HB 1 DE

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Became Law

This Act 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. The Department will hire veterans wherever possible. The Commission of Veterans Affairs will continue in its current form. It will continue to oversee the Delaware Veterans Home and will serve in an advisory role to the new Secretary and Department on other matters relating to veterans. The new Department is tasked with developing and proposing strategies for the provision of alternative elder care or the establishment of one or more additional veterans homes to serve the aging veteran population. House Substitute No. 1 to House Bill No. 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.

• William J. Carson Democratic · primary
• William Bush Democratic · primary
• Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic · primary
• Daniel B. Short Republican · primary
• Nicole Poore Democratic · primary
• Claire Snyder-Hall Democratic · primary
• Dave G. Lawson Republican · primary
• Brian Pettyjohn Republican · primary
• Bryant L. Richardson Republican · primary
• Richard G. Collins Republican · primary
• Mara Gorman Democratic · primary
• Russell Huxtable Democratic · primary
• Sean M. Lynn Democratic · primary
• Stell Parker Selby · primary
• Michael F. Smith Republican · primary
• Madinah Wilson-Anton Democratic · primary
• Lyndon D. Yearick Republican · primary
• Timothy D. Dukes Republican · primary
• Ray Seigfried Democratic · primary
• Sarah McBride · primary
• Franklin D. Cooke Democratic · primary
• Melanie Ross Levin Democratic · primary
• Spiros Mantzavinos Democratic · primary
• Darius J. Brown Democratic · primary
• Josue O Ortega Democratic · primary
• Trey Paradee Democratic · primary
• Marie Pinkney Democratic · primary
• David P. Sokola Democratic · primary
• Bryan Townsend Democratic · primary
• John "Jack" Walsh Democratic · primary
• David L. Wilson Republican · primary

1. Apr 10, 2025 Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 1, and Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House · lower
2. May 6, 2025 Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · lower
3. May 20, 2025 Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote · lower
4. May 20, 2025 Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT · lower
5. May 20, 2025 Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate · upper
6. May 21, 2025 Re-Assigned to Veterans Affairs Committee in Senate · upper
7. Jun 10, 2025 Reported Out of Committee (Veterans Affairs) in Senate with 9 Favorable · upper
8. Jun 26, 2025 Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES · upper
9. Aug 13, 2025 Signed by Governor · executive