The Tipping Point

Issue 12.11

March 20, 2026

FINAL ROUND OF VOTING IS HERE!

COOLEST THING MADE IN DELAWARE FINALISTS

The madness isn’t just on the court! Four incredible products remain in the Coolest Thing Made in Delaware contest, but in the end, only one will take home the trophy. Who will be crowned the "Coolest Thing Made in Delaware?" Voting is open once per email address per day through March 26.

The winner of this year's Coolest Thing Made in Delaware contest will be revealed at our Spring Manufacturing & Policy Conference. Register >

Cast your votes >

Learn more about the Top 4 products >

THE TIPPING POINT: HB 315

As Delaware policymakers consider House Bill 315, introduced by Rep. Kim Williams, banks and payment networks are raising concerns about unintended consequences. While the bill aims to reduce costs for some businesses, the industry warns it could create broader challenges across the payments system that ultimately impact merchants and consumers. ...

Full-service restaurant wait staff often earn a base wage of just $2.23 per hour, with most of their income coming from tips. Currently, when customers pay with credit cards, servers receive their full tip, while restaurants pay roughly 2% in processing fees on the total transaction. This bill would eliminate that fee on the gratuity portion, amounting to a few cents of savings per transaction. Read more >

WHAT IS INTERCHANGE?

A DEEP DIVE INTO HOUSE BILL 315

Interchange is one part of the fees merchants pay when accepting and processing credit and debit card transactions. Typically around 2% of a credit card purchase, financial institutions use interchange revenue to maintain and improve payment infrastructure, enhance security, manage fraud and nonpayment risks, and fund customer benefits like rewards programs.

House Bill 315 focuses on how these fees are applied. Specifically, the bill would prohibit payment card networks from establishing or charging transaction fees on the tip portion of a credit card transaction. Read the bill details >

A STEP-BY-STEP LOOK AT HOW INTERCHANGE IS APPLIED

This diagram shows how a typical restaurant credit card transaction is processed, with interchange applied to the full amount, including the tip. In this example, exempting the tip would save about $0.34 (2% of a $17 tip).

This, however, would require card issuers to process part of the transaction (the tip) without compensation, potentially shifting tipping toward cash or check and leading to lower tips, increased theft, and less reported income. It would also require costly system upgrades, as transactions are currently processed as a single total amount, not itemized, and the bill would require that distinction. Tipped transactions today are fast, efficient, and secure, and that model should remain in place.

FAST FACT: Since 2006, interchange legislation has been defeated approximately 75 times across 34 states, including in 26 jurisdictions in 2025. It has only been signed into law in Illinois as part of a broader budget bill in 2024, and no state has passed it as stand-alone bill in 2026 thus far.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

MCDONALDS LEAVES NRA OVER WAGE DISPUTES

In September, McDonald's exited the National Restaurant Association (NRA), a trade group representing the country's restaurant industry, due to disagreements over employee wage policies, as reported by Bloomberg. The fast-food giant has opposed the tipped wage model, a system supported by the NRA that permits businesses to include tips in meeting the legal minimum wage requirements. Read more >

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

As younger generations step into leadership roles across the workforce, millennials and Gen Z are increasingly focused on the topics that shape their ability to live and work in Delaware, from cost of living and child care to affordable housing and education. How policymakers address these issues can make the difference between a young professional choosing to build a career here or taking an opportunity in a neighboring state. On Tuesday, April 21, our Delaware Young Professionals Network will host a panel discussion and reception with members of the General Assembly at the Biggs Museum in Dover. Read more >

ADVERTISE WITH THE STATE CHAMBER

Promote your events, news & initiatives to Delaware's business community through us! Learn more >

In Case You Missed It