Legislative Update: Standing Firm for Sussex Families

June 14, 2025

Dear Sussex County Republicans,

As the 2025 legislative session nears its conclusion, I want to provide a clear update on recent legislative activity in Dover. Some bills

have advanced that we firmly oppose, while others reflect meaningful progress, thanks to strong Republican leadership, particularly from right here in Sussex County.

House Bill 164 – An Unfair Burden on Working Families

 House Bill 164 seeks to raise $108 million annually for DelDOT, with $39 million of that coming directly from increased fees. Most significantly, the bill raises the motor vehicle document fee, essentially a vehicle sales tax, from 4.25 percent to 5.25 percent. For the average new car priced around $50,000, this represents a $500 increase out of pocket.

This bill is nothing short of a tax increase on working families. It places another barrier between Delawareans and essential transportation. While a small portion of the bill institutes a fair electric vehicle fee—something long overdue—the majority of the revenue comes from targeting everyday citizens trying to get to work, school, and home.

The Sussex County Republican Party strongly opposes House Bill 164. We thank State Rep. Jeff Spiegelman for speaking out against its core provisions, even while supporting common-sense aspects like parity for electric and hybrid vehicles. We urge the Senate to reject this harmful legislation.

House Bill 175 – Raising Fees Without a Plan

This bill raises dozens of environmental and permitting fees under DNREC, totaling more than $7 million in new annual revenue. These include fees related to docks, septic systems, boat lifts, wells, and more.

While some fee updates are decades overdue, DNREC has failed to provide any clear plan for how this money will be used or how it will improve services that are already delayed and inefficient.

House Republican Leader Tim Dukes, representing Laurel, was right to voice serious concerns. It is unacceptable to ask Delawareans to pay more when the agency in question has not demonstrated basic accountability or improvement. The Sussex County Republican Party stands in opposition to this legislation until transparency and performance come first.