Bill Sponsor
Delaware House Bill 1
Session 153
An Act To Amend The Delaware Code Relating To Creation Of A Delaware Department Of Veterans Affairs.
Became Law
Became Law
Signed by Governor on Aug 13, 2025
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Sarah McBride
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Summary
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.
Actions (9)
08/13/2025
Office of the Governor
Signed by Governor
06/26/2025
Senate
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
06/10/2025
Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Veterans Affairs) in Senate with 9 Favorable
05/21/2025
Senate
Re-Assigned to Veterans Affairs Committee in Senate
05/20/2025
Senate
Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
05/20/2025
House
Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT
05/20/2025
House
Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
05/06/2025
House
Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
04/10/2025
House
Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 1, and Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House
Sources
Record Created
Dec 19, 2024 6:01:59 PM
Record Updated
Sep 18, 2025 10:21:26 PM