Legislative Update

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House Bill 1 establishes a new state-level Department of Veterans Affairs led by a cabinet-level Secretary to advocate for and administer programs relating to veterans in the State of Delaware. It is the intent of this legislation that current staff of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs and the Office of Veterans Affairs will continue their work, but as part of the new Department of Veterans Affairs, with the potential for expanded staff and duties in accordance with annual appropriations.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141733

 

House Substitute 1 for House Bill 1 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS)  differs from the original in that the Department of Veterans Affairs will for the present remain a part of the Department of State for budgetary, administrative, and operational purposes. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with other executive branch officials, is directed to develop a transition plan to separate from the Department of State and operate as a separate Department by July 1, 2030, or such time as there will be no negative impacts to the funding for veterans programs in Delaware. The plan must be presented to the General Assembly as a Transition Report and approved through a concurrent resolution.

https://legis.delaware.gov//BillDetail/142103

 

House Bill 31 regulates persons who receive compensation for advising or assisting with veterans' benefits earned by serving our nation in the military. This bill would not prohibit persons or business entities from receiving compensation for advice to Veterans that is unrelated to veteran claims or services available to veterans from the V.A. or its accredited agencies. Investment, insurance, banking, and other advice or services not provided by the V.A., or its accredited agencies may be obtained by veterans and fees charged for such services.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141736

 

House Bill 36 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) aligns Delaware’s non-discrimination laws. Delaware has several broad laws that prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, employment, and insurance but also has many narrow non-discrimination laws that apply to a specific entity, or type of entity, even though a broad law also prohibits discrimination by that entity. This Act aligns the narrower non-discrimination laws with the applicable broad non-discrimination law by also prohibiting discrimination on any other basis protected under the applicable broad law. For members of the military and veterans, burial in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery shall be without regard to race, creed, color,  sex, national  origin, or any other basis protected under Chapter 45 of Title 6.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141889

 

House Bill 54 (PAST BOTH CHAMBERS) establishes the Office of Suicide Prevention to address suicide prevention and to do the following: (1) Serve in coordination with the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families as a place to reach all suicide prevention resources in the State. (2) Assist the suicide prevention coalition in its mission. (3) Provide suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention vision and guidance to stakeholders throughout the State. (4) Work with community level prevention organizations to promote best practices in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. (5) Oversee suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention funding application processes and seek grant funds to further suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. (6) Prepare an annual report for the General Assembly and Governor that outlines the work of the Office and progress made towards suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, beginning on October 15, 2026. (7) Create the State’s Suicide Prevention Plan, with approval of the suicide prevention coalition, and update it no fewer than every three years. The Act provides that the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health will choose a Director to carry out the Office’s duties. The coalition includes one member of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141885

 

House Substitute 1 for House Bill 55 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) adds language to clarify that distinctions or differential treatment based on military status that are allowed by State law or regulation, federal law or regulation, or government contract, are not unfair or discriminatory practices. It also updates existing statutory language that was changed by 84 Del. Laws c 429.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142125

 

House Bill 68 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) provides that March 9 will be known as 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day and will be commemorated in this State by appropriate ceremonies to honor the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion members. In commemorating such a day, citizens are encouraged to write and mail letters to family, friends, military personnel, and veterans to recognize postal employees and the important service these employees provide in connecting us to each other.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141876

 

Senate Bill 76 (SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR) makes clear that veterans of all 8 services branches are qualified to obtain veteran designation on their driver licenses.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141971

 

House Bill 82 (SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR) requires that a school board candidate and member be an “inhabitant” of the district, or designated portion of a district, that member represents. “Inhabitant” is defined for this purpose as “a person who both claims legal residence and physically resides in a designated area or school district.” Further, the bill provides that if a school board member is not physically present in their district for more than 75% of the days in any yearlong period of that member’s term, the member ceases to qualify as an inhabitant. Absence required by military service is not counted as absence for purposes of this statute.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141959

 

House Substitute 1 for House Bill 83 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) differs from the original in that it does not require school boards to allow remote attendance. But if the school board does allow remote attendance, it provides the permissible reasons remote attendance may be allowed, allows a school board to limit the number of times permission to attend remotely may be granted, and indicates that a school board may not add to the statutory reasons for remote attendance. It also expands the permissible reasons from the original bill to include pregnancy or postpartum complications of a board member’s spouse or partner.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142044

 

House Bill 108 increases the personal income tax pension exclusion from $12,500 to $25,000 including Military pensions.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142071

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House Bill 121 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) exempts from state child care licensing requirements a military family child care provider that serves only children eligible for Department of Defense subsidized care that is either located on a military base or federal property, certified as a family child care provider by a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Coast Guard, or both.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142135

 

House Bill 133 gives courts the discretion to waive fines and fees, in whole or in part, in appropriate circumstances. It also creates a presumption that fines and fees will not be imposed when a defendant shows evidence of certain conditions, including receiving a public assistance benefit (like Medicaid, SNAP, or veterans’ benefits like Veterans Affairs Pension or Service-Connected Disability Compensation) or being represented by the Office of Defense Services. It also creates a hearing process for anyone already sentenced to pay a fine or fee. The changes in this Act are based on recommendations of the Criminal Legal System Imposed Debt Study Group.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142176

 

House Bill 160 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) amends the existing code relating to Delaware National Guard education benefits by switching from a system that reimburses service members to a system that pays certain tuition and fees, on behalf of a service member, directly to a Delaware postsecondary institution. This change allows more service members to use education benefits, which will improve Delaware National Guard recruiting and retention, and enhance the professional education qualifications of its members.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142261

 

House Bill 169 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) makes changes to the Behavioral Health Consortium and the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission that includes adding one veteran who has served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard or the Reserves, and who has been impacted by behavioral health in this State.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?legislationId=142310

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House Bill 218 requires the courts to consider whether a military protective order has been issued against a respondent in determining whether there is an immediate and present danger to the petitioner. It further requires that a law-enforcement officer notify the agency that entered a military protective order against an individual, if the law-enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the individual violated the military protective order.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142554

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House Bill 230 (SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR) provides supplementary appropriations to certain Grants-in-Aid recipients for Fiscal Year 2026. Section 1 – Government Units and Senior Centers $ 37,093,119 Section 2 – One-Times and Community Agencies $ 47,093,493 Section 3 – Fire Companies and Public Service Ambulance Companies $ 13,258,013 Section 4 – Veterans Organizations $ 839,000 GRAND TOTAL $ 98,283,625

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142646

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Senate Concurrent Resolution 11 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) recognizes February 4, 2025, as "USO Day" in the State of Delaware and honors USO Delaware for its important and inspiring work supporting military members and their families.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141807

 

House Concurrent Resolution 12 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) pays tribute to the men and women of the Delaware National Guard for their service and sacrifices in support of defending our state and nation, and recognizes the outstanding advocacy provided by the National Guard Association of Delaware.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141883

 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 20 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) encourages Governor Matt Meyer to light key Delaware landmarks purple in April to honor the over 7,000 military-connected children in the state. This gesture recognizes their sacrifices and shows support for the challenges they face, including time apart from deployed parents.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141923

 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) recognizes March 29, 2025, as "National Vietnam War Veterans Day" in Delaware.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141990

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Senate Concurrent Resolution 42 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) honors the Marine Corps 250th Birthday on November 10, 2025.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142258

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Senate Concurrent Resolution 51 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) designates April 2025, as the "Month of the Military Child" in the State of Delaware.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142108

 

House Concurrent Resolution 53 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) recognizes May 17, 2025, as Armed Forces Day in Delaware.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142269

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Senate Concurrent Resolution 55 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) honors the U.S. Navy’s 250th Birthday on October 13, 2025.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142260 

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House Concurrent Resolution 62 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) honors the men and women who served in the United States Army and honors the 250th Anniversary of the United States Army.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142470

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Senate Concurrent Resolution 95 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS)
recognizes December 6, 2025, as “Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans Recognition Day” in Delaware.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142505

 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 99 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) proclaims June 12, 2025, as “Women Veterans Recognition Day” in the State of Delaware.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142455

 

House Concurrent Resolution 79 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) recognizes and commends the crew and family members of the USS Delaware (SSN-791) for their continued dedication to the United States Armed Forces. It also recognizes the Delaware Submarine Association for its role in supporting the morale, wellbeing, and recreation of the crew and families of the USS Delaware, as well to encourage, advocate, and generate statewide support for the crew of the submarine.

https://legis.delaware.gov//BillDetail/142602

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House Bill 120 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) names the hill west of Mill Creek situated on New Castle County parcel number 0803100018 where the Spring Grove Mill House sits as “General Washington’s Hill of Deception”. This is the site of one of the most impactful combat event that occurred on Delaware soil during the Revolutionary War.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?legislationId=142124

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Senate Concurrent Resolution 121 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) recognizes the Air Mobility Command Museum Foundation’s efforts to expand the Museum’s facilities through a major project that will add new exhibit space, educational and conference facilities, and community spaces. The expansion will enhance the Museum’s ability to preserve aviation history, provide interactive educational experiences, and support community engagement, while also delivering a significant economic benefit to the region. The resolution acknowledges the importance of public and private support to the success of this project.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?legislationId=142637

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National Legislation

The website below is an excellent source of information that provides a list of bills working their way through the U.S. Congress that will impact the lives of veterans.

https://votervoice.net/VFW/bills