Matt Meyer

Governor Meyer signed legislation in August 2025 that created the position of an independent Inspector General for Delaware, designed to detect fraud, waste, and abuse in state government. Meyer nominated Robert Storch, who previously served as inspector general at the Department of Defense and National Security Agency, to be the state's first Inspector General. Storch was confirmed by the State Senate and began building the Office of Inspector General.

Governor Meyer identified the expansion of Hope Center locations to Kent and Sussex Counties as a priority, following recommendations in the phase 1 report of the Delaware Interagency Collaborative to End Homelessness. The Delaware State Housing Authority initiated preliminary negotiations for a Kent County Hope Center location at Delaware State University's Living and Learning Commons on Route 13 in Dover, a converted Sheraton Hotel. The expansion of the Hope Center model, which already operates in New Castle County, was framed as part of the state's strategy to reduce homelessness in Delaware.

Meyer received Senate Bill codifying Delaware's Economic and Financial Advisory Council, which had previously existed through executive order for fifty years, after the chamber approved the measure without objection or debate. Meyer also received House Bill 400, which increases annual taxes and fees for business entities including limited liability companies and general partnerships, following its passage in the House amid partisan disagreement over the vote threshold required for the measure. Meyer has not disclosed whether he will sign either bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.

Governor Meyer announced his support for two pieces of healthcare legislation designed to address rising healthcare costs in Delaware, citing factors including decreased federal Medicaid funding, an aging population, and inflation. The first bill, SB 13 sponsored by Senator Marie Pinkney, establishes standardized charity care requirements for nonprofit hospitals, lowering the income threshold for full financial assistance from 350% to 300% of the federal poverty level and mandating improved outreach across the state's hospital systems. Meyer stated the legislation represents an initial step to connect residents who qualify for existing hospital financial assistance programs but remain unaware of their eligibility.

Governor Meyer announced support for Senate Bill 13, sponsored by Senator Marie Pinkney, which would establish guidelines requiring acute care hospitals in Delaware to provide discounted care for patients earning up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level and free care for those earning up to 300%. Meyer also backed a second bill that would restrict acquisition and control of Delaware hospitals by for-profit entities. The Governor stated he would continue work during his administration on a comprehensive health care competition framework involving the medical community, health and social services, and the department of insurance.

Governor Meyer announced Senate Bills 13 and 313, two healthcare proposals designed to address rising medical costs in Delaware. Senate Bill 13 would expand and standardize charity care policies at Delaware hospitals, making free hospital care available to individuals earning less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level regardless of insurance status. Senate Bill 313 focuses on limiting for-profit hospital control and shifting the state toward new healthcare payment models.

Meyer signed Executive Order 21, which established the Office of Small Business Access to centralize assistance for small business owners seeking state guidance and support. Meyer signed Executive Order 22, which strengthened Delaware's Supplier Diversity initiative to increase opportunities for small businesses to compete for state contracts. The two executive orders were designed to reduce administrative barriers and financial costs associated with starting and operating a small business in Delaware.

Delaware lawmakers passed House Bill 151 and sent it to Governor Meyer for consideration. HB 151 prohibits state dollars from funding private detention centers used for immigration-related detentions, with the measure passing both the House and Senate. The bill includes an exception allowing the state to request temporary assistance from private facilities in cases where Delaware's own detention facilities are overcrowded, though state Department of Corrections officials confirmed that Delaware's facilities currently have sufficient capacity.

Governor Meyer signed Executive Orders 21 and 22 during National Small Business Week in Milford to expand support for small and diverse businesses in Delaware. Executive Order 21 established an Office of Small Business Access within the Division of Small Business to serve as a single point of contact for entrepreneurs and coordinate a statewide liaison network to identify and remove regulatory barriers. The executive orders also modernized Delaware's cottage food and low-risk food business framework, created a joint inspection pilot program for small businesses, and addressed payment timelines for small business invoices.

The Delaware House passed HB 370, the DuPont-Cook Financial Responsibility Act, which would codify the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council into state law rather than maintain it solely through executive order as established in the 1970s. The legislation, sponsored by House Majority Leader Kerri Harris and initiated by bipartisan leadership, preserves the council's bipartisan membership structure and expert composition while adding a new co-chair position and strengthening procedures for meetings, voting, and operational continuity. The bill follows Governor Meyer's removal of a long-serving DEFAC member and now proceeds to the state senate.

Governor Meyer's proposed state budget included a projected $18.9 million in revenue from an increase to Delaware's tobacco tax, which had remained unchanged for nearly a decade. The House Administrative Committee advanced HB 215, which would increase the tax on cigarettes from $2.10 to $3.60 per pack, establish new tax rates for vape products at 10 cents per fluid milliliter, and set expanded tobacco product taxes at 40 percent of wholesale price, with implementation scheduled for September 1, 2026. The measure requires a three-fifths majority vote in both chambers of the Delaware General Assembly to pass.

Governor Meyer announced that Delaware filed an appeal challenging a federal court ruling that ordered the state's Department of Labor to turn over employee records to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The April 13 court order required compliance with an ICE administrative subpoena seeking employment records from fifteen Delaware businesses as part of an investigation into alleged hiring of undocumented workers. Meyer stated the appeal was filed by the state and the Delaware Department of Justice to challenge what he characterized as federal overreach in immigration enforcement.

Governor Meyer opened a nomination period for Delaware census tracts to be considered for designation in the Opportunity Zone 2.0 program, an economic development initiative that provides tax benefits to investors in economically distressed areas. The state Division of Small Business announced that 61 census tracts were eligible for nomination, with a submission deadline of May 15, and Meyer was required to submit 25 final nominations to the U.S. Treasury between July 1 and September 30. The action followed the sunset of first-round designations scheduled for January 1, necessitating re-nomination of previously designated areas for continued program eligibility.

Governor Meyer announced that the Delaware Department of Justice will appeal a federal court ruling requiring the state to provide immigration officers with employee wage and identification records from 15 Delaware businesses in response to a federal administrative subpoena issued as part of an immigration investigation. Federal Chief Judge Colm Connolly had determined that Homeland Security Investigations had legitimate grounds for the subpoena and that the Delaware Department of Labor could not refuse disclosure. Meyer stated the state would challenge what he characterized as federal overreach in a statement calling for continued resistance to the subpoena.

Governor Meyer submitted a nomination of Robert P. Storch to serve as Delaware's first Inspector General, a position created following the passage of Senate Bill 4 in 2025. Storch previously served as the Senate-confirmed Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Defense and as the first Senate-confirmed Inspector General of the National Security Agency, along with holding senior positions at the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. The Office of the Inspector General was established to strengthen accountability and transparency across Delaware state government.

Delaware appealed a federal court ruling issued on April 13 that ordered the state's Department of Labor to comply with an administrative subpoena from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seeking employment records from 15 Delaware businesses. The subpoena was issued as part of a federal investigation into alleged hiring of undocumented workers. The U.S. Attorney's office stated that Delaware's refusal to comply was based on political rather than legal grounds.

Governor Meyer nominated Robert Storch to serve as Delaware's first Inspector General, a position established by legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2025. Storch previously served as Inspector General of the National Security Agency and the Department of Defense under Presidents Obama and Biden, and is currently a lecturer in law at Columbia Law School. The Office of the Inspector General was created to provide independent oversight against fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption within Delaware state government.

A federal judge ordered Delaware's Department of Labor to share employment records with the Department of Homeland Security following a subpoena for wage reports from fifteen businesses. Governor Meyer stated that state lawyers are reviewing the decision and preparing an appeal, arguing that sharing worker information would undermine the state's system of worker protection. Meyer characterized the records as state property and indicated Delaware would continue efforts to block the information's disclosure.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 159 in June 2025, legislation passed by the Delaware Senate and House that overrode Sussex County Council's December 2024 rejection of a conditional use permit for a US Wind offshore energy substation near Millsboro. The substation is part of a proposed offshore wind farm with over 100 turbines and would facilitate the transfer of power cables from the ocean to land. Meyer's signature allowed the project to proceed, with the law's effective date set for January 31, 2026, pending ongoing litigation between Sussex County and US Wind.

Governor Meyer made the establishment of Delaware's first four-year medical school a central goal of his administration's health care agenda as part of a broader plan to expand access to health care in rural communities. The state received $157 million in December through the Rural Health Transformation Program to support this initiative and 14 other health care projects. Four organizations—Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, PwC US Consulting LLP, and Tiber Health Public Benefit Corporation—submitted bids to partner with Delaware on the medical school, with the winning bidder to be announced on May 29, 2026.

Governor Meyer appointed Brenda Wise to the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council to fill a vacancy on the revenue forecasting panel. Wise is corporate counsel and director of global government affairs at CSC and previously served as director of policy at the Delaware Office of Management and Budget. The council is scheduled to meet in May and June before the start of Fiscal Year 2027 on July 1st.

Governor Meyer joined a coalition of two dozen states in filing a lawsuit against President Trump's executive order establishing a national list of eligible voters and restricting mail-in ballot transmission by the U.S. Postal Service. Meyer stated that the administration's action threatened states and election officials with criminal prosecution and loss of federal funding if they did not comply with the directive. The plaintiff states contended that the executive order would require states to dismantle existing election administration procedures and create confusion in state election systems.

Delaware's Court of Chancery upheld legislation passed by the General Assembly in June 2025 that grants the state authority to permit electrical substations meeting specific siting requirements, overruling Sussex County's 2024 denial of a permit for US Wind's planned substation in Sussex County. The court rejected challenges from Sussex County and the Town of Fenwick Island, which argued the law violated separation of powers and improperly targeted a specific project. Governor Meyer stated the ruling clarifies that decisions about the state's energy future should be made at the state level rather than by individual municipalities.

Delaware's Court of Chancery upheld the authority of the General Assembly to permit construction of an electrical substation near the Indian River Power Plant to serve an offshore wind project, rejecting legal challenges filed by Sussex County and the Town of Fenwick Island. The court's decision affirmed Senate Bill 159, enacted in June 2025, which prevents counties from denying permits for electrical substations meeting specific siting requirements. The substation would connect proposed offshore wind turbines to the regional power grid, enabling electricity generated at sea to be delivered to Delaware customers.

Governor Meyer removed Mike Houghton from the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council, the state's revenue forecasting panel. According to Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola, Houghton's removal followed his public questioning of the state's corporate franchise tax revenue projections. DEFAC is scheduled to meet in May and June to finalize revenue estimates for Fiscal Year 2027.

Governor Meyer announced that Delaware secured approximately $27.8 million in federal funding through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to expand high-speed broadband infrastructure across the state. The funding, matched by $75 million in private investment from Verizon and Comcast, is expected to create 1,513 new internet connections in Kent County and 2,790 new connections in Sussex County, serving over 4,500 unserved and underserved homes and businesses. Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2026, with completion anticipated by the end of 2029.

Governor Meyer stated that legislation introduced by Senator Spiros Mantzavinos consisting of Senate Bill 16 and related bills modernizing Delaware's banking laws was necessary for the state to remain competitive in digital money markets. The bills add definitions for digital assets and virtual currency to Delaware code, expand the State Bank Commissioner's authority, and establish a state licensing framework for stablecoins. Meyer cited changing consumer behavior away from physical payment methods as justification for the regulatory updates.

State Senator Spiros Mantzavinos introduced SB 230, a bill requiring businesses to share financial information with county authorities when counties use income generated by property to determine fair market value during property assessments. The Delaware Senate passed the legislation with 16 yes votes, one no, and four members either absent or not voting, sending it to Governor Meyer's desk for signature. The bill includes a two-year sunset provision and addresses quality control issues that arose during county property reassessments conducted from 2023 to 2024.

The Delaware House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 230, which requires businesses to share financial information with county authorities when counties use income generated by property to determine fair market value. Representative Frank Burns offered an amendment clarifying the process for objecting to county property assessment subpoenas, specifying that objections would be handled under Delaware court rules for administrative subpoenas, and adding a two-year sunset provision requiring legislative approval for extension. The amended bill passed 37 to 4 and returned to the state Senate for consideration.

Governor Meyer's office and the Department of Health and Social Services announced an initiative to establish Delaware's first four-year medical school, utilizing $157 million in federal grant money received this year with an anticipated $500 million over the next five years to expand rural health services in Kent and Sussex counties. The program would provide scholarship funding to medical students who commit to working in Delaware after graduation, with the state retaining the ability to recoup funds if graduates do not fulfill their service obligations. During a Joint Finance Committee budget hearing in March 2026, lawmakers raised questions about the logistics of implementing and enforcing the requirement that scholarship recipients remain in the state to practice medicine.

Governor Meyer's recommended budget maintains the Redding Consortium's funding at approximately $10 million within the Department of Education's $2.4 billion general fund budget. The Redding Consortium, which was tasked with developing a consolidation plan for the Red Clay, Christina, Brandywine, and Colonial school districts in Northern New Castle County, extended its deadline for delivering the plan from summer 2026 to the end of 2026. The consortium extended its contract with the American Institutes for Research to continue work on redrawing boundary lines as part of the consolidation effort.

Governor Meyer's administration released the Delaware Department of Education Strategic Plan for 2025-28, the first comprehensive strategic plan in recent history, which was presented by Secretary of Education Cindy Marten to the Delaware General Assembly's Joint Finance Committee in March 2026. The plan establishes five priority areas termed "bright beginnings, safe supportive schools, great teaching and learning, fair opportunities for every student, and involving families and communities as partners." The plan sets specific targets for 2028 including increasing third-grade reading proficiency from 38 percent to 53 percent, expanding early education access from 25 percent to 40 percent of eligible families, raising the statewide graduation rate to 91 percent, and reducing chronic absenteeism from 15 percent to 13 percent.

Delaware's Supreme Court upheld Senate Bill 21, legislation passed by the state's General Assembly that modified the state's business rules governing controlling stockholders in Delaware-incorporated companies. The law was enacted in response to Tesla's reincorporation in Texas and was designed to retain companies incorporated in the state. Governor Meyer supported the legislation, and the court's unanimous decision rejected a constitutional challenge brought by a Clear Way Energy stockholder who disputed the changes to the Court of Chancery's jurisdiction.

Governor Meyer signed an executive order on February 26, 2026, establishing streamlined permitting processes for critical infrastructure projects including housing, energy, broadband, water and sewer, and mixed development projects. The order does not waive safety standards or legal requirements but instead accelerates cooperation between state agencies including DelDOT, DSHA, and local land use authorities to reduce permitting timelines that typically extend two years or longer. Involved agencies will track permitting progress and submit public reports to monitor compliance with the executive order's timeline objectives while preserving local zoning regulations.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 21 in 2025, legislation that overhauled Delaware's incorporation law and included safe harbor provisions for corporate governance. The Delaware Supreme Court unanimously upheld the provisions of SB 21 following a lawsuit filed by Thomas Drew Rutledge challenging the constitutionality of the safe harbor provisions. According to the Meyer Administration, the number of incorporated entities in Delaware increased from 2.1 million in 2024 to 2.2 million in 2025, with nearly 280,000 new entities incorporated in the first ten months of 2025.

Governor Meyer announced continued pursuit of new income tax brackets for higher earners, proposing to add three brackets for individuals earning $125,000, $250,000, and $500,000, after his initial proposal failed to advance through the General Assembly in the previous legislative session. Meyer's current budget proposal includes tobacco tax increases suggested by House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, raising cigarette taxes to $3.60 per pack, doubling e-cigarette liquid taxes from five cents to ten cents per milliliter, and increasing wholesale tobacco product taxes by ten percent, with an expected revenue impact of approximately $18.9 million annually. Meyer stated that the tax bracket changes remain under development through collaboration with the state legislature, while the tobacco tax provisions are included in the current budget proposal.

Governor Meyer attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Savannah Grove housing development project near Georgetown, a collaboration between the Delaware State Housing Authority and Apennine Development Company to construct 108 apartment units. The project was facilitated through a two-million-dollar loan agreement from DSHA to Apennine Development, which included conditions requiring 16 units to be offered at below market-rate prices. Meyer characterized the development as demonstrating the results of policy, investment, and partnerships directed toward workforce housing affordability in Sussex County.

Governor Meyer's 2026 budget plan proposed allocating $65.8 million in unclaimed property funds, known as escheat revenue, to cover state contributions to retiree health benefits rather than drawing from the general fund as had been done previously. The shift from the general fund would redirect approximately $65.8 million that had been contributed to retiree healthcare costs, freeing general fund resources for other state priorities including employee pay raises and collective bargaining agreements. State code permits the use of escheat funds for education and employee benefits, allowing the reallocation under existing legal authority.

Governor Meyer stated his position regarding a $67.8 million rate increase request filed by Delmarva Power with the Public Service Commission in December, asserting that the request should be rejected. Meyer cited testimony indicating a nine-and-a-half percent return on equity annually for shareholders, which he characterized as excessive, and called on the Public Service Commission to scrutinize all delivery and transmission charges. The rate increase would affect Delmarva customers in Delaware, with the company permitted under state law to implement new rates on an interim basis beginning in July.

Governor Meyer ordered all flags at state buildings and grounds to be flown at half staff in honor of former State Senator George Bunting, former House Majority Whip John Viola, and Reverend Jesse Jackson. Bunting represented the Cape Region for nearly 30 years before his death on February 12 at age 81, while Viola served in the Delaware House from 1998 to 2020 and passed away at age 75. Reverend Jackson, a civil rights leader and protege of Martin Luther King Jr., died on Tuesday morning.

Governor Meyer included $48 million in his proposed budget and bond bill for the Delaware State Housing Authority to fund affordable housing and homelessness programs across the state. The funding consists of over $37 million through the Bond and Capital Improvements Act for workforce housing, small businesses, and urban redevelopment, combined with additional budget allocations for rental assistance, homelessness programs, and the DSHA's Housing Development Fund. According to the Delaware State Housing Authority, the proposed allocation represents one of the largest investments in housing in state history and would be used to expand affordable housing, create new shelters, provide permanent supportive housing, and increase access to resources for people experiencing homelessness.

Governor Meyer included tobacco tax increases in his proposed fiscal year 2027 budget as part of a broader effort to close a budget gap exceeding $500 million and generate approximately $160 million in new state revenue. The proposal would raise the cigarette tax from $2.10 to $3.60 per pack, increase moist snuff tax from 92 cents to $1.23 per ounce, double e-cigarette liquid tax from 5 cents to 10 cents per milliliter, and increase other wholesale tobacco products by 10 percent while expanding the definition of taxable tobacco products to include newer nicotine items such as pouches. The tobacco tax changes are expected to generate nearly $19 million in new revenue for the state.

State Auditor Lydia York requested that the Joint Finance Committee approve a $390,000 budget transfer from contract positions to five new full-time positions within the State Auditor of Accounts Office. York stated that the shift was necessary to address increased workload and market demands for certified accountants, and that full-time staff could reduce reliance on external contractors. Governor Matt Meyer's recommended budget did not include approval for York's requested positions.

Governor Meyer's 2027 budget plan did not allocate funds for several requests from Delaware's Department of Elections, including an upgraded campaign finance reporting system estimated at $1.1 million and an expansion of early voting locations. State Election Commissioner Anthony Albence testified before the Joint Finance Committee that the campaign finance reporting system, implemented in 2015, requires substantial upgrades that would cost nine to ten times more to retrofit than to rebuild entirely. The department also faced a significant reduction in federal election security funding, declining from approximately $1 million annually to $250 thousand for the current year.

Governor Meyer announced the opening of Requests for Proposals for four initiatives under Delaware's Rural Health Transformation Program, a federally funded multiyear effort to expand healthcare access in rural Kent and Sussex counties. The competitive funding opportunities include support for Delaware's first four-year medical school with emphasis on rural primary care physicians, establishment of school-based health centers in rural elementary and middle schools, and creation of Food Is Medicine infrastructure to integrate nutrition-based interventions into rural healthcare delivery. Meyer stated that the RFPs represent a critical step in expanding access, lowering costs, and growing the medical workforce to improve health outcomes in rural communities.

Meyer proposed increasing business formation fees in Delaware as part of his fiscal year 2027 budget proposal presented to the Joint Finance Committee. The proposal includes raising the annual LLC registration fee by approximately $50 from its current $300 level, along with increases to fees for business dissolution, trademark filing, and registration documents, which have not been updated in over a decade. Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez stated that the fee increases would be finalized in legislation for legislative review.

Meyer vetoed Senate Bill 63, which increases penalties for contractors who misclassify employees or subcontractors as independent workers, citing concerns that the law could harm immigrant business owners and workers by empowering the Department of Labor with enhanced enforcement capabilities at a time when ICE seeks information from state agencies. The Delaware State Senate voted on January 29, 2026 to override Meyer's veto of Senate Bill 63 along party lines, with the measure subsequently passing in the House as well, enacting the wage theft legislation over the Governor's objections. Meyer maintained that while wage misclassification is a legitimate issue, the timing of expanded enforcement authority presented risks to vulnerable populations in the immigrant business community.

On January 30, 2026, Meyer signed Executive Order #16, certifying the 2025 update to the Delaware Strategies for State Policies and Spending, a statewide planning guide designed to direct state investments in roads, infrastructure, economic development, and land preservation. The executive order directs the Office of State Planning Coordination and the Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues to establish "Corridor Planning Areas" along key transportation routes to connect land-use decisions with transportation planning. The order also initiates a 2026 "Smart Growth Visioning" process involving state agencies, local governments, and external partners to examine Delaware's future land-use patterns, population trends, infrastructure plans, and climate preparedness, with immediate attention on Sussex County's comprehensive plan update.

The Delaware State Senate and House of Representatives approved House Bill 270, a mini Bond Bill for Fiscal Year 2026, which was sent to Governor Meyer for consideration in late January 2026. The measure reallocates existing capital budget funds without authorizing new state spending, including $7 million to expand veterans cemeteries in Bear and Millsboro and adjustments to transportation infrastructure and port terminal projects. The bill also authorizes the Diamond State Port Corporation to coordinate with DelDOT on a traffic study for the Edgemoor Port Terminal expansion and clarifies the hiring structure for the port corporation's executive director.

Governor Meyer presented his Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal of $6.9 billion to lawmakers and state leaders, outlining allocations that include $25.3 million for childcare, $8 million for the Literacy Emergency Fund, and raises for teacher and state employee pay. The budget designated funding for healthcare expansion in rural communities, Medicaid investments, affordable housing programs, and workforce development initiatives. Meyer identified four main priorities for the fiscal year: investments in children, housing, healthcare, and the workforce, alongside an emphasis on transparency and efficiency.

Governor Meyer signed Executive Order #16 on January 30, 2026, certifying the 2025 update to the Delaware Strategies for State Policies and Spending, a statewide planning guide that directs state investment in roads, infrastructure, economic development, and land preservation. The executive order applies statewide but designates Sussex County as a central focus, launching a seven-month coordinated planning effort between state and county officials beginning in January 2026 to support Sussex County's comprehensive plan update. The updated strategy addresses land preservation, farmland protection, downtown development, and workforce housing policy across Delaware.

Delaware Senate Democrats moved to override Governor Meyer's veto of Senate Bill 75, legislation that would limit zoning restrictions for retail marijuana dispensaries. Meyer had vetoed the bill in the previous year, stating that it excessively restricted local governments' authority over land-use and zoning decisions and that counties should retain control over whether marijuana retailers are permitted within their borders. The override effort was prompted by what supporters characterized as a stalled rollout of the recreational marijuana market approved by the General Assembly in 2023, with dozens of businesses holding conditional licenses unable to open due to restrictive zoning ordinances, particularly in Sussex County.

Governor Meyer unveiled a proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget totaling $6.938 billion, comprising an operating budget, a capital budget of $934.4 million, and grants-in-aid spending of $85.5 million, with spending growth limited to less than 5% excluding one-time expenses. The budget proposal includes a revenue package generating $159.9 million through modernizing business formation fees, raising the escheat cap, and increasing the tobacco tax to bring cigarettes to $3.60 per pack, along with a proposed film tax credit. The spending plan maintains the Budget Stabilization Fund and Rainy Day Fund without drawdowns while allocating ongoing investments to education, student mental health, healthcare cost reduction, teacher salary increases, and housing affordability.

Governor Meyer vetoed Senate Bill 75, legislation that would limit zoning restrictions for retail marijuana dispensaries in Delaware. On January 28, 2026, the Delaware Senate voted to override Meyer's veto, marking the first veto override attempt of his administration. Meyer had argued that the bill went too far in limiting local governments' authority over land-use and zoning decisions, contending that counties should retain control over whether marijuana retailers are allowed within their borders.

Gov. Meyer unveiled his fiscal year 2027 state budget proposal on January 29, 2026, designed to keep spending growth below 5 percent, a reduction from the more than 7 percent growth in the current fiscal year. The budget proposal includes approximately $170 million in new revenue, with nearly $81 million coming from modernizing business formation fees, $18.9 million from increased tobacco taxes including an increase in the cigarette tax from $2.10 to $3.60 per pack, and $10 million from a proposed film tax credit. The plan also includes approximately $108 million in strategic cuts to state government operations while attempting to avoid meaningful reductions in service levels.

Governor Meyer presented his proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget to the Delaware General Assembly in January 2026, which included spending growth of less than 5% year over year. Republican legislative leaders including Representative Danny Short and House Republican Whip Jeffrey Spiegelman offered preliminary reactions to the budget proposal during a Thursday gathering. Several GOP lawmakers indicated that maintaining the Governor's targeted spending growth would require fiscal discipline from both the legislature and constituents.

On January 26, 2026, Representative Sarah McBride released a statement calling for the release of Victor Acurio Suárez, a developmentally disabled Sussex County resident who was detained by immigration officials in late 2025 and received a deportation order from an immigration judge. McBride stated that Acurio Suárez fled Ecuador after an attack by the Los Lobos gang and depends on family for daily care, characterizing him as someone the asylum system was designed to protect. McBride called on immigration authorities to immediately release Acurio Suárez and grant him protection rather than proceed with deportation.

During his State of the State address, Meyer called energy rates charged by Delmarva Power "unacceptable" and called on the Public Service Commission to reject a proposed rate increase of nearly $68 million, which would increase customer bills by nine to fifteen dollars monthly. Meyer stated that Delmarva's out-of-state shareholders should not take advantage of Delaware families and emphasized the need to hold the utility monopoly accountable. Meyer referenced transparency measures he had previously signed into law as providing the PSC with grounds to deny the rate increase request.

Governor Meyer delivered his 2026 State of the State address to lawmakers and state officials at Legislative Hall in Dover, outlining priorities including affordability, healthcare, energy costs, and education. Meyer announced a nearly $50 million investment in early childhood education for the coming year and emphasized existing literacy initiatives including the deployment of Literacy Screeners in elementary schools and expansion of Science of Reading instruction. Meyer called on lawmakers to modernize Delaware's school funding formula, which had remained unchanged since the 1940s.

Governor Meyer delivered a State of the State Address on Thursday highlighting initiatives in education, healthcare, housing, and economic development. Meyer announced that every elementary school in kindergarten through third grade is now using Literacy Screeners as an early warning system and noted increased adoption of The Science of Reading methodology, while calling for completion of a fair funding formula directing resources based on students' actual needs. Meyer also addressed affordable housing by streamlining permitting and digitizing approvals to make Delaware more efficient for housing construction, and called attention to rising electricity costs affecting residents.

Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings joined eleven other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in January 2026, challenging a policy that conditions federal funding on compliance with a presidential executive order regarding sex and gender. The lawsuit asserts that the HHS policy unlawfully requires recipients of federal health, education, and research funding to certify compliance with definitions of sex that the plaintiffs characterize as rigid and unscientific, and that the agency lacks authority to impose such conditions on states. Jennings argued that the policy violates Delaware law protecting transgender people from discrimination and stated that Delaware would contest the measure.

Governor Meyer released Delaware's 2025 Climate Action Plan, an updated strategy document designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare communities for climate impacts including flooding, extreme heat, and severe storms. The plan represents the first major update to Delaware's climate strategy since the state passed the Climate Change Solutions Act in 2023, which established targets of 50 percent emissions reductions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan includes near-term and long-term actions across state government, addresses workforce development in clean energy sectors, and incorporates assessments of climate risks and resilience strategies for communities across the state.

Delaware Supreme Court Justice Karen Valihura announced in January 2026 that she would not seek reappointment when her term ends in July 2026. Valihura, appointed by Governor Jack Markell in 2014, informed Governor Matt Meyer of her decision in a letter to the Administrative Office. Meyer will appoint a replacement justice to the seat from a list provided by Delaware's Judicial Nominating Commission, marking his first appointment to the state's highest court.

Governor Meyer released the first Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR) report under his administration on November 3, 2025, comprising 87 pages of recommendations for fiscal reform efforts. The report identified 166 projects estimated to generate $110 million in savings to the state over the life of the projects, a nine million dollar increase from the previous year's projection of $101 million. Meyer's administration has set a goal of achieving $300 million in total savings across GEAR initiatives during his full term.

Governor Meyer ordered Delaware's flags to half-staff in honor of a Delaware State Trooper killed on Tuesday at the Wilmington DMV. The order, issued jointly with First Lady Lauren Meyer, Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay, and Second Gentleman Olin Gay, applies to both United States and Delaware flags until further notice. Meyer's statement acknowledged the trooper's sacrifice and expressed gratitude to state and local law enforcement and emergency personnel for their response.

Fenwick Island and Sussex County filed a lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court on December 23, 2025, challenging Senate Bill 159 and Senate Bill 199, legislation that allows electrical substations related to renewable energy projects to proceed despite local denial. The lawsuit names Governor Meyer as a defendant and argues that the state legislation retroactively overturned a conditional use permit denial for a substation tied to the proposed US Wind offshore wind project. The plaintiffs contend that the bills strip counties and towns of zoning authority by automatically approving projects that were previously rejected under local law.

Governor Meyer declared Friday, December 26 as a state holiday in addition to Christmas Day in 2025, following President Trump's signing of an executive order designating December 24 and December 26 as federal holidays. The declaration resulted in extended closures for Delaware state offices and agencies during the Christmas week. New Castle County, the City of Wilmington, and other regional jurisdictions subsequently announced corresponding holiday extensions based on Meyer's action.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 174 in August 2025, legislation that created a public animal abuse offender list in Delaware. The Delaware Office of Animal Welfare's animal abuse offender list went live on December 19, 2025, containing information on adults convicted of misdemeanor and felony crimes against animals. The list directs shelters to check offender records before approving pet adoptions.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer called for the release of Victor Acurio-Suarez, a Seaford resident detained by federal immigration authorities. According to Meyer, Acurio-Suarez is a developmentally disabled asylum seeker with no criminal record who was arrested while seeking work and has a pending asylum claim. Meyer stated in a public statement that detaining Acurio-Suarez serves no legitimate public safety purpose and causes harm to a vulnerable individual.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer wrote a court letter in December 2025 urging the release of Victor Acurio Suárez, a developmentally disabled Seaford resident detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Meyer stated in a Facebook post that Acurio Suárez had no criminal history, posed no threat to public safety, complied with the law, and had a pending asylum claim. Meyer characterized the detention as inconsistent with the state's values and called for immigration enforcement guided by compassion and proportionality.

Governor Meyer announced that Delaware's medical debt elimination initiative has relieved approximately $19 million in medical debt for more than 18,000 residents as of December 2025. The program is funded by a $500,000 investment in the FY 2026 budget and operates through a partnership with Undue Medical Debt, a national nonprofit organization that acquires medical debts in bulk at a fraction of their face value. The state aims to eliminate up to $50 million in total qualifying medical debt for Delawareans through continued purchases in the coming months.

Governor Meyer's administration supported the passage of House Bill 255, which decoupled Delaware's tax code from specific provisions of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act to mitigate revenue losses to the state. The decoupling measure modified the timing and application of federal tax breaks for research and development expenditures, asset expensing, and retroactive tax adjustments, recapturing approximately $328 million in state revenue between the current period and fiscal year 2028. The Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council, which provides revenue forecasts that Meyer uses to develop his budget proposals, increased its revenue estimates by $173 million for fiscal year 2026 and $124.5 million for fiscal year 2027 based on the decoupling provisions.

Governor Meyer signed Delaware's medical aid in dying law in May 2025, following legislative approval in April after a decade of efforts to authorize physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. Disability rights and patient advocacy groups, including the Freedom Center for Independent Living, ADAPT, and Not Dead Yet, filed a federal lawsuit in December 2025 challenging the law's constitutionality under the 14th Amendment and Americans with Disabilities Act. The plaintiffs sought a temporary restraing order to prevent the law from taking effect on January 1, 2026, arguing it creates unequal medical protections for people with disabilities and violates liability safeguards afforded to other patients.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 140, the Ron Silverio/Heather Block Delaware End-of-Life Options Act, into law on May 20, 2026, after the legislation passed the Delaware General Assembly following a ten-year legislative effort. The Act establishes medical aid-in-dying provisions set to take effect on January 1, 2027, allowing eligible individuals diagnosed with six months or less to live to request end-of-life medications. The law subsequently became the subject of a federal lawsuit challenging its constitutionality on grounds including violations of the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal statutes.

Governor Meyer met with a group of state lawmakers on December 5, 2025, to discuss the closure of the Plummer Community Corrections Center, a work release program facility in Wilmington scheduled to close in March 2026. Meyer upheld the previous administration's decision to proceed with the closure despite lawmakers' requests to reconsider. State Senator Ray Seigfried and other legislators argued that the closure, made primarily for financial reasons, would negatively affect incarcerated individuals transitioning back into society and questioned the feasibility of relocating the program downstate.

Governor Meyer joined a multistate petition urging the Environmental Protection Agency to add microplastics to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The petition seeks to establish federal monitoring requirements for microplastics in drinking water, a requirement that under the Safe Drinking Water Act takes effect when seven governors petition the agency. The EPA had anticipated releasing the proposed monitoring rule in late 2025, with a final rule planned for December 2026.

Governor Meyer signed a Senate Bill into law that adjusted workers' compensation reimbursement rates in Delaware. The legislation addressed the state's previously high insurance premiums by correcting provider reimbursement costs to financially feasible levels. Following the bill's implementation between June and November, the state saw approximately 200 additional healthcare providers enroll in the workers' compensation system, bringing total enrollment to roughly 1,500 providers statewide.

Governor Meyer received the ninth annual report from the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review Board (GEAR), an entity established by executive order in 2017 to develop recommendations for improving state government performance and efficiency. The 2025 GEAR report recommended continued advancement in employee training programs, ongoing reforms in DelDOT, the Department of Natural Resources and Office of Management and Budget to reduce turnaround times, and expansion of digital services to allow Delawareans to access state services remotely. Meyer stated that the recommendations, which engaged more than 175 state employees in training and process improvement projects, would help ensure tax dollars are used effectively across state government.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 164 into law in June 2025, which amended evaluation and management reimbursement rates for workers' compensation claims in Delaware. The legislation increased reimbursement rates that had previously fallen below the standards set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Following the law's passage, the Delaware Department of Labor reported that more than 200 additional medical providers joined the state's workers' compensation system, with further growth expected.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 255 into law following Senate approval during an extraordinary session, finalizing Delaware's separation of its tax code from federal tax changes enacted under the Trump administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." The legislation was designed to address an estimated $400 million budget shortfall over several years that Democratic lawmakers attributed to the federal tax policy changes. Meyer signed the bill immediately after Senate passage and stated the action was critical to protecting Delaware's revenue and budget priorities.

The Delaware Senate passed House Bill 255, sponsored by House Majority Leader Kerri Harris and State Senator Bryan Townsend, to decouple Delaware from certain federal corporate tax provisions enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation addresses an anticipated $400 million state revenue deficit by preventing businesses from retroactively claiming federal tax breaks dating to 2022 while allowing those breaks to be applied prospectively beginning in tax year 2025. The bill permits immediate deduction of up to $2.5 million in qualifying asset purchases with a lifespan under 20 years, spreading out the timing of other federal tax breaks over several years rather than allowing them all at once.

Forty members of Congress sent a letter to Delaware Governor Matt Meyer on November 12, 2025, urging him to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from accessing Delaware Department of Motor Vehicles data through the national law enforcement network called Nlets. The letter cited concerns about federal access to residents' driver's license and state ID information, noting that five other states have already implemented such restrictions and that ICE made over 292,000 requests through Nlets in the year before October 1, 2025. The lawmakers requested that Meyer obtain detailed briefings from his state Nlets coordinator, make public aggregate statistics on data requests to ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, and implement technical blocks to prevent data sharing with the Department of Homeland Security.

Governor Meyer sought $1 billion in federal funding for rural healthcare projects in response to federal Medicaid cuts prompted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The proposed funding would support a network of mobile health units, new Hope Center locations in Kent and Sussex Counties, and a four-year medical school in Delaware, which is currently one of three states without one. Meyer collaborated with healthcare stakeholders including the Delaware Health Care Association in developing the federal funding application.

Governor Meyer took action to distribute funds through the First State Food Fund to provide money on EBT cards before SNAP benefits were suspended during a federal government shutdown that lasted more than 40 days. The Food Bank of Delaware reported that demand for its services roughly doubled during the shutdown period, with each pantry location serving approximately half the number of families in a single week that it typically serves in an entire month. Meyer's authorization of emergency food assistance funds preceded the suspension of federal SNAP benefits that resulted from the shutdown.

The Delaware House of Representatives approved legislation in a special session on November 13, 2025, that permits New Castle County to set December 31st as the deadline for property tax payments, extending the standard deadline to provide residents additional time following a county property reassessment. The bill had previously passed the Delaware Senate and was sent to Governor Meyer for consideration. The measure was introduced in response to significant property tax increases resulting from the first countywide reassessment in over four decades, which prompted the county to request relief provisions for taxpayers.

The American Civil Liberties Union issued an open letter to Governor Meyer calling on him to issue renewed guidance for local and state police regarding their assistance in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. The letter was prompted by an incident in Seaford in which local and Delaware State Police responded to an ICE arrest, with officers helping secure the scene and move a trailer while federal agents apprehended a suspect identified as Carlos Chaj-Gonzalez. The ACLU stated that it remained unclear whether ICE possessed a valid warrant for the arrest or whether state and local police requested to see documentation of such a warrant.

Governor Meyer announced a $1 billion proposal submitted as an application to the federal Rural Health Transformation Program to expand rural healthcare access across Delaware. The plan includes establishment of the state's first four-year medical school, creation of Hope Center-style facilities in Kent and Sussex counties, deployment of mobile health units, expansion of school-based health centers, and incentive programs for medical professionals to train and work in rural areas. The application encompasses 15 major projects designed to address healthcare workforce shortages, reduce transportation barriers, and improve health outcomes in Delaware's rural communities, which comprise nearly 40 percent of the state's population.

Governor Meyer called an extraordinary session of the Delaware General Assembly scheduled for November 13 to address a projected $400 million revenue shortfall over three fiscal years resulting from federal tax law changes. House Bill 255, introduced by House Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris, would decouple Delaware's tax policy from certain provisions in the federal legislation signed by President Trump, particularly provisions affecting research and development tax credits retroactive to 2022. The measure aims to maintain tax stability for Delaware businesses and taxpayers while allowing the General Assembly time to review and respond to the federal changes.

Governor Meyer called a special session of the Delaware General Assembly in November 2025 to address a $400 million revenue shortfall resulting from federal tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Meyer voiced support for a decoupling bill advanced by the House Administration Committee that would separate Delaware's tax policy from federal tax code, thereby reversing the tax cuts responsible for the shortfall. The proposed legislation, filed by State Representative Kerri Evelyn Harris and State Senator Bryan Townsend, required a three-fifths majority in both chambers to pass.

Governor Meyer and Attorney General Jennings highlighted protections available to furloughed federal employees and contractors in Delaware under the Delaware Federal Employees Civil Relief Act, a state law enacted in 2019 following the 2018 federal government shutdown. The law allows affected workers to request stays on civil court cases and administrative hearings, including eviction proceedings, and prohibits insurance companies from unilaterally lapsing or terminating policies due to missed payments during the shutdown. The protections cover debts including rent, mortgage payments, taxes, and insurance premiums, with the exception of child support obligations and matters related to criminal proceedings.

Governor Meyer stated a preference for consolidating all four northern New Castle County school districts into a single district during a public radio appearance on October 23, 2025. The Redding Consortium, tasked with developing redistricting options for northern New Castle County schools, delayed its decision on implementation from an earlier date to December 16, 2025, citing the need for additional cost information before voting on three proposed options. Meyer's stated position represented one of three approaches under consideration by the Consortium, alongside splitting Wilmington students between existing districts and consolidating three districts plus the City of Wilmington.

Governor Meyer declared a State of Emergency on October 29 in response to the federal government shutdown, which prompted the creation of the First State Food Relief Funds program. The state distributed emergency funding to nearly 60,000 Delaware households receiving food relief benefits by depositing temporary assistance onto their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Meyer authorized the Department of Health and Social Services to issue additional weekly relief payments as needed throughout the month.

Delaware Representatives Kerri Evelyn Harris and Bryan Townsend sponsored House Bill 255 in response to provisions in the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" that automatically applied to Delaware's tax code. The bill would allow Delaware to decouple from specific federal tax provisions, preventing an estimated $400 million state revenue loss over several years caused by expanded business tax deductions for research and property investments made retroactive to 2022. House Bill 255 advanced in the legislative process as lawmakers sought to maintain state revenue levels.

Delaware Representatives Kerri Evelyn Harris and Bryan Townsend introduced House Bill 255 to prevent the automatic application of federal tax provisions from the Trump Administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" to Delaware's state tax code. The bill would allow Delaware to "decouple" from specific federal Internal Revenue Code changes that permit businesses to immediately write off research and property investment costs retroactively to 2022 and prospectively through 2025. According to the House Majority Caucus, these federal provisions would reduce state revenue by approximately $400 million over several years if applied to Delaware's tax system.

Governor Meyer established a state of emergency to redirect approximately $5.4 million per week in state funds to maintain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits through November, pausing a planned Legislative Hall parking lot construction project in Dover to finance the measure. The action was taken after the Trump administration announced it would reduce SNAP benefit payments during a federal government shutdown. Meyer's administration also allocated $100,000 to food banks and pantries to address increased demand for services.

Governor Meyer announced the creation of the Office of New Americans within the Department of State and appointed Rony Baltazar-Lopez as its inaugural director. The office will provide resources and support to Delaware's immigrant population, including language support, workforce development, and civic engagement, and will conduct a statewide listening tour to identify community needs. Baltazar-Lopez, a five-year employee of the Department of State and former Milford Board of Education member, will oversee coordination with the Delaware Department of Justice Office of Immigration Assistance.

Governor Meyer announced the establishment of the Delaware Office of New Americans, a new office housed within the Department of State designed to provide citizenship assistance, language support, workforce development, and civic-engagement resources to immigrants in Delaware. Meyer appointed Rony Baltazar-Lopez, the former Director of Policy and Communications at the Department of State, as the inaugural Director of the Office of New Americans, with Baltazar-Lopez beginning the position on November 3, 2025. The office will coordinate with partner organizations to ensure immigrants have access to resources and support services.

Governor Meyer announced a special session of the Delaware General Assembly scheduled for November 13, 2025, to address a projected $400 million revenue shortfall over two years resulting from corporate tax law changes in the federal Big Beautiful Bill Act. Meyer identified the implementation of certain federal provisions on January 1 as creating an urgent need for legislative action. The anticipated legislative response involves decoupling Delaware's state and federal corporate tax laws to prevent new federal deductions from reducing state revenues.

Delaware Governor Meyer declared a state of emergency to temporarily fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits using state funds in response to a federal gap in food assistance. Meyer announced that approximately 119,000 Delaware residents receiving SNAP would be covered through the state initiative, with benefits distributed weekly rather than monthly. Meyer stated the state would redirect funds from a delayed parking lot project to cover costs through November while exploring additional budget adjustments as needed.

Governor Meyer declared a state of emergency on October 29, 2025, in response to the federal government shutdown threatening to eliminate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for approximately 124,000 Delawareans beginning the following weekend. Meyer announced that Delaware would cover SNAP benefits on a weekly basis starting the following week, requiring the state to allocate approximately $5.4 million per week from available cash in the state operating budget. The declaration also included plans to provide additional assistance to food banks and pantries across the state, with Meyer acknowledging that the state could not sustain such funding indefinitely without federal support resumption.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 10, formally named the Richard "Mouse" Smith Compassionate Release Act, at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on October 30, 2025. The legislation reformed Delaware's sentence modification process by removing the Board of Parole from decisions and allowing incarcerated individuals to apply directly to sentencing courts for sentence reductions if they meet specified conditions including serious medical illness, age and length of service requirements, or rehabilitation-based criteria. The law takes effect 180 days after being signed and grants courts and petitioners the ability to consider victim and witness impact in modification decisions.

Governor Meyer declared a state of emergency in Delaware on October 29, 2025, in response to a federal government shutdown threatening to interrupt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for approximately 120,000 state residents beginning November 1. The declaration authorized the state to fund SNAP benefits on a week-by-week basis and directed enhanced support to Delaware's food banks and pantries. Meyer also called the state legislature back into session to address a $400 million revenue shortfall attributed to federal tax policy changes.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 156, which took effect in Delaware on October 28, 2025, prohibiting medical debt from being reported to credit agencies and included in consumer credit reports. The legislation passed the General Assembly unanimously and was designed to prevent medical debt from negatively affecting the credit scores of Delaware residents facing illness or injury-related financial hardship. In July 2025, Meyer also announced a partnership with nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to allocate $500,000 in state funds toward eliminating up to $50 million in existing medical debt for approximately 17,000 Delaware residents meeting specified income thresholds.

The Delaware Council on Development Finance approved up to one million dollars in funding to support Corteva's relocation from Chestnut Run Plaza to downtown Wilmington and retention of over 200 jobs in the state. The funding consisted of a $500,000 retention performance award grant and a $500,000 goods-and-services grant, with distribution contingent on Corteva meeting specified commitments to the Council on Development Finance. Governor Meyer stated that the investment would enable Corteva to continue creating jobs in Delaware following the company's 2022 relocation of its headquarters to Indianapolis.

Governor Meyer appointed eight members to a 25-member Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force established through bipartisan legislation passed by the General Assembly to examine the potential deployment of Small Modular Reactors in Delaware. The task force, which convened for the first time in October 2025, was authorized under Senate Concurrent Resolution 18 to assess safety, energy production capacity, costs, construction timelines, and potential locations for SMRs. The examination was undertaken in response to projections that Delaware's energy demand would increase significantly due to data center development and other economic changes.

Governor Meyer attributed Delaware's projected $400 million revenue shortfall over the current and next two fiscal years to President Trump's federal legislation. Democratic legislative leaders stated that Delaware's corporate tax code mirrors federal law, causing federal tax changes to flow through the state system and placing previously allocated funds at risk. The Democratic legislators called for decoupling Delaware's corporate tax laws from the federal code to address the budget impact.

Governor Meyer endorsed a call from Democratic lawmakers to convene a special legislative session to address revenue losses resulting from the corporate tax provisions in President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council projected the bill would cost the state $400 million over two years through changes to corporate tax law. Meyer stated that decoupling Delaware's corporate tax system from federal tax law before January 1 implementation would be a priority for the special session.

Governor Meyer wrote to President Trump requesting authorization of emergency coastal restoration funds following a nor'easter that caused significant beach erosion in Delaware's coastal communities. Meyer's letter requested that the President direct the Army Corps of Engineers to invoke its emergency restoration authority to repair damage to the state's shoreline. According to Meyer's office, a continuing resolution signed by the President had reduced project funding for beach replenishment in coastal states.

Delaware Governor Meyer sent a letter to President Trump on October 21, 2025, requesting federal emergency funding and activation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore Delaware's beaches following damage from recent nor'easters. Meyer's request invoked Section 8327 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, which authorizes the Secretary of the Army to restore public beaches damaged by storms when such damage prevents adequate protection from inundation and erosion. The governor stated that Delaware's beaches constitute critical infrastructure protecting homes, roads, and jobs, and argued that the conditions for federal emergency restoration assistance had been met.

Governor Meyer responded to revenue projections from the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council indicating the state could lose more than $400 million in revenue over the next three years. Meyer stated he would work with Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly in the coming weeks to develop what he characterized as a "simple, responsible fix" to address the projected budget shortfall. The General Assembly is scheduled to resume its two-year session in January.

Delaware's state revenue projections declined following implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included changes to corporate tax policy, according to the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council's October 2025 assessment. Meyer stated in response that the changes would result in over $400 million in lost revenue to the state over three years and indicated plans to work with members of the General Assembly on what he characterized as a "responsible fix" to address the revenue shortfall. The state's Budget Stabilization Fund was identified as available to cover the projected gap in the FY 2027 budget.

Governor Meyer joined the Delaware State Housing Authority, developers, and community leaders to celebrate the start of Mispillion Station II, an affordable housing project in Milford that will renovate 32 existing apartments and add 16 new units with a $547,000 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit award and over $5 million in additional funding. The event highlighted the September announcement of $3.4 million in tax credits allocated to four projects across Delaware through the state's Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. These developments are collectively expected to add 105 new affordable units and preserve 116 existing ones across the state.

Governor Meyer and Delaware Public Advocate Jameson Tweedie proposed that the Delaware Public Service Commission establish a large load tariff for facilities consuming more than 25-megawatts of electricity, including data centers. On September 3rd, the Division of the Public Advocate and Delaware Public Service Commission staff jointly petitioned the Commission to open a docket for this tariff, which would require large electricity users to cover infrastructure costs rather than shifting them to other ratepayers. The Commission voted to grant the request and pause interconnection of large load facilities in Delmarva Power's territory pending the tariff's establishment.

Meyer joined thirteen other governors in launching the Governors Public Health Alliance, a coalition aimed at coordinating public health efforts across state lines. The alliance includes Democratic governors from Washington, Hawaii, New York, Oregon, Connecticut, Guam, Rhode Island, New Jersey, California, Colorado, Illinois, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. According to Meyer, the alliance will function as a nonpartisan hub for governors and state public health leaders to share data, resources, and coordinate communication on emerging health threats and policy.

Governor Meyer signed an agreement with ChristianaCare CEO Dr. Janice Nevin to pause ongoing litigation related to HB 350 and the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board. The agreement commits both parties to work with legislators to draft legislation addressing hospital transparency, accountability, and healthcare workforce investments while maintaining the state's spending benchmark requirements. Under the modified framework, the Hospital Cost Review Board will evaluate hospitals based on actual budget information rather than prospective budgets, with benchmark compliance plans beginning in 2027.

Governor Meyer and ChristianaCare announced an agreement on October 8, 2025, to pause ongoing litigation related to House Bill 350 and establish a framework toward settlement. Under the agreement, ChristianaCare committed to submitting employee claims data to the Delaware Health Information Network for enhanced transparency and to negotiating in good faith on a statewide healthcare workforce loan forgiveness investment. The agreement was designed to address healthcare affordability concerns while allowing both parties to move forward collaboratively rather than through continued legal proceedings.

Governor Meyer announced the creation of a website at www.de.gov/federalshutdown to provide resources for Delaware federal workers and their families affected by the federal government shutdown. The website compiles information on assistance programs including food assistance, healthcare, unemployment benefits, student loan relief, child support, and rent and utility assistance, as well as mental health resources. The site was developed in response to the shutdown's impact on an estimated 4,000 federal employees in Delaware.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 105, sponsored by Rep. Melanie Ross Levin and Sen. Laura Sturgeon, which requires most employers to include salary or wage ranges and benefit descriptions in job postings, effective two years from the date of signature. Meyer also signed House Bill 136, sponsored by Rep. Levin and Sen. Nicole Poore, which strengthens enforcement against unlicensed massage and bodywork businesses and requires such establishments to disclose their licensing status to consumers. The two bills address worker protections in hiring practices and consumer safety in the massage and bodywork industry.

Governor Meyer ceremonially signed Senate Bill 174, legislation that creates a public Animal Abuse Offender Registry in Delaware administered by the Office of Animal Welfare. The registry enables animal shelters and adoption organizations to access a list of individuals convicted of animal abuse and prohibits those listed from adopting animals, with petitioners eligible to request removal after two years for misdemeanors or seven years for felonies. The bill, sponsored by State Senator Nicole Poore, officially became law in August 2025, with the Office of Animal Welfare continuing work on launching public access to the registry.

Governor Meyer nominated Christen Linke Young to serve as Secretary of Delaware's Department of Health and Social Services, succeeding Josette Manning who departed the position on October 1, 2025, to become State Director for Senator Chris Coons. Young brings over 15 years of experience in state and federal government, including prior service as Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Young's nomination is subject to confirmation by the Delaware State Senate.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 164, which approved toll increases on Delaware highways including Interstate 95, Route 1, and Route 301, with the new rates taking effect on August 15. The legislation raised E-ZPass tolls to $1.50 on weekdays and $4 on weekends for in-state drivers on Route 1, while out-of-state E-ZPass holders and cash users were charged $2.50 on weekdays and $6 on weekends. Residents of Little Creek reported that the toll increases prompted drivers to use local roads as alternative routes, contributing to increased speeding in their community.

Governor Meyer nominated Brigadier General Karen Berry to serve as the first Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, a cabinet-level department established through House Bill 1 passed by the General Assembly. Berry was subsequently confirmed by the State Senate following her appearance before the Senate Executive Committee. Berry outlined her initial priorities as conducting outreach to veterans and veterans organizations to identify their needs and service gaps, and ensuring veterans have knowledge of available benefits.

Delaware House representatives passed legislation during a special legislative session that allows school districts in New Castle County to reset and split tax rates between residential and non-residential properties in response to a property reassessment that shifted tax burden toward residential owners. Governor Meyer signed the bill in August 2025. A coalition of landlord and property associations, including the Delaware Apartment Association and Newark Property Association, filed a lawsuit in September 2025 challenging the legislation, arguing it shifts tax burden to low-income renters and manufactured housing residents while not reflecting current market values.

Governor Meyer signed the Freedom to Read Act into law on September 17, 2025, at Joseph E. Johnson Elementary in Wilmington, Delaware. The legislation prevents the removal of books from public and school libraries based on identity-based, ideological, or religious reasons. Meyer also signed the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, which builds upon existing state laws protecting residents from freedom of speech lawsuits.

Delaware Governor Meyer signed House Bill 119, the "Freedom to Read Act," into law on September 15, 2025. The legislation establishes statewide standards for how public and school libraries manage challenges to materials on their shelves, requiring written policies that prevent removal of books based solely on partisan, ideological, or religious objections. The law mandates clear review processes for objections, requires materials under review to remain available pending final decisions, protects librarians from retaliation, and establishes a School Library Review Committee to hear appeals in school library disputes.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 174 in August, which directs Delaware's Office of Animal Welfare to create and maintain a public list of adults convicted of animal abuse. The list will be made available on the state's website and must be consulted by animal shelters before adopting out pets, while also remaining accessible to the general public. A ceremonial signing ceremony was held on September 16 at the Brandywine Valley SPCA's Copeland Center for Animal Welfare, bringing together state officials, animal welfare advocates, and community members.

Governor Meyer issued a Standing Order with the Delaware Division of Public Health directing the Board of Pharmacy to ensure continued access to COVID-19 vaccines for all Delawareans six months of age or older, regardless of high-risk status. The order came one week after Delaware joined a northeastern coalition of states focused on evidence-based vaccine recommendations. Meyer also directed the Department of Public Health and Department of Education to revise state regulations to prevent federal vaccine policy changes from negatively impacting student health and safety.

Governor Meyer ordered all United States and Delaware flags to fly at half-staff through Sunday following the death of Conservative leader Charlie Kirk on Wednesday. Meyer stated that Delaware followed the directive issued by President Trump, who ordered U.S. flags to half-staff until Sunday at 6 p.m. In a statement, Meyer referenced the shooting incident and called for vigorous debate on ideas without resorting to violence.

Governor Meyer and the Delaware Division of Public Health issued a standing order to protect COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, which authorizes pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to individuals who meet recommendations from professional organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Meyer called on the Board of Pharmacy to convene an emergency meeting to affirm the standing order. The action was taken in response to new limitations placed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and as part of Delaware's participation in a Northeast public health coalition to develop regional vaccine guidelines.

Governor Meyer announced Delaware's participation in a Northeast public health coalition alongside eight other northeastern states to develop independent vaccine recommendations. The coalition was formed in response to federal health policy changes, including decisions by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to remove the CDC director and replace members of the CDC vaccine advisory panel. The coalition aims to provide vaccine recommendations to residents based on scientific criteria rather than relying solely on federal guidance.

Meyer signed House Bill 171, which updates the Delaware Volunteerism Act to allow high school students to earn up to one elective credit for volunteering with local fire companies, with schools required to notify students of the option and the Department of Education to establish implementation rules. Meyer also signed Senate Bill 28, which provides $7,000 in funeral expense coverage for members of volunteer fire companies, auxiliaries, and rescue squads, effective October 1, 2025. The legislation was introduced in response to declining volunteer firefighter numbers in Delaware, with class sizes at the State Fire School falling from 408 to 189 between 2009 and 2021.

Sussex County Council introduced an ordinance at its Tuesday meeting that would adjust regulations governing retail marijuana sales in unincorporated areas of the county. The proposed ordinance would reduce the required distance between marijuana retail establishments and municipality limits from three miles to two miles and would permit such establishments in C2 medium commercial districts in addition to the currently allowed C3 heavy commercial districts, while maintaining the three-mile distance requirement from places of worship, schools, and rehabilitation centers. The ordinance will proceed to public hearings before county planning and zoning and county council before any vote can occur.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 176 into law in September 2025, authorizing Sussex County officials to impose a school impact fee on new building permits. The legislation grants Sussex County the authority to charge developers fees that would fund school expansion and infrastructure projects to accommodate population growth. No specific impact fee amount or implementation timeline had been established at the time of the bill's signing, with county officials remaining in the exploratory phase of fee development.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 150, which establishes the Affordable Rental Housing Program to provide loans that expand affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Meyer also signed Senate Bill 176, which authorizes Sussex County to apply impact fees on new building permits to fund the local share of school construction costs. Additionally, Meyer signed Senate Bill 40, which subjects manufactured home community landlords with repeated violations to the Consumer Fraud Act and allows the attorney general to intervene in such cases.

Governor Matt Meyer signed seven pieces of bipartisan legislation on September 4, 2025, addressing affordable housing and manufactured home protections. The signed bills included Senate Bill 40, which subjects manufactured home community landlords to the Consumer Fraud Act; Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 56, which streamlines processes for selling and inheriting manufactured homes; Senate Bill 132, which updates the Right to Representation law; Senate Bill 144, which removes the cap on the Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund; and House Bill 193, which increases tenant protections related to the Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund. Meyer stated the legislation was intended to expand access to affordable housing, increase protections for families in manufactured home communities, and reduce regulatory barriers for Delaware residents.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed nine education-related bills into law on September 2, 2025, at Stanton Middle School. The legislation included House Bill 64, which requires school board meetings to offer remote participation options; House Bill 77, which mandates training for school board members on the Freedom of Information Act and ethics; House Bill 83, which permits remote voting by board members for specified circumstances; House Bill 85, which requires background checks for school board members; House Bill 91, which establishes universal free breakfast for all students beginning in the 2026-2027 school year; House Bill 97, which requires school employees working directly with students to hold valid state permits or licenses; and Senate Bill 81, which removes experience credit deadlines for educators calculating pay. Meyer also signed additional education legislation during the event.

Meyer signed House Bill 91 into law in July, establishing universal free school breakfast for all Delaware public students and making Delaware the third state to provide such coverage statewide. The legislation added approximately 83 schools to the free breakfast program that were not previously covered under the federal School Breakfast Program, with annual state reimbursement costs projected at $3.3 million. Meyer also signed eight additional education bills during the same legislative session addressing school board oversight, transparency, and employee licensure requirements for individuals working directly with students.

Governor Meyer vetoed Senate Bill 75, legislation that would have limited county zoning buffer zones between marijuana dispensaries and sensitive locations to no more than 500 feet, citing concerns about overriding local judgment. The bill's sponsor, State Senator Trey Paradee, claimed Meyer had agreed to allow the legislation to become law in late June before reversing course. Meyer attached draft legislation to his veto statement that would allocate 4.5 percent of marijuana tax revenue to counties hosting retail stores, compared to the state's current 15 percent tax collection.

Delaware Governor Meyer vetoed Senate Bill 75 on August 29, 2025, legislation that would have transferred zoning authority for adult-use marijuana retail from local governments to the state level. The bill, introduced by Senator Trey Paradee in March 2025, sought to limit local zoning restrictions on marijuana dispensaries and related facilities across Delaware. Meyer stated that state involvement in local land use decisions was inappropriate and that local governments should retain zoning authority.

Governor Meyer vetoed Senate Bill 75, which would have limited counties' abilities to restrict cannabis business operations. In his veto message, Meyer stated that the legislation would override local judgment regarding the location and operation of marijuana establishments near sensitive areas such as schools, child care centers, parks, and libraries. Meyer indicated support for exploring revenue-sharing arrangements with counties while maintaining local zoning authority.

Governor Meyer vetoed Senate Bill 75, legislation that would have limited countywide zoning restrictions on marijuana dispensaries to no more than 500 feet and prohibited dispensaries from operating within a half mile of another retail marijuana store. The bill was a response to Sussex County's implementation of a 3-mile buffer zone between marijuana retail stores and sensitive locations such as schools and libraries, and New Castle County's 1,000-foot radius restriction. Meyer stated that the bill would override local zoning authority and indicated his preference for working with counties as partners while exploring revenue-sharing arrangements to support local governments.

Governor Meyer announced a public input process regarding Delaware's allocation of federal Rural Healthcare Transformation Program funding, which provides up to $500 million to the state from a $25 billion pool divided equally among states with approved plans, with an additional $25 billion available through competitive grants. Meyer solicited input from patients, providers, and community advocates to guide the state's investment decisions in rural healthcare improvements. Federal guidelines require states to invest in at least three categories of rural health improvements, including evidence-based interventions for disease prevention and management and payments to healthcare providers for specified services.

Governor Meyer announced the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion federal funding initiative designed to expand healthcare access and improve health outcomes in rural Delaware communities. Meyer invited public input from patients, providers, advocates, and stakeholders to guide how the state directs program investments across categories including chronic disease management, healthcare provider payments, technology solutions, workforce recruitment, and mental health services. Feedback on the program was requested by September 19, 2025.

Governor Meyer announced the nomination of Brigadier General Karen A. Berry to serve as Cabinet Secretary of the newly created Delaware Department of Veterans Affairs, a position requiring confirmation by the Delaware State Senate. The department was established through House Bill 1 and represents the first time veterans' services have been elevated to cabinet-level status in Delaware history. Berry, who retired from the Delaware National Guard in 2023 after more than 30 years of service, has worked as a mathematics educator and currently serves as a Veterans Advocate at Delaware Technical Community College.

Governor Meyer signed 11 bills on August 25, 2025, to expand Delaware's public health protections, with Senate Bill 12, the Delaware Pre-Authorization Act of 2025, serving as a centerpiece that streamlines insurance approval timelines and increases electronic processing. The additional legislation included House Bills 169, 173, 148, and 118, along with House Bills 156, 157, and 158, and Senate Bill 109, which addressed behavioral health services, hospital surgical procedures, nursing board oversight, care for medically complex young adults, infection reporting, emergency planning, and social work licensure. Meyer stated the legislative package aimed to make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and responsive to Delaware residents by reducing administrative delays and improving care delivery.

Governor Meyer appointed retired Brigadier General Karen Berry as Delaware's inaugural secretary of veterans affairs following the governor's signing of legislation creating the state's first cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs. Berry, who served 36 years in the National Guard and most recently worked as a veterans advocacy specialist at Delaware Technical Community College, will oversee the new department established to increase funding and resources for the state's approximately 70,000 veterans. The department is required by law to be fully operational by July 2030, though Berry's appointment positions it for an earlier launch date pending her confirmation by the Delaware State Senate.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 52 in August 2025, legislation designed to address staffing shortages in Delaware schools and 24-hour state agencies by modifying pension rules for returning retirees. The bill removes the previous $50,000 annual earnings cap for pensioners returning to work, lowers the age threshold for employees under 59½, shortens the required separation period from six months to three months, and extends the same rules to substitute teachers in charter schools as those in traditional public schools. Senate Bill 52 passed the General Assembly unanimously earlier in 2025.

Meyer signed House Bill 36 and House Bill 37, which updated Delaware Code to include all protected classes including race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity in non-discrimination provisions and required state-funded programs and entities to abide by the same non-discrimination rules as private businesses. Meyer signed House Bill 54, which established an Office of Suicide Prevention in Delaware, making Delaware the last state to create a state-level resource for suicide awareness and prevention. Meyer signed a total of ten bills related to public safety and criminal justice, consisting of six House bills and four Senate bills that made various changes to Delaware's criminal justice and public safety system.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 54 on August 21, 2025, establishing the Delaware Office of Suicide Prevention, making Delaware the final state to create such an office. The new office will operate within the Delaware Health and Social Services department and will focus on prevention efforts, data collection, and coordination of best practices across state agencies, with staffing expected to begin in 2026. The legislation was prompted by Delaware's suicide mortality rate, which reached 145 deaths in 2024, an increase of 15 deaths from the previous year.

New Castle County produced two documentaries in partnership with Bowstring and 1440 Film Company that received nominations for the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards. "Return to Hockessin #107C" was nominated in the Historical/Cultural category, while "Restless Ground: The Untold Story of Mt. Olive" received a nomination in the Diversity/Equity/Inclusion category. Production of the documentaries began in the second half of 2023 and was completed with the premiere of "Restless Ground" in December 2024 during Meyer's tenure as New Castle County Executive.

Governor Meyer signed legislation on August 15, 2025, permitting direct shipment of wine to consumers in Delaware, making Utah the only remaining state without such capability. The law authorizes farm wineries and small producers to ship up to three nine-liter cases of wine annually to households through common carriers, while excluding retailers from shipping privileges. The legislation takes effect one year after signing and requires the Delaware Alcoholic Beverage Commissioner to study the impact on in-state wine retailers and report findings by June 1, 2028.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 187 on August 15, 2025, establishing Delaware's first legal framework for direct-to-door wine shipments from both in-state and out-of-state licensed producers. The law, which takes effect 365 days after the governor's signature, includes annual shipment limits per household, caps per licensee, and requires age verification by delivery personnel at least 21 years old. The legislation also mandates a study on retail impact due by June 1, 2028, and includes a five-year sunset provision.

Meyer signed seven bills into law during a special legislative session in August 2025 designed to address taxpayer burden following a statewide property reassessment process in New Castle County. The reassessment, conducted by contractor Tyler Technologies, generated over 5,200 appeals from homeowners claiming improper assessments. Meyer stated he intended to monitor the reassessment process's fairness and explore additional long-term solutions, noting that while the special session represented progress, discrepancies in assessments remained that required correction.

Governor Meyer signed legislation creating an Office of the Inspector General on Thursday, establishing a new state watchdog agency tasked with investigating potential fraud, waste, mismanagement, corruption, and abuse of governmental resources. The inspector general position will be nonpartisan and independent, with authority to issue subpoenas, file civil suits for recovery of misspent resources, and initiate civil proceedings against state officials. The bill passed the Delaware legislature on the final day of session in June after nearly two decades of failed attempts, with Meyer's signature initiating a 60-day period for a selection panel to convene and consider candidates for the position.

Governor Meyer stated that he would take action to prevent the construction of Project Washington, a proposed large-scale data center near Delaware City, citing the state's existing energy deficit and the project's substantial power consumption requirements. Meyer noted that while the data center would generate construction employment, it would create limited permanent jobs for Delaware residents and would increase electricity costs for existing consumers. Meyer indicated openness to smaller data center projects and other artificial intelligence economy opportunities that could be developed within the state's existing energy capacity.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 164 into law earlier in 2025, legislation that authorized toll increases on three Delaware highways: Interstate 95, Route 1, and Route 301. The toll hikes took effect on August 15, 2025, raising rates for both in-state and out-of-state drivers, with out-of-state E-ZPass users and cash payers subject to the largest increases. The rate increases marked the first toll adjustment on Route 1 since its opening and the first on Interstate 95 since 2014.

Governor Meyer signed an executive order on his inauguration day directing state officials to expand apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities for Delaware youth. The Delaware Department of Labor subsequently launched a virtual monthly information series to help employers understand the benefits and legal requirements of employing young workers. The first call in the series, scheduled for August 21, focused on state laws and compliance regulations for hiring workers ages 14-18, including work schedules and safety requirements.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 1 on Wednesday in Smyrna, legislation that creates a cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs in Delaware to serve the state's estimated 70,000 veterans and their families. The department will be led by a Secretary and supervisory staff comprised of veterans, while the existing Commission of Veterans Affairs will continue in an advisory and oversight capacity. Operations currently under the Department of State will transition to the new Department of Veterans Affairs, with full independence scheduled no later than July 1, 2030.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 1, sponsored by State Representative Bill Carson and State Senator Nicole Poore, which establishes a new state-level Department of Veterans Affairs in Delaware. The legislation transfers the Commission of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Veterans Affairs, the two Veterans Memorial Cemeteries, and the state-run Veterans Home from the Department of State to the new department, which will be led by a cabinet-level secretary. The enacting legislation requires the department to be fully functional by July 2030, though Meyer stated he is committed to implementing it sooner if feasible.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 241, which allows Delaware's school districts to offer interest-free school tax payment installment plans for residents facing increases from recent property reassessment, with an amendment waiving penalties over three years and permitting districts to borrow state funds if needed to meet payroll obligations. Meyer also signed House Bill 242, which grants school districts the authority to establish different tax rates for residential and non-residential properties, similar to powers already held by municipalities. These measures were among six bills passed during a special session of the Delaware General Assembly on August 12, 2025, aimed at addressing property tax and school tax increases resulting from a recent statewide reassessment.

Following a special legislative session called to address tax relief for New Castle County residents affected by court-mandated property reassessments, Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 202 on Wednesday morning. The General Assembly passed seven measures during the one-day session designed to provide immediate tax relief to residents experiencing significant property tax increases resulting from reassessments conducted for the first time in decades. The legislation was enacted in response to skyrocketing tax bills in New Castle County and additional tax increases from school district decisions to raise property taxes following the reassessment process.

On Wednesday, Governor Meyer signed House Bill 1 into law, establishing a state-level Department of Veterans Affairs to be led by a cabinet-level secretary. The legislation passed the Delaware General Assembly unanimously and was designed to assist the state's more than 75,000 veterans in accessing healthcare and other benefits services. The department aims to address gaps in veterans' knowledge of available services and to centralize information that was previously difficult for veterans to locate.

Governor Meyer signed an executive order in May creating the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety as part of Delaware's efforts to address gun violence. The state legislature subsequently passed legislation to establish an Office of Suicide Prevention, which awaited Meyer's signature at the time of the roundtable discussion. Meyer's administration credited the state's declining firearm death rates and crime statistics to coordinated efforts combining public safety initiatives with community-based public health approaches.

Brandywine School Board President Jason Heller called on state legislators to allow school districts to adjust property tax rates set in early June after the Federal Department of Education announced the release of $28 million in frozen federal funds to Delaware. Heller advocated for passage of House Bill 242 during the Special Session at Legislative Hall, which would grant districts the option to roll back tax increases that were implemented in response to the federal funding freeze. Heller also requested that districts be permitted to split tax rates into residential and non-residential pools and to make adjustments and resend invoices before the late September due date.

Attorney General Jennings joined a lawsuit filed August 1 seeking federal court protections to ensure hospitals continue providing gender-affirming medical care to transgender individuals 19 years old and younger. The lawsuit was filed in response to a January executive order by President Trump that seeks to deter providers from offering such care to minors. Jennings' action follows an executive order signed by Governor Meyer in June that established protections for gender-affirming care providers in Delaware and prohibited the state from honoring subpoenas or extradition requests from other states that have criminalized such care.

The Delaware Department of Labor resisted a subpoena issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requesting payroll information for 15 Delaware businesses as part of an investigation into employment of undocumented individuals. Delaware's U.S. Attorney Julianne Murray sought court enforcement of the subpoena, leading to a show cause hearing before Delaware District Court Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly on August 6, 2025. The Department of Labor, represented by the Delaware Department of Justice attorney Jennifer-Kate Aaronson, contested the disclosure of the payroll records.

Delaware's legal adult-use cannabis sales began on August 1, 2025, generating over $903,000 in combined recreational and medical marijuana sales during the first three days of operation, with nearly $94,000 in tax revenue collected. Governor Meyer stated that the initial sales performance exceeded expectations and reflected consumer demand and licensed operator readiness. Meyer indicated that revenue from cannabis sales would be reinvested into neighborhoods across the state.

Meyer toured First State Compassion's cannabis cultivation facility in Milford ahead of the launch of legal recreational marijuana sales in Delaware. The visit highlighted a partnership between First State Compassion and Delaware Tech to provide educational training in cannabis cultivation, extraction, and industry practices for students entering the workforce. Delaware Tech's Cannabis Industry course, developed by Educational Specialist Emily Wilkins, represents the first such program at the institution and was designed to align with Delaware's regulatory requirements.

Gov. Matt Meyer toured First State Compassion, a cannabis cultivation facility in Milford, on July 30, 2025, two days before Delaware's adult-use cannabis market was scheduled to launch on August 1. The tour allowed Meyer and other state officials to observe the seed-to-sale cultivation process at the licensed facility ahead of the market opening. During the visit, Meyer also met with students from Delaware Technical Community College who were participating in the school's cannabis industry training program.

Governor Meyer secured $500,000 in state funds to partner with nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to eliminate approximately $50 million in medical debt for an estimated 17,000 Delaware residents with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Meyer signed legislation prohibiting the reporting of medical debt to consumer credit reporting agencies, preventing medical debt from affecting individuals' access to housing, credit, and employment. Qualifying residents will receive notification letters automatically without being required to apply for the debt elimination program.

Governor Meyer announced that Delaware would receive $28 million in federal education funding that had been previously frozen by the Trump administration. Meyer stated in a social media post that he communicated with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon regarding the release of the funds and expressed the expectation that the money would reach classrooms without additional conditions or administrative requirements. The announcement followed property tax bills sent to Delaware residents that included increased school tax assessments resulting from a 2024 court-ordered property value reassessment.

Governor Meyer joined the chief executives of eight other states in sending a letter to the PJM Interconnection Board of Managers calling for transparency and ratepayer-focused leadership within the regional grid operator. The letter, sent amid scrutiny over the PJM's role in utility price hikes, stated that "fundamental changes, and new leadership, are needed" and specifically criticized the organization's multi-year inability to efficiently connect new resources to its grid and engage in effective long-term transmission planning. Meyer stated that PJM leadership should prioritize affordability, transparency, and long-term planning while treating states as partners and giving the public a stronger voice in Board decisions.

Governor Meyer and State Secretary of Agriculture Don Clifton announced four new appointments and two reappointments to the Governor's Council on Agriculture, an advisory body that provides guidance on farm and food-related policies in Delaware. The appointees included farmers from across the state as well as agricultural professionals, with Gwynn Pierce noted as the first African American appointed to the council. Meyer stated that agriculture represents the state's number one market and emphasized the importance of supporting both current farming operations and opportunities for new and historically underrepresented participants in the agricultural sector.

Gov. Meyer announced that Vanessa Phillips, his inaugural Chief of Staff, would transition to the role of senior advisor to the governor. Deputy Legal Counsel Misty Seemans was elevated to the position of Chief of Staff. Meyer stated that Phillips would continue to provide strategic counsel on complex state challenges in her new capacity.

Governor Meyer signed a joint resolution to establish the development of an AI Sandbox program in Delaware, which would allow companies to test artificial intelligence tools under eased regulations in designated industries including biotechnology, healthcare, chemicals, corporate governance, and financial services. The AI Commission will draft legislation for the General Assembly to consider by January 2026, with the sandbox to be managed by a panel including representatives from the Secretary of State's office, the judiciary, the legislature, and gubernatorial appointees. The program is designed to enable regulated pilot testing of new AI technologies while maintaining consumer protection and oversight mechanisms.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 160, which modified the Delaware National Guard's State Education Assistance Program to enable up-front tuition and fee payments for service members pursuing postsecondary education rather than limiting the program to reimbursements after payment. Previously, service members were required to pay tuition costs themselves before receiving reimbursement, a burden that Adjutant General James Benson stated deterred recruitment and retention. Meyer also signed two accompanying bills establishing military status as a protected class in public accommodations, housing, insurance, education and employment, and exempting certain military family child care providers from state licensing requirements.

Governor Meyer directed that flags at state-owned buildings and facilities in Delaware fly at half-staff through sunset on July 28th following the death of Ray Firmani, a World War II B-17 pilot who died at age 103. Firmani was a resident of Elsmere who lived in Delaware for 98 of his 103 years and flew 25 combat missions over Germany and France, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. Meyer issued a statement characterizing Firmani as a community figure who counseled generations of Delaware leaders.

Governor Meyer signed six healthcare bills on Monday at the Carvel State Building in Wilmington, including legislation creating a lactation program for incarcerated individuals, banning gas station heroin, and expanding support for deaf and hard of hearing residents. Meyer also signed House Bill 205, sponsored by State Representative Cyndi Romer, which provides broad legal protections for healthcare providers in Delaware who perform lawful health services that may be unlawful in other states, including abortion, reproductive services, fertility treatments, IVF, and gender-affirming care. The bill establishes Delaware protections without carveouts or exceptions for any lawful healthcare services performed within the state.

Josette Manning, Delaware's Health and Social Services Secretary, announced her departure from the cabinet position in October 2025 to become State Director for Senator Chris Coons' Office. Manning had served as DHSS Secretary since the previous administration and previously held the position of secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families. Governor Matt Meyer acknowledged Manning's service and stated his support for her transition to the new role.

Governor Meyer signed eleven energy and environmental bills on Wednesday at the Carvel State Building in Wilmington. Eight of the bills directly addressed energy bill relief, pricing transparency, and energy supply improvements, including the creation of an energy bill assistance fund for low to moderate income households, increased Public Service Commission scrutiny of utility rate hikes, mandatory disclosure of PJM Interconnection Regional Transmission Organization votes, restrictions on regulated utilities using customer funds for lobbying, net-metering credit protections, and provisions allowing discounted rates for qualified low-income customers. The legislation was prompted by an unseasonably cold winter that resulted in skyrocketing energy bills for ratepayers across Delaware.

Governor Meyer signed a legislative package consisting of eleven bills on July 16, 2025, focused on energy and environmental matters. The bills included Senate Bill 59, which reformed utility rate-setting procedures; Senate Bill 60, which prohibited use of customer funds for non-utility activities; Senate Bill 61, which required transparency in regional energy grid participation; Senate Bill 175, which addressed net-metering customer credits; and Senate Joint Resolution 3, which directed analysis and pilot programs for energy storage systems. The package additionally included House Joint Resolution 3, calling for analysis of grid-enhancing technologies, and House Substitute 1 for House Bill 50, which established new environmental protections.

Governor Meyer appointed David Singleton, former Secretary of Finance, to chair the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board, a position Singleton formally accepted at the board's monthly meeting in July 2025. The DSHCRB was created under House Bill 350 to review hospital budgets statewide and ensure compliance with Delaware's healthcare spending benchmarks, with hospitals failing to meet cost increase targets required to develop performance improvement plans. The board has faced legal challenges, including a constitutional lawsuit filed by ChristianaCare in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and Singleton indicated the board would continue its work while monitoring the ongoing litigation.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 153, which modernized the Interagency Resource Management Committee and expanded its composition to include non-voting members from the General Assembly. Meyer appointed Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay as Chair of the committee, which is responsible for establishing a comprehensive and coordinated early childhood education system in Delaware. The committee, composed of Cabinet Secretaries and senior state agency leadership, is tasked with improving access to quality early education programs and reducing barriers for families seeking affordable care.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 145, which increases reimbursement rates to provide additional funding for the Department of Labor's inspection and safety efforts in Delaware's workers' compensation system. Meyer also signed Senate Bill 164, which creates a one-time increase of 3 percent in aggregate workers' compensation medical expenses to encourage physician participation in the workers' compensation system. The legislation also establishes direct deposit as an option for workers' compensation payments.

Delaware House Bill 187 passed both chambers of the Delaware legislature on the final day of the 2025 legislative session and awaits Governor Matt Meyer's signature. The bill would authorize licensed wine producers in Delaware to ship a limited number of cases directly to consumers within the state, a practice currently prohibited under Delaware law. If signed, the legislation would allow in-state wineries to sell directly to Delaware consumers despite the existing prohibition on direct-to-consumer wine shipments.

Meyer signed the Delaware Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget of $6.5 billion and an accompanying $37 million supplemental spending plan on July 3, 2025. The combined budgets allocated $33.1 million for education growth including a 2% teacher raise, free breakfast for all students, mental health services, and an $8 million Early Literacy Emergency Fund, along with $40 million for additional Medicaid funding and $89.2 million for state employee benefits. The legislature enacted the budget without raising property taxes while maintaining a $469.2 million Budget Stabilization Fund and a $356.4 million Rainy Day Fund.

Governor Meyer is working to finalize two medical debt relief proposals for Delaware residents. The first initiative would eliminate approximately $50 million in medical debt for over 17,000 qualifying Delawareans at a state cost of $500,000, using contracted nonprofit organizations to purchase debt from providers and collectors. The second proposal, sponsored by State Senator Spiros Mantzavinos, is legislation designed to prevent medical debt from negatively affecting individuals' credit scores.

The Delaware State Senate passed Senate Bill 159, which would nullify Sussex County's denial of a permit required for US Wind to construct a substation near 3Rs Beach in Millsboro as part of an offshore wind project. The bill's primary sponsor, 10th District Senator Stephanie Hansen, cited energy reliability concerns and stated that the statewide project should not be subject to local county permitting authority. The measure advanced following a nearly two-hour Senate deliberation on June 10, 2025.

Governor Meyer attended the official opening of Delaware State University's Early Childhood Innovation Center and spoke about the facility's role in workforce training and community research on early childhood development. Meyer characterized the center as a potential model that could be replicated in other states. The center has already produced over 200 Child Development Associate credential earners since its establishment.

Delaware Governor Meyer made stops across Delaware to speak with communities about gun violence prevention and reduction, including a visit to Seaford to meet with neighbors, local advocates, and law enforcement officials. Meyer stated that gun violence prevention is a top priority in his administration and emphasized his commitment to ensuring children's safety in schools, parks, and homes. According to the governor's office, firearms are the leading cause of death in children and teens in Delaware.

Governor Meyer announced the appointment of nine individuals to comprise Delaware's new LGBTQ+ Commission during Pride Month in June 2025. The commission was established to advance the state's equity and inclusion efforts. Cora Castle was named Chair of the commission, which aims to identify and address gaps in resources available to LGBTQ+ residents of Delaware.

Governor Meyer announced the appointment of nine members to the newly created Delaware LGBTQ+ Commission in June 2025, with Cora Castle designated as chair. The commission serves as an advisory body to state leadership on policies affecting the LGBTQ+ community in the areas of mental health, education, housing, healthcare, and civil rights. Meyer tasked the commission with designing policies to ensure the safety and accessibility of healthcare services for LGBTQ+ Delawareans.

The Joint Finance Committee transmitted a $6.58 billion state operating budget for fiscal year 2026 to the Delaware General Assembly for approval, representing a 7.36% increase over the current year. The budget was developed using Governor Meyer's budget reset proposal as a framework, which called for a 7.37% increase and included funding for education employee raises, public school growth, lead remediation, and healthcare programs. The committee approved funding for several provisions from Meyer's budget reset, including $8 million for a Literacy Emergency Fund and $2 million for rental assistance vouchers, while declining to fund a proposed $21.9 million federal contingency fund.

The Delaware Joint Finance Committee completed work on the state's proposed 2026 budget on June 3, 2025, incorporating elements from budget bills introduced by former Governor John Carney and current Governor Matt Meyer. The committee's proposal includes 2% raises for state merit employees and education employees, maintains income tax levels, and allocates funding for education initiatives including a Literacy Emergency Fund and universal free breakfast for students. The budget also includes $2 million for victims' services agencies, $85 million for state Medicaid coverage, and $2 million in vouchers for the State Rental Assistance Program.

Delaware's Joint Finance Committee approved teacher salary increases as part of the state budget markup process, moving forward with plans to raise the starting public school teacher salary to $60,000 by the originally planned completion date of 2027. House Republicans had proposed delaying this salary increase by one year to save approximately $30 million in the fiscal year 26 budget, citing the state's challenging financial forecast in which revenue is expected to grow only 1.9% while Governor Meyer's recommended budget proposes a 7.4% increase. Committee Vice Chair Trey Paradee made the motion to adopt the salary increase, which was approved by all members present, including both Republican and Democratic legislators.

Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester urged her Republican colleagues in the U.S. Senate to reconsider proposed Medicaid cuts included in President Donald Trump's tax extension bill, which passed the House by one vote. The legislation would create new work requirements for childless adults without disabilities enrolled in Medicaid, requiring at least 80 hours of work per month beginning December 2026, along with increased re-enrollment frequency and additional verification requirements. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would reduce federal Medicaid subsidies by $698 billion and result in approximately 13.7 million people losing health insurance coverage by 2034, with roughly one in four Delawareans relying on Medicaid for healthcare.

Governor Meyer signed an executive order establishing the Office of Workforce Development within the Delaware Department of Labor to organize and improve job training and education programs. The executive order also reestablished and modernized the Delaware Workforce Development Board to manage federal resources, improve program performance, and align training programs with current industry needs including apprenticeships, online training, and certifications. The board was composed of business leaders, labor officials, educators, and community advocates to coordinate workforce development efforts across state agencies, schools, and businesses.

The Delaware General Assembly approved a charter amendment allowing Newark to levy a $100 per-student annual tax on the University of Delaware, with the measure clearing the State Senate and awaiting signature from Governor Meyer. The tax, expected to generate over $2 million annually for Newark, would apply to a university that has maintained tax-exempt status since 1915 while the city faces a $6 million budget shortfall. The University of Delaware has made voluntary payments to Newark since 1965, with no increases to those contributions since 2001.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 140, the End-of-Life Options Act, into law on Tuesday, legalizing medical aid in dying for mentally capable patients with a terminal prognosis of six months or less in Delaware. The legislation followed nearly a decade of debate in the state legislature, including a prior version that was vetoed by former Governor John Carney in 2024. The signing took place at Legislative Hall with community members, advocates, and state leaders in attendance.

Governor Meyer proposed a $6.581 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2026, with total spending expected to reach $7.015 billion when capital projects and supplemental expenditures are included. The Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council revised its revenue projections upward by $98 million for the upcoming fiscal year, determining that the state is permitted to spend up to $7.083 billion. Meyer's proposed budget operates within the revised spending limit established by DEFAC's May economic forecasting.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 140 into law on May 20, 2025, legalizing medical aid in dying in Delaware and making the state the 12th jurisdiction to permit the practice. The legislation allows terminally ill adults with a six-month or less life expectancy to request end-of-life medication through a process requiring two verbal requests and one written request, with safeguards preventing guardians or surrogate decision-makers from making requests on behalf of the patient. The bill passed the House 21-17 and the Senate 11-8 after more than a decade of legislative efforts, including a previous version that was vetoed by former Governor John Carney.

Senate Bill 69 unanimously passed the Delaware House and Senate, prohibiting school districts and charter schools from selling or serving food and beverages containing Red Dye 40 during the school day. The bill was sponsored by Senator Eric Buckson, R-District 16, and applies to all food products offered in Delaware schools. The legislation took effect following its passage through both chambers of the Delaware General Assembly.

The Delaware General Assembly passed legislation that would ban Red Dye 40 from all food sold or served in schools, including items in vending machines and à la carte options. Governor Meyer has not yet signed the bill into law, though the measure would give Delaware schools one year to phase out products containing the dye. If signed, Delaware would become the third state to implement such a ban, following California and West Virginia.

State Senator Eric Buckson introduced an initiative to relocate the Caesar Rodney Equestrian statue from storage to Kent County ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026. The statue was removed from Rodney Square in Wilmington in 2020 and has been held in storage facilities in New Jersey and New Castle County. Buckson stated that the relocation would allow the presentation of Rodney's historical narrative, including both his role in American independence and his status as a slave owner who operated a plantation in Kent County.

The Delaware General Assembly unanimously passed two bills to strengthen state dual employment reporting requirements following a 2024 Dual Employment Audit by the State Auditor's Office that identified instances of potential double-dipping among state employees. The first bill requires individuals to disclose dual employment to the Public Integrity Commission to ensure proper reporting mechanisms are in place. The second bill extends dual employment reporting requirements to Delaware's public higher education institutions, including the University of Delaware, which had previously claimed the law did not apply to it.

Governor Meyer nominated Joshua Sanderlin, a Washington D.C.-based cannabis attorney, to serve as Delaware's marijuana commissioner. The State Senate held Sanderlin's confirmation pending proof of divestment from two cannabis businesses in Washington D.C. and New Jersey, as required by Delaware Code Title 4 Section 132 4A, which prohibits the marijuana commissioner from holding financial interests in cannabis companies. Sanderlin indicated his intention to complete the divestment process prior to his swearing in.

Governor Meyer nominated Sonia Augusthy, an assistant public defender with 15 years of courtroom experience, to serve as a judge on the Delaware Superior Court. Augusthy previously served as Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust in the Delaware Department of Justice, overseeing reviews of police use-of-force incidents. Her nomination requires confirmation by the Delaware Senate.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 110 last month, which modified the classification of workers required to pass federal fingerprint checks before employment in Delaware's recreational marijuana industry. The FBI granted partial approval of the changes, identifying that owners, workers, and board members would need to undergo federal background checks, though the agency noted that the state law's use of the term "agent" remained too broad in scope. The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner announced it would contact selected applicants to begin the federal fingerprint check process, with the state legislature expected to address the specific language regarding which individuals must complete the background check requirement.

State Rep. Mara Gorman filed a four-bill package in the Delaware legislature designed to restrict citizen's arrests and civil arrests in courthouses. Two bills would remove outdated early-1900s language from Delaware Code that currently permits private citizens and detectives to make arrests, including arrests based on "reasonable information" that an accused committed a felony in another state. A third bill would prohibit civil arrests from being made in courthouses without a judicial warrant, citing increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence at courthouses as a barrier to crime victims and witnesses seeking legal services.

Governor Meyer nominated environmental lawyer Jameson Tweedie to serve as Delaware's public advocate, a position that became vacant following Ruth Ann Price's departure from the Delaware Division of the Public Advocate. Tweedie, currently a senior staff attorney at the State Energy and Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law, previously worked in the Environmental Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice and as primary counsel to the DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy. If confirmed by the State Senate, Tweedie will advocate for the public interest in utility rate increase requests submitted to the Public Service Commission.

Governor Meyer issued an executive order on May 3, 2025, establishing the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety, which will operate under the Department of Safety and Homeland Security as Delaware's central coordinating body to address gun violence. The office will facilitate communication between state agencies, community organizations, and other entities working on gun violence prevention, including the Coalition for a Safer Delaware and End Community Violence Now. According to a 2024 report from the Center for Gun Violence Solutions cited in the announcement, firearms are the second leading cause of death for children and teens in Delaware and were used in approximately half of domestic violence-related homicides in the state.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signaled his administration's intent to roll back a statewide electric vehicle mandate that had been introduced under former Governor John Carney, which required 43 percent of new vehicle deliveries into the state to be electric or hybrid by 2027, with the requirement increasing to 82 percent by 2032. Meyer's office stated that the state would wait to observe developments in federal policy before determining whether to take formal action to modify the regulation. No formal repeal action had been initiated at the time of the announcement.

On his 100th day in office, Gov. Meyer announced the creation of an Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety through an executive order. Meyer entered office campaigning on improving public education, expanding affordable healthcare and housing, and increasing government transparency, citing public school struggles as a major reason for his election. Meyer stated that federal funding cuts and layoffs under the Trump administration have complicated implementation of his policy agenda.

Governor Meyer signed Executive Order #9 on May 1, 2025, establishing the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety under the Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The office will coordinate existing state and local programs, promote cross-agency data sharing, serve as a contact point for community organizations, work with legislators on gun policy, and support violence intervention strategies. In its first year, the office plans to assess current programs, identify gaps, and develop an integrated prevention roadmap.

Governor Meyer issued Executive Order #9 to establish the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety, which operates under the Department of Safety and Homeland Security with the objective of reducing gun-related injuries and deaths in Delaware. The executive order was issued following two fatal shootings in Seaford that occurred within a month of each other in March and April 2025. Seaford Police Deputy Chief Tyler Justice stated the department welcomes the initiative and expressed willingness to collaborate with the new office on efforts to address gun violence.

Governor Meyer attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Merck's new 470,000 square foot biologics manufacturing facility at the Chestnut Run Innovation and Science Park on April 29, 2025, where the company announced a $1 billion investment in the site. The facility is expected to be operational by 2028 and will create over 500 full-time jobs along with 4,000 construction positions. The Delaware Prosperity Partnership provided Merck with a state incentive package valued at approximately $30 million to secure the company's commitment to locate the facility in Delaware.

Meyer requested that the Public Education Funding Commission add more meetings to its calendar and adopt a more intense pace in order to bring a new education funding framework to the Delaware legislature before the end of summer. The commission is currently divided over the best approach to reshaping Delaware's education funding formula, one week ahead of a scheduled vote on a new framework model. The proposed hybrid approach would combine the state's current unit count system with increased local flexibility and weighted funding directed toward vulnerable student populations including low-income students and multilingual learners.

Governor Meyer named Joanna Champney as co-chair of the Delaware Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission in late February, alongside Attorney General Kathy Jennings. The commission reopened the grant application process for the third round of funding from the multi-million dollar prescription opioid settlement, making approximately 13 million dollars available to Delaware organizations providing opioid addiction treatment and recovery programs. The reopened process followed an independent contractor's report that issued nine key recommendations for grant-awarding guidelines.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 110, legislation introduced by State Representative Ed Osienski that clarified background check requirements for recreational marijuana business license holders in Delaware. The bill added explicit language to Delaware Code identifying who is required to obtain FBI background checks, addressing a federal requirement that had previously delayed the licensing process. The measure enables the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner to resubmit requests for background checks and move forward with issuing conditional licenses to businesses selected through a lottery system.

Governor Meyer signed House Bill 110, legislation that establishes fingerprint identification and criminal background check requirements for individuals seeking to work at or own at least 10% of a marijuana business in Delaware. The fingerprint-based checks provide state officials access to FBI background information and are designed to align Delaware's practices with federal standards for the recreational marijuana industry. The signing was intended to address federal requirements that had delayed the marijuana retail licensing process nearly two years after the passage of the Delaware Marijuana Control Act.

Governor Meyer nominated Jameson Tweedie, an environmental attorney, to serve as Delaware's Public Advocate, subject to Senate confirmation. Tweedie previously spent six years in the Environmental Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice handling climate and energy matters, and currently works as a senior staff attorney at the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law. The Public Advocate position includes responsibility for reviewing energy cases before the Public Service Commission and addressing utility rate matters.

Governor Meyer nominated Joshua Sanderlin, a cannabis lawyer with a decade of regulatory compliance experience at Greenberg Traurig and subsequent work at Cogent Law Group and his own firm Sanderlin Strategies, to serve as Delaware's Marijuana Commissioner. The position has been vacant since Robert Coupe departed in early 2025, with Paul Hyland serving as Acting Marijuana Commissioner. Sanderlin's nomination requires approval by the Delaware State Senate.

Governor Meyer appointed cannabis attorney Joshua Sanderlin as Delaware's Marijuana Commissioner, a position requiring Senate confirmation. Sanderlin, principal of Sanderlin Strategies, has worked in the cannabis industry since 2013 and has assisted marijuana business owners in securing licenses and developing compliance protocols across eight jurisdictions. Sanderlin replaced Rob Coupe, who departed the position in January to enter the private sector.

Governor Meyer nominated Jameson Tweedie, an environmental lawyer with six years of experience in the Delaware Department of Justice's Environmental Unit, to serve as Delaware's Public Advocate. The nomination requires Senate confirmation. Tweedie's appointment followed Meyer's earlier announcement that he was seeking a new Public Advocate in response to public criticism regarding rising utility rates.

Governor Meyer nominated attorney Joshua Sanderlin to serve as head of the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner, overseeing Delaware's recreational marijuana market. Sanderlin's appointment followed more than three months without permanent leadership in the position. The nomination occurred amid delays in the state's recreational cannabis retail launch, which had been scheduled for April but was postponed due to a background check issue identified in state law.

House Bill 140, the End of Life Options Act, passed the Delaware state Senate on April 18, 2025, by an 11-8 vote and was sent to Governor Meyer's desk for consideration. The legislation would permit mentally capable adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live to request life-ending medication, subject to safeguards including two oral requests, one written request, and medical confirmation of mental and physical condition. The bill completed its final legislative hurdle after months of debate in the General Assembly.

The Delaware State Senate passed House Bill 140 on April 17, 2025, by a vote of 11-8, which would allow individuals diagnosed with six months or less to live, who are of sound mind, and wish to end their suffering to access prescribed medication to end their lives. The bill includes specified safeguards and underwent debate in which lawmakers expressed differing views on its provisions. The legislation now proceeds to Governor Matt Meyer for consideration.

The Delaware General Assembly passed medical aid in dying legislation on April 17, 2025, which would permit terminally ill adults with a six-month life expectancy to self-administer prescribed medication to end their lives after meeting specific requirements including two verbal requests and one written request. The bill advanced after two failed amendments, including one proposed by Republican State Sen. Bryant Richardson that would have mandated psychiatric evaluation for all patients seeking the option. Governor Meyer indicated support for the legislation, which represents Delaware's second passage of such a bill in two years after the previous version was vetoed by former Governor John Carney.

Governor Meyer nominated three candidates to the Diamond State Board Port Corporation, with the Senate Executive Committee approving Ronald Harris, Robert Medd, and David Burt for consideration by the full Senate in April 2025. The committee rejected two other Meyer nominees, former DelDOT Secretary Jen Cohan and former Port of Wilmington Executive Director Gene Bailey, after Senate Democratic leadership determined different perspectives were needed on the board. All three approved nominees indicated support for advancing the Edgemoor Port expansion project during their confirmation hearings.

Governor Meyer delivered his first State of the State address in which he reiterated campaign commitments to restructure personal income tax brackets, implement an equitable education funding formula, and expand affordable housing and healthcare initiatives. The governor's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget projects spending increases of 7.4 percent while state revenue growth is projected at 1.9 percent, creating a gap that Democratic lawmakers identified as a concern given federal funding reductions. House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown and other Democratic legislators expressed alignment with Meyer's policy goals while raising questions about the feasibility of accelerated timelines and increased spending given the fiscal environment.

Meyer delivered his first State of the State address on April 10, 2025, in which he called for swift passage of legislation creating three new personal income tax brackets at the $125,000, $250,000, and $500,000 thresholds, while reducing income taxes for the remaining 92 percent of Delawareans. State Rep. Sean Lynn introduced legislation outlining Meyer's tax proposal the previous week, though the bill had not yet received a vote in the State House at the time of the address. Meyer's speech also emphasized education funding reform and continued focus on affordable healthcare and housing initiatives.

Governor Meyer received the final report from the Affordable Housing Production Task Force on Monday, which was established through House Bill 442 in August 2024. The report presents nine objectives and 71 proposals developed by five subcommittees, including recommendations to expand affordable housing funding, streamline permitting processes, reform local zoning laws, adopt a statewide building code, incentivize developers, strengthen comprehensive planning requirements, develop the construction workforce, assist residents in purchasing manufactured home communities, and improve existing housing programs. The task force recommendations are intended to address the state's affordable housing shortage by increasing housing supply across the income spectrum.

Representative Danny Short proposed eliminating over 2,200 vacant state positions in response to Governor Matt Meyer's proposed $6.58 billion budget for 2026, which included a 7.4% increase in spending and new tax brackets for higher earners. Short argued that the unfilled positions, which had remained vacant for months or years, represented unnecessary expenditures and could generate savings exceeding $40 million without requiring layoffs of current employees. The proposal emerged as Republican lawmakers expressed concerns about the budget's sustainability and potential tax increases during Delaware's fiscal deliberations.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 21, which changed Delaware's General Corporation Law by raising the threshold necessary to make books and records requests, with an effective date of February 17. The changes prompted Plumbers & Fitters Local 295 Pension Fund to file a lawsuit in Delaware Court of Chancery challenging the constitutionality of the law and seeking relief related to Dropbox's reincorporation decision. State Representative Frank Burns had proposed an amendment to change the effective date to the day the law was signed to avoid affecting ongoing books and records requests, but the amendment failed during House Floor debate.

Delaware Governor Meyer joined 20 other states in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the cancellation of approximately $11 billion in public health grants that were initially allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meyer stated that Delaware would lose $38 million in federal funding that supports public health programs including overdose prevention case management, mental health services, and immunization initiatives. The grant cancellations, which took effect on March 24, 2025, resulted in the loss of 62 full-time state merit positions and contracted staff positions across Delaware's public health infrastructure.

Governor Meyer's administration announced a series of corrective measures within the Delaware Department of Labor's Unemployment Insurance Division to address accounting deficiencies and control issues identified in previous audits. The improvements include modernization of outdated systems, enhanced internal controls to achieve compliance with state and federal standards, increased reliance on full-time employees rather than contractual workers, and regular public updates on the Department's progress. Secretary of Labor Lakresha Moultrie stated that the reforms are designed to improve customer service to workers, unemployed individuals, and employers while establishing greater accountability and transparency.

Meyer's administration recommended $291 million in cash funding for the Bond Bill for the upcoming fiscal year, representing a 32% decrease from the current fiscal year. This recommendation followed years of elevated infrastructure spending enabled by American Rescue Plan Act funds, which Delaware had allocated heavily to one-time capital projects. Within the recommended funding, Meyer's administration prioritized $171.5 million for school construction and renovation, $42 million for higher education campus improvements, and $30 million for school building deferred maintenance.

Several Delaware Democrats introduced House Bill 94 on March 28, 2025, which would prohibit state sheriffs, deputies, and constables from assisting federal immigration enforcement agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in churches or schools without written authorization from the Delaware Attorney General, with such authorization required at least 72 hours in advance. The bill follows similar legislation introduced in Maryland that generated significant opposition from county sheriffs in that state. Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings previously stated in January 2025 that she would not participate in immigration enforcement activities she characterized as fear-based policies.

Meyer nominated Judge Eric Davis to serve as President Judge of the Delaware Superior Court in March 2025. Davis has served on the Superior Court since December 2012 and previously chaired the Complex Commercial Litigation Division. Davis's appointment requires Senate confirmation and represents Meyer's first judicial appointment to the Delaware Courts.

Governor Meyer presented a budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026 that includes an operating budget of $6.581 billion, a capital budget of $937.9 million, and targeted investments in education, housing, and healthcare. The proposal includes increases to teacher starting salaries to $52,000, creation of three new tax brackets at $125,000, $250,000, and $500,000, and a 50-cent increase to the cigarette tax. The budget also allocates funds for classroom literacy materials and exploration of establishing a medical school in Delaware.

Governor Meyer unveiled a proposed $6.58 billion budget for fiscal year 2026 that introduces three new tax brackets for individuals earning $125,000, $250,000, and $500,000. The budget allocates over $119 million for education, including $75.5 million for teacher salary increases, and directs resources toward housing and healthcare initiatives. Meyer stated the proposal would result in no personal income tax increases for those earning under $134,667 in taxable income, while adjusting rates for higher earners.

Meyer released a fiscal year 2026 state budget proposal totaling $6.6 billion for the state of Delaware, which included recommendations for various tax increases and new personal income tax brackets. The proposal maintained several recommendations from the previous administration, including public educator and state employee salary increases, and added new investments including $8 million for literacy programs, $19 million for the Housing Development Fund, and increases to paramedic cost sharing from 30 percent to 35 percent. Meyer's budget proposal followed the January fiscal year 2026 proposal released by former Governor John Carney and represented an increase of $29 million over that previous proposal.

The Delaware House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 21, a comprehensive overhaul of the Delaware General Corporation Law, after rejecting five proposed amendments during debate on March 25, 2025. Governor Meyer signed the legislation, which modifies safe harbor procedures for controlling stockholders in conflicted transactions, lowers thresholds for such transactions, and raises the threshold for shareholders to request books and records. The bill was enacted in response to concerns that Delaware's corporate franchise, which generates approximately one-third of state revenue, faced erosion as some companies threatened to or had already relocated to other states.

Governor Meyer signed Senate Bill 21 into law on March 25, 2025, following its passage in the Delaware House of Representatives by a vote of 32 to 7. The legislation made revisions to Delaware's corporate law framework, including reducing the required threshold for conflicted transactions within companies and raising the threshold for shareholder books and records requests. The bill was enacted amid national attention regarding Delaware's corporate franchise system, which generates approximately $2.2 billion annually for the state.

Delaware's Senate Bill 21, which amends the General Corporate Law, advanced through the House Judiciary Committee and awaited a House floor vote as of March 2025. The legislation was drafted to address corporate departures from Delaware, including those of Tesla and Dropbox, by modifying requirements for conflicted transactions within companies and adjusting shareholder protections. Meyer, as Governor, would receive the bill upon passage by the House.

The Delaware House of Representatives passed House Bill 140 on March 19, 2025, by a vote of 21-17, with three members absent. The bill would permit mentally capable adult Delaware residents with a terminal diagnosis of six months or less to request physician-assisted death after approval by two physicians. The legislation advances to further consideration in the General Assembly after Governor John Carney vetoed a similar measure the previous year.

Meyer joined Democratic governors Tim Walz of Minnesota and Tony Evers of Wisconsin in responding to the U.S. Department of Education's announcement that it would cut nearly half of its workforce. Delaware and twenty other states filed a lawsuit to block the dismantling of the department, which distributes federal funding to high-poverty districts and students with disabilities. Meyer stated that while he supports government efficiency, the cuts would negatively impact student success, school meal funding, and Pell Grant recipients.

Governor Meyer appointed Cindy Marten as Delaware's Secretary of Education to address multiple educational challenges facing the state. Marten discussed her approach to addressing declining student proficiency scores, including eighth graders' reading performance that the Governor characterized as a literacy emergency, and her work on education funding reform through the Public Education Funding Commission. Marten, drawing on 36 years in education with expertise in literacy, indicated that research-based practices and targeted investments would be necessary to improve student outcomes in Delaware.

Governor Meyer announced five nominations to the Diamond State Port Corporation Board following a Delaware Supreme Court ruling that affirmed his authority to withdraw nominations previously submitted by former Governor Bethany Hall-Long in January 2025. Meyer's nominees include Gene Bailey, David Burt, Jen Cohan, Ronald Harris, and Robert Medd, with only Medd overlapping with Hall-Long's original slate of candidates. The announcement concluded a dispute in which the State Senate proceeded with confirmation hearings for Hall-Long's nominees despite Meyer's request to withdraw them from consideration.

Governor Meyer took action in response to Delmarva Power's requested $44.9 million gas rate increase, which would raise ratepayers' bills by 23 percent. State Senator Stephanie Hansen introduced a three-bill legislative package, including Senate Bill 59, to modify the standards used by the Public Service Commission in approving utility rate increases and to cap annual capital expenses recoverable by Delmarva Power. The proposed legislation would shift the PSC's evaluation standard from the "business judgement rule" to a "prudence" standard, aligning Delaware with 48 other states in their rate-setting methodology.

Governor Meyer appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box on March 11, 2025, to discuss Senate Bill 21, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, which would modify Delaware's corporate laws. Meyer stated that Delaware remains the incorporation home for 2.2 million entities and eighty-one percent of U.S. IPOs from the previous year, and characterized the proposed legislation as necessary to provide clarity and balance the interests of management and stockholders. The Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled a hearing on Senate Bill 21 for March 12, 2025.

The Delaware Supreme Court issued an opinion ruling that Governor Meyer acted legally in withdrawing nominations to the Diamond State Port Corporation that had been submitted by previous Governor Bethany Hall-Long during her two-week tenure. Meyer sought the legal opinion after the Democratic-controlled State Senate indicated it was prepared to vote on Hall-Long's slate of nominees but chose to withhold confirmation pending clarification of the Governor's authority. The DSPC oversees the Port of Wilmington and is pursuing an expansion project at Edgemoor.

Governor Meyer announced a plan to address utility bill increases affecting Delaware customers, which includes appointing a Public Advocate to challenge rate hikes and reappointing a Public Service Commissioner to strengthen regulatory oversight. Meyer's administration announced it would review and overhaul the Public Service Commission's dispute resolution process to streamline customers' ability to challenge charges. Meyer indicated his support for a legislative package of three bills designed to bolster transparency, accountability, and fairness in Delaware's energy market.

Governor Meyer released a multi-faceted energy plan on Wednesday that would impose new guidelines for the Public Service Commission in rate cases, addressing concerns about soaring electricity rates among Delaware residents. Meyer expressed support for Senate Bill 59, which includes a "prudence" standard for utility rate reviews, stating the administration would "hold Delmarva's feet to the fire" to understand rate increases and protect consumers. Meyer made these statements during an appearance on The Rick Jensen Show on WDEL on March 6, 2025, approximately six weeks after taking office.

The Delaware Supreme Court issued an advisory opinion determining that Governor Meyer possessed the authority to withdraw nominations to the Diamond State Port Corporation Board that had been submitted by former Governor Bethany Hall-Long prior to Senate confirmation. The dispute arose after Meyer requested the withdrawal of five nominees to the public body overseeing the Port of Wilmington, which the Senate Executive Committee had advanced to confirmation hearings despite the governor's request. The court ruled that while the Senate retains consent authority over appointments, the governor may withdraw nominations before the Senate has confirmed them, characterizing the appointment process as an executive function.

Governor Meyer demanded immediate bill rate adjustments for Delmarva Power customers who experienced energy bill increases of 50 to 80 percent during winter months, stating that ongoing conversations with the utility have made progress but no announcement was ready. Meyer announced plans to appoint a new public advocate to represent consumers before the Delaware Public Service Commission following the departure of Ruth Ann Price, while intending to reappoint Commissioner Harold Gray and retain the remaining commission members. Meyer also announced backing for a three-bill package from State Senator Stephanie Hansen designed to increase transparency in utility operations.

Governor Meyer announced a comprehensive energy plan in March 2025 addressing rising electricity costs for Delaware residents, proposing immediate bill-rate adjustments for Delmarva Power customers affected by winter rate increases. The plan includes the appointment of a new Public Advocate tasked with challenging rate hikes and improving consumer transparency, along with legislative measures including Senate Bill 59, Senate Bill 60, and Senate Bill 61 to establish prudence standards for utility costs, restrict customer funds for lobbying and political activities, and require public disclosure of PJM Interconnection votes. Meyer stated the measures were intended to provide relief to ratepayers while implementing reforms for increased transparency and accountability in utility regulation.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer announced that state law enforcement would not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts absent a valid court warrant and exigent circumstances threatening community safety. Meyer's statement, issued through Deputy Legal Counsel Misty Seemans, indicated that the State Police had not been asked to participate in ICE or immigration-related investigations since his administration took office. This approach contrasted with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin's executive order authorizing state law enforcement to partner with federal immigration enforcement operations.

Governor Meyer nominated emergency room physician Dr. Thomas Sweeney and healthcare executive Gary Ferguson to the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board, a state panel created to examine hospital budgets annually. Both nominations are subject to confirmation by the Delaware State Senate. The board faces an ongoing legal challenge to its constitutionality filed by ChristianaCare.

Meyer appointed Dr. Thomas Sweeney and Gary Ferguson to the final two positions on the Hospital Cost Review Board, which was established through House Bill 350 passed by the General Assembly in 2024. The eight-member board was created to review hospital budgets and ensure adherence to the state's healthcare spending benchmark. The appointments proceeded amid ongoing litigation filed by ChristianaCare challenging the board's constitutionality and Republican legislative opposition to its creation.

Jennings announced her candidacy for a third term as Delaware Attorney General in 2026, having first taken office in 2019. Following President Trump's executive orders issued in January 2025, Jennings joined a coalition of 23 state attorneys general in seeking enforcement of a temporary restraining order against the federal government's attempt to pause approximately three trillion dollars in federal funds. Jennings additionally joined legal challenges with other state attorneys general against Trump's executive order eliminating birthright citizenship and secured a federal court order blocking unauthorized access to Americans' sensitive data through the U.S. Treasury.

Cindy Marten was appointed Delaware Secretary of Education in the Cabinet of Governor Matt Meyer, effective February 2025. Marten came to the position from her role as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and brings prior experience as superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District and as a teacher and administrator. Her stated priorities include evaluating Delaware's performance on national educational assessments, addressing teacher retention and recruitment, improving school funding equity, and preparing for potential federal education policy changes.

Governor Meyer appointed Joanna Champney, Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, as co-chair of the Delaware Prescription Opioid Settlement Commission. The commission allocates settlement funds to prevention, treatment, recovery, and awareness programs related to opioid use. Champney replaced former Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long as co-chair, while Attorney General Kathy Jennings continues in the other co-chair position, and the commission was moved from the Behavioral Health Consortium into D-SAM.

Governor Meyer and the Delaware General Assembly jointly requested that the Delaware Supreme Court intervene in a dispute over nominations to the Diamond State Port Corporation Board. The conflict arose between the governor and State Senate Democratic leadership regarding the appointment of board members who oversee the Port of Wilmington and the halted Delaware Container Terminal project at Edgemoor. Both sides brought the matter to the state's highest court to resolve the deadlock over the nomination process.

The Delaware State Senate proceeded with confirmation hearings for four nominees to the Diamond State Port Corporation Board of Directors despite objections from Governor Meyer, who rescinded the nominations upon taking office and stated they were no longer viable. The nominations had been made during the final days of the previous governor's administration. Meyer indicated he would seek judicial intervention if the Senate advanced the nominations, while the Senate leadership proceeded with the hearing, citing the port expansion project's importance to the state's economy.

Governor Meyer signed the Food Resiliency Executive Order on January 28, 2025, his fifth executive order since taking office. The order re-established the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, tasking the group with developing a coordinated strategy across state agencies to identify gaps in food access, optimize food security, and improve nutrition. The council was directed to facilitate access to food resources, address challenges in the food supply chain, and advise the governor on creating a resilient and efficient food system.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer launched a website at de.gov/federalfunding to collect information from residents about how a potential federal funding freeze could affect their households, businesses, and organizations. The website was announced shortly after a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's pause on federal grants and loans pending an ideological review. Meyer stated his administration would monitor the situation and work to protect Delawareans' access to assistance programs including food, housing, health care, and child care.

During her confirmation hearing before the Delaware Senate Executive Committee, Hastings discussed potential revenue solutions for the Delaware Department of Transportation, including possible increases to the state's motor fuel tax and toll rates on I-95, Delaware Route 1, and U.S. Route 301. Hastings noted that DelDOT projects losing approximately $1 billion in fuel tax revenue between 2030 and 2050 due to the increasing adoption of alternative-energy vehicles, with roughly 1,000 such vehicles entering Delaware roads monthly. The Senate Executive Committee confirmed Hastings unanimously, and her nomination proceeded to the full Senate for a vote.

Governor Meyer issued his third executive order within a week of taking office, directing all state agencies to conduct internal reviews, develop performance improvement plans, and review four years of audit findings within ninety days. The executive order also requires the Governor's Office to conduct its own performance review of all state government services within the Executive Branch in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget and Department of Finance. Additionally, the order requires all state employees to report waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption in accordance with the law.

Governor Meyer issued his fourth Executive Order during his first week in office to establish a working group tasked with simplifying the affordable housing project approval process in Delaware. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Transportation, DNREC, State Housing Authority, State Planning Commission, county executive leaders, and development representatives, and is charged with identifying barriers to affordable and workforce housing development. Meyer stated the group will work toward creating a single point of contact for developers to streamline permitting and reduce regulatory costs associated with housing construction across the state.

Governor Meyer nominated Cindy Marten, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education, to serve as Delaware's Secretary of Education. The State Senate Executive Committee confirmed Marten's appointment. Marten brings over 15 years of classroom teaching experience and previously served as superintendent of San Diego Unified School District, where she oversaw implementation of California's Local Control Funding Formula.

Governor Meyer issued a Good Governance Executive Order on his third day in office, directing state of Delaware employees and government agencies to prioritize transparency and ethical practices. The executive order establishes requirements and objectives designed to improve state mechanisms for responding to and preventing misconduct. Meyer also announced that an ethics training program for state employees will be developed within the coming months.

Governor Meyer formally requested that the Delaware State Senate disregard five nominations to the Diamond State Port Corporation Board of Directors made by former Governor Bethany Hall-Long during her final days in office before Meyer's inauguration on January 22, 2025. The nominations included outgoing Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, James Ascione, William Ashe, Curtis Linton, and Robert Medd to positions overseeing the Port of Wilmington and the Delaware Container Terminal at Edgemoor. Meyer stated in his letter to the Senate that he intended to undertake a separate nomination process for these appointments and indicated that some of Hall-Long's candidates might be reconsidered alongside other qualified applicants.

Governor-elect Matt Meyer nominated Brigadier General James Benson to serve as Adjutant General of the Delaware National Guard on January 20, 2025, the day before his inauguration. Benson would succeed Major General Michael Berry, who retired after six years in the position. The nomination requires approval from the Delaware State Senate.

Matt Meyer was sworn in as Delaware's 76th Governor on January 21, 2025, at a ceremony held at Delaware State University's William B. DeLauder Education and Humanities Theatre in Dover. Meyer succeeded Governor Bethany Hall-Long after winning the 2024 general election against Republican challenger Mike Ramone, following his victory in the Democratic primary. Meyer previously served as New Castle County Executive and as a middle school mathematics teacher.

Matt Meyer was inaugurated as the 76th Governor of Delaware on January 21, 2025, taking the oath of office at Delaware State University in Dover. The ceremony was held indoors due to weather conditions rather than at the traditional Legislative Mall location. In his inaugural address, Meyer discussed economic challenges, educational concerns, and stated his commitment to protect residents' healthcare access, reproductive rights, school funding, and immigrant communities.

Meyer vetoed an ordinance passed by New Castle County Council in December that would have gradually increased developer impact fees for the first time since 1999 to fund infrastructure and county services in rapidly developing areas. Meyer stated in his veto that the fee increases would exacerbate Delaware's affordable housing crisis and that raising fees across the board was not justified by the time elapsed since the last increase. Council's attempt to override the veto on January 16, 2025 failed 6-6, falling short of the required 10-vote supermajority.

Governor-elect Meyer nominated Joshua Bushweller, the current Intelligence Commander of Delaware State Police, to serve as Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security. Bushweller also directs the Delaware Information Analysis Center and would oversee responsibilities including security, disaster preparedness, counterterrorism, and community resilience. Meyer stated that Bushweller's experience would be valuable in enhancing the state's preparedness and response to emerging threats.

Governor-elect Meyer nominated Cindy Marten, the current U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education, to serve as Delaware's next Secretary of Education. Marten previously served as superintendent of San Diego's Unified School District for eight years and has over 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher in California. The nomination comes as Delaware's public education system faces record-low proficiency rates in mathematics and literacy, teacher shortages, and efforts to revise the state's education funding formula, which has remained unchanged since the 1940s.

Governor-elect Meyer issued a 26-page education plan during his campaign that pledges to increase school funding and replace Delaware's existing school finance system with a new model designed to address current student needs. Meyer will require support from the Delaware General Assembly to implement significant education reforms, including addressing education funding, teacher pay, and school climate. The 153rd General Assembly convenes on January 14, 2025, with Meyer taking office one week later, positioning education as a priority issue for the incoming administration and legislature.

Meyer vetoed a New Castle County ordinance that would have increased impact fees on new developments for the first time since 1999, with the fees designated to fund infrastructure and services including parks, libraries, emergency services, and law enforcement. The ordinance had passed the County Council 7-2 after nearly a year of deliberation and would have gradually raised the fees over time. Meyer announced the veto on December 26, stating that the fee increases would worsen the state's affordable housing crisis.