney, Senator Poore, Senator Seigfried, Senator Sokola, Senator Sturgeon, Senator Townsend, Senator Walsh
No (6)Senator Buxon, Senator Hocker, Senator Lawson, Senator Pettyjohn, Senator Richardson, Senator Wilson
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TranscriptPreview
Recording in progress. Good afternoon. The Senate has reconvened. Members and guests, please take your seats. All sergeant arms, please shut the back doors and please silence your cell phones and mobile devices. Mr. Secretary, any communications? Madam President, President pro tem's pre filed list of appointments. Senator Cecola. Madam President, the Senate is reconvened. Members and guests, please take your seats. Senator Sokola. Madam President, I would motion that so much be considered the reading of the appointments pre filed seeing no Objection so moved. Mr. Secretary. Madam President. President pro tems list of prefab. Madam President, I would motion that so much be considered the reading of the legislation pre file seeing no objection so moved. Mr. Secretary. Madam President, reports from various committees. Madam reading Clerk, please read in committee reports. Senate Bill Number 214, An act to Amend Title 29 of the Delaware Code relating to biological evidence. Out of the Corrections and Public Safety Committee. One favorable, three on its merits. Senate Bill Number 194, An act to Amend Title 19 of the Delaware Code relating to warehouse worker protections. Out of the Labor Committee. Three favorable, one on its merits. Madam President. That concludes…
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