Delaware · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) · Bill
HB 1: AN ACT TO AMEND THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CREATION OF A DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 1 is a bill introduced in the Delaware House on April 10, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT TO AMEND THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CREATION OF A DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. Primary sponsor: Bill Carson (Democratic), Bill Bush (Democratic), Jeff Hilovsky (Republican), Danny Short (Republican), Nicole Poore (Democratic), Kyra Hoffner (Democratic), Dave Lawson (Republican), Brian Pettyjohn (Republican). It lists 31 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (August 13, 2025): Signed by Governor.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
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.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 26 · Republican 12
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Carson | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 28 |
| Bill Bush | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 29 |
| Jeff Hilovsky | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 4 |
| Danny Short | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 39 |
| Nicole Poore | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 12 |
| Kyra Hoffner | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 14 |
| Dave Lawson | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 15 |
| Brian Pettyjohn | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 19 |
| Darius Brown | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 2 |
| Eric Buckson | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 16 |
| Frank Burns | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 21 |
| Nnamdi Chukwuocha | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Rich Collins | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 41 |
| Dan Cruce | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 1 |
| Tim Dukes | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 40 |
| Mara Gorman | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 23 |
| Stephanie Hansen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 10 |
| Debra Heffernan | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6 |
| Gerald Hocker | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 20 |
| Russ Huxtable | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 6 |
| Kendra Johnson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 5 |
| Tizzy Lockman | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 3 |
| Sean Lynn | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 31 |
| Spiros Mantzavinos | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 7 |
| Trey Paradee | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 17 |
| Marie Pinkney | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 13 |
| Bryant Richardson | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 21 |
| Ray Seigfried | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 5 |
| Stell Parker Selby | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Mike Smith | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 22 |
| Kam Smith | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15 |
| Claire Snyder-Hall | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 14 |
| Dave Sokola | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 8 |
| Laura Sturgeon | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 4 |
| Bryan Townsend | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 11 |
| Jack Walsh | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 9 |
| Dave Wilson | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 18 |
| Madinah Wilson-Anton | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 26 |
| Lyndon Yearick | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 34 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Signed by Governor
- Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
- Reported Out of Committee (Veterans Affairs) in Senate with 9 Favorable
- Re-Assigned to Veterans Affairs Committee in Senate
- Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
- Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT
- Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
- Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 1, and Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House