DelawareHB 192153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SPECIAL FUNDS.

Sponsored By: Michael F. Smith (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

More police and firefighter retirees qualify

More retired Delaware county and municipal police officers and firefighters qualify for special-fund payments. The law moves the retirement cutoff from before June 30, 2018, to before June 30, 2025. Surviving beneficiaries and disability pension recipients also qualify. The annual pension limit rises from $35,000 to $55,000. Recipients must be alive on July 1 of the year payments are made.

Police and firefighter payments have limits

The State Board of Pension Trustees manages a special fund from payments directed to the state police. It allocates money by headcount using the annual registry of eligible county and municipal retirees. Only counties and municipalities that join the state police/firefighter pension plan for all new hires after joining receive allocations. All spending from the fund requires Board approval. Local governments seeking a pension increase must submit a detailed proposal and deposit 25% of its total actuarial cost before implementation. That cost is the estimated total needed to fund the increase. Unused deposits and their earnings return to the state's General Fund after 10 years. Without a local proposal, the Board provides payments for eligible normal-retirement, disability, and survivor pension recipients. Payments start on the enactment date and repeat every two years, replacing the September 1, 2019 start date. Category 3 covers people retired less than 10 years, with payments capped at $3,000 each. Category 2 covers people retired more than 10 but less than 20 years and pays twice the Category 3 amount. Category 1 pays three times that amount to people retired at least 20 years, surviving beneficiaries, and disability pension recipients. At least $500,000 must remain in the fund after payments. The Board sets the available amount by July 1, using category information local governments provide before July 1. Counties and municipalities must pass payments to eligible recipients within 30 days after receiving the money.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Michael F. Smith
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Eric Buckson
Republican • Senate
Timothy D. Dukes
Republican • House
Ronald E. Gray
Republican • House
Gerald W. Hocker
Republican • Senate
Dave G. Lawson
Republican • Senate
Spiros Mantzavinos
Democratic • Senate
Shannon Morris
Republican • House
Brian Pettyjohn
Republican • Senate
Bryant L. Richardson
Republican • Senate
Ray Seigfried
Democratic • Senate
John "Jack" Walsh
Democratic • Senate
David L. Wilson
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 61 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/30/2025

Passed (2/3 required)

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 6/24/2025

Passed (2/3 required)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Signed by Governor
7/1/2025Governor
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
6/30/2025Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
6/25/2025Senate
Assigned to Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee in Senate
6/24/2025Senate
Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 VACANT
6/24/2025House
Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce) in House with 2 Favorable, 7 On Its Merits
6/17/2025House
Introduced and Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House
6/5/2025House

Bill Text

Current
6/5/2025
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