Bills Under Consideration In the State Legislature and U.S. Congress - Spring 2025
- jeffquiggle2
- Mar 26
- 7 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Bills
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.
House Substitute 1 for House Bill 1 (PASSED BY THE STATE HOUSE) House Substitute 1 for House Bill 1 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.
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.
House Bill 36 (PASSED BY THE STATE HOUSE) 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.
House Bill 54 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 Delaware Commission of Veteran Affairs believes this effort should not be independent from the Delaware veterans suicide prevention efforts.
House Bill 55 is intended to supplement protections under federal law for members of the military, their families, and veterans by adding “military status” as a protected class for purposes of the State’s public accommodations, housing, insurance, education, and employment laws.
House Substitute 1 for House Bill 55 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.
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.
Senate Bill 76 (PASSED THE STATE SENATE) makes clear that veterans of all 8 services branches are qualified to obtain veteran designation on their driver licenses.
House Bill 82 (PASSED THE STATE HOUSE) 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.
House Bill 83 requires school boards to allow members to attend school board meetings by a remote method under certain limited circumstances relating to health or military deployments. A school board member attending by electronic means under this legislation would count towards quorum and be able to vote as though physically present.
House Substitute 1 for House Bill 83 (PASSED THE STATE HOUSE) 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.
House Bill 87 (PASSED THE STATE HOUSE) adds 2 members, appointed by the Governor, to the Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition. The 2 new members shall be: 1 member who has experienced suicide ideation or survived a suicide attempt, and 1 member who has lost a loved one to suicide. This change is requested by the Coalition. The coalition includes one member of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs.
House Bill 108 This bill increases the personal income tax pension exclusion from $12,500 to $25,000 including Military pensions.
House Bill 112 provides that in order to vote, a voter, prior to being permitted to vote, must be able to present a photographic identification, specifically a Driver’s License or a Nondriver Identification Card issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles, or a United States Passport or a military identification card. In order to make obtaining an identification card easier on the general public, the first nondriver identification card issued by the Division shall be free, as opposed to the current fee of $40.00. Subsequent cards, upon expiration, will be issued for a reduced fee of $20.00. Department of Elections for each county will now be required to conduct at lest 2 countywide programs at locations reasonably convenient and accessible to the citizens.
House Bill 121 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.
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.
House Bill 160 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.
House Bill 169 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.
Resolutions
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.
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.
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.
PASSED: Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) recognizes March 29, 2025, as "National Vietnam War Veterans Day" in Delaware.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 51 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) designates April 2025, as the "Month of the Military Child" in the State of Delaware.
House Concurrent Resolution 53 (PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS) recognizes May 17, 2025, as Armed Forces Day in Delaware.
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.
Comments