House of Representatives Legislative Session - Session 2 - 7th Legislative Day

Wednesday, January 28, 2026·1h 6m·▶ Watch / Listen

The House overrode Governor Matthew Meyer's veto of Senate Bill 63, expanding general contractor liability for subcontractor wage theft violations in the construction industry, while also passing four additional bills including the Mini Bond Bill and measures on motorized scooters, compassionate release technical corrections, and human trafficking victim protections.

Key Actions

·HCR89 – Career and Technical Education MonthPassed

+ 8 more actions

Controversies

SB63 veto override — general contractor liability for subcontractor wage theft

Governor Meyer's veto message argued the bill 'fails to address the root cause of the problem and likely will result in unintended negative consequences,' stated that existing law already requires general contractors to be legally and financially responsible for their subcontractors, and expressed concern about 'holding good actors responsible for the wrongs of others,' citing opposition from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce, Delaware Business Roundtable, Delaware Affordable Housing Coalition, Habitat for Humanity, and Delaware Hispanic Commission. Osienski countered that the Governor's proposed enforcement-based solution 'does not fully address what's happening with wage theft in Delaware,' arguing that out-of-state contractors evade DOL fines by leaving Delaware with no DOL reciprocity, making additional enforcement personnel insufficient, and cited Maryland's passage of very similar legislation with no adverse effects on small businesses or Latino communities.

+ 2 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“This is exactly my concern, holding good actors responsible for the wrongs of others.”
Governor Matthew Meyer (veto message read by Chief Clerk) — Governor Meyer's rationale for vetoing SB63, which expands liability for subcontractor violations in the construction industry to general contractors.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

Consent Calendar Number 15 (House Resolution 20, HCR86, HCR88, HCR89, HCR90, HCR92, SCR129, SCR130)Passed

Senate Concurrent Resolution 131 (Black History Month)Passed

House Bill 270 (Mini Bond Bill) — roll callPassed

Yes (39)Berry, Bolden, Burns, Bush, Carson, Chukwuocha, Collins, Cook, Dukes, Gorman, Gray, Griffith, Harris, Heffernan, Hensley, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Jones Giltner, Lambert, Lynn, S. Moore, Morrison, Neal, Ortega, Osienski, Phillips, Postles, Romer, Ross Levin, D. Short, Shupe, Kamela Smith, Michael Smith, Snyder-Hall, Spiegelman, Vanderwin, K. Williams, Yearick, Madam Speaker

Shall the House repass Senate Bill 63 as amended by Senate Amendment 1, notwithstanding the objection of the Governor (three-fifths vote required)No Vote

Yes (24)Berry, Bolden, Burns, Bush, Carson, Chukwuocha, Cook, Gorman, Griffith, Harris, Heffernan, K. Johnson, Lambert, S. Moore, Morrison, Neal, Osienski, Phillips, Romer, Ross Levin, Kamela Smith, Snyder-Hall, K. Williams, Madam Speaker

No (15)Collins, Dukes, Gray, Hensley, Hilovsky, Jones Giltner, Morrison, Ortega, Postles, D. Short, Shupe, Michael Smith, Spiegelman, Vanderwin, Yearick

Absent (1)Lynn

House Bill 266 (Motorized Scooters) — roll callPassed

Senate Bill 224 (Technical Correction / DOC Regulations) — roll callPassed

House Bill 201 (Human Trafficking Victims) — roll callPassed

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TranscriptPreview

Yes, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, House Committee reports for January 28, 2026 from Capital Infrastructure. House Bill 274 favorable. Madam Speakers concludes reading of the communication. Representative Johnson. Representative Johnson. From maps and present no mileage. Leader Harris. Thank you. Madam Speaker, I move that we adjourn the current legislative day. The House stands adjourned. The house will come to order. Mr. Chief Clerk, please call the roll. Mrs. Barry. Present. Mrs. Berry. Present. Ms. Bolden. Present. Ms. Bolden. Present. Mr. Burns. Mr. Burns. Absent. Mr. Bush. Present. Mr. Bush. Present. Mister Carson. Mr. Carson. Present. Mr. Chickwocha. Present. Mr. Chikwocha. Present. Mr.— Collins. Mr. Collins. Present. Mr. Cook. Mr. Cook. Present. Mr. Dukes. Mr. Dukes. Absent. Ms. Gorman. Ms. Gorman. Present. Mr. Gray. Present. Mr. Gray. Present. Mrs. Griffith. Here. Mrs. Griffith. Present. Ms. Harris. Here. Ms. Harris. Present. Mrs. Heffernan. Mrs. Heffernan. Present. Mr. Hensley. Mr. Hensley. Present. Mr. Holofsky. Mr. Holofsky. Present. Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson. Present. Mrs. Jones. Giltner. Present. Mrs. Jones. Giltman. Present. Mr. Lambert. Mr. Lambert. Present. Mr. Lin. Mr. Lin. Present. Ms. Moore. Ms. Moore. Present. Mr. Morris. Mr. Morris. Present. Mr. Morrison. Mr. Morrison. President Mix. Neil McSweal. Present. Mr. Ortega. Mr.…

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