# Delaware HS 1 for HB 1: AN ACT TO AMEND THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CREATION OF A DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

Delaware HS 1 for HB 1, AN ACT TO AMEND THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CREATION OF A DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) House bill sponsored by William J. Carson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-08-13 (Signed by Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB1-153
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Delaware HS 1 for HB 1
- State: Delaware
- Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)
- Title: AN ACT TO AMEND THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CREATION OF A DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-04-10
- Last action: 2025-08-13, Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: William J. Carson (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 38
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (59 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 8

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Financial help for eligible Delaware veterans: benefit, medium. The Veterans Trust Fund provides grants or financial help to veterans with at least a general discharge under honorable conditions. Covered needs include medical and dental bills, medical transportation, homelessness support, home repairs, safety changes, utilities, and education or retraining. The…
- Last-resort help managing veterans benefit payments: benefit, low. Beginning 180 days after enactment, the Office of the Public Guardian serves as the last-resort manager of federal VA benefits. It receives and manages payments for people unable to manage those benefits themselves. This provides a state safety net, but does not change benefit amounts.
- Veterans agency staff keep employment benefits: benefit, low. Beginning 180 days after enactment, current Commission on Veterans Affairs and Office of Veterans Services staff become department employees. They keep their then-current salary, seniority, and benefits. This protects existing employment terms during the agency change.
- Veterans get preference for department jobs: benefit, low. The Secretary must hire veterans for department jobs where possible. Qualifying veterans served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard or reserves. Their discharge must be under conditions other than dishonorable. The law does not set a number of jobs or a wage.
- Delaware creates a veterans affairs department: benefit, low. Beginning 180 days after enactment, the law creates a Department of Veterans Affairs, initially housed in the Department of State. A transition report is due at least one year before the planned separation. Separation requires legislative approval by concurrent resolution and must happen by July 1,…
- Delaware plans care for aging veterans: benefit, low. The Secretary must develop and propose elder care options or additional veterans homes, with advice from the Commission. The goal is to serve and house more veterans as they age. This planning requirement does not create a new care service, guarantee a place, or set funding.
- Veterans claims help and records move: mixed, low. The department can approve claims representatives in each county, who remain accountable to it. Their help must add to, not replace or interfere with, veterans organizations’ service officers. The Secretary coordinates education, training, jobs, medical care, and financial benefits with state agenc…
- Veterans cemetery oversight and memorial limits: mixed, low. The Secretary oversees veterans memorial cemeteries with Commission advice and keeps Statements of Service or similar service records. Beginning 180 days after enactment, the department supervises cemetery operations and upkeep. It must report annually to the Governor, Secretary, and General Assemb…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: William J. Carson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darius J. Brown (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Eric Buckson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Frank Burns (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: William Bush (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Richard G. Collins (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Daniel B. Short (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Timothy D. Dukes (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mara Gorman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Debra Heffernan (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jeff Hilovsky (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Gerald W. Hocker (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Russell Huxtable (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kendra Johnson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kamela T Smith (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dave G. Lawson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: S. Elizabeth Lockman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sean M. Lynn (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michael F. Smith (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Trey Paradee (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stell Parker Selby (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nicole Poore (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bryant L. Richardson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Ray Seigfried (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David P. Sokola (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: David L. Wilson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Madinah Wilson-Anton (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lyndon D. Yearick (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-06-26 | Senate | Passed (SM required) | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2025-05-20 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |

## Actions (9)

- 2025-08-13: Signed by Governor (Governor)
- 2025-06-26: Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES (Senate)
- 2025-06-10: Reported Out of Committee (Veterans Affairs) in Senate with 9 Favorable (Senate)
- 2025-05-21: Re-Assigned to Veterans Affairs Committee in Senate (Senate)
- 2025-05-20: Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate (Senate)
- 2025-05-20: Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT (House)
- 2025-05-20: Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote (House)
- 2025-05-06: Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill (House)
- 2025-04-10: Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 1, and Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House (House)

## Bill text

- Current, 2025-04-10: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142103&legislationTypeId=6&docTypeId=2)

## Related bills

- HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST LICENSURE ACT. (passed house)
- HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO SUPPORT POOR PERSONS. (signed)
- SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. (vetoed)
- HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLIC UTILITY CONSUMERS. (vetoed)
- SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. (vetoed)
- HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING FOAM AND EQUIPMENT. (failed)

## Sources
- [Current (HTML)](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142103&legislationTypeId=6&docTypeId=2)

## Related
- [HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB449-153)
- [HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB357-153)
- [SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB279-153)
- [HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB393-153)
- [SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB231-153)
- [HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB356-153)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB1-153 (as of 2026-10-12).