This bill designates April 2026 as "Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month" within the State of Delaware. It directly affects state government entities by formally recognizing this specific time period for public awareness regarding limb loss and limb difference. The primary mechanism is a concurrent resolution that establishes the official name for the month but does not create new laws or require specific actions from individuals or businesses. As a symbolic measure, the bill focuses on raising awareness rather than implementing concrete policy changes or regulations.
This bill designates March 26, 2026, as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day in Delaware. It directly affects state officials and institutions by establishing an official date to honor the African American pilots who served in World War II. The resolution requires no new funding or operational changes, serving only as a symbolic recognition of historical contributions. The measure was introduced in the Senate and passed with a vote of 20 yes and 1 absent.
This Resolution pays tribute to the men and women of the Delaware National Guard for their service and sacrifices in support of defending our state and nation, and recognizes the outstanding advocacy provided by the National Guard Association of Delaware
This House Concurrent Resolution expresses gratitude to the men and women of the Civil Air Patrol for their outstanding service to the State of Delaware.
This bill designates March 29, 2026, as "National Vietnam War Veterans Day" within the State of Delaware. It directly affects state officials and the public by establishing an official commemorative date for honoring Vietnam War veterans. The resolution requires no new funding or administrative changes, serving only as a formal recognition of the date. This legislative action is symbolic and does not alter any existing laws or policies.
This Act makes the following updates to the Behavioral Health Consortium: - Expands the charge of the Consortium to include all aspects of behavioral health care, in addition to substance use disorder. - Adds term limits for appointed members. - Modifies the membership to remove nonoperational organizations and include representation from the Maternal and Child Death Review Board and Delaware’s Veteran community. - Removes the Behavioral Health Commission’s approval authority over the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission’s granting and contracting processes. Additionally, this Act makes the following updates to the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission: - Revises the Commission’s organization to reflect one Chairperson. The Commission may elect a vice chair from among its members. - Updates authorities related to the distribution of the Prescription Opioid Settlement Fund and the Prescription Opioid Impact Fund. - Ensures any reports produced by the Commission are distributed to the Behavioral Health Consortium. This Act also makes minor technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. This Substitute differs from the original House Bill No. 169 in that it incorporates the conforming changes in House Amendment No. 1 to House Bill No. 169 directly into the body of the bill.
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.
The Delaware National Guard provides financial assistance to eligible service members for certain postsecondary education tuition and fees. Under the current education benefits program, the Delaware National Guard reimburses service members for tuition and fees the service members have already paid. But young service members often cannot take advantage of this program because they cannot afford to pay upfront for tuition and fees. This also hurts Delaware National Guard recruiting efforts because potential service members may choose to join National Guard programs in other states that do not require service members to pay upfront for tuition and fees. Keeping the Delaware National Guard fully staffed is essential to responding to state emergencies. Lack of staff also leads the Department of Defense to shift positions from the Delaware National Guard to other states that can recruit at higher levels than Delaware. This results in reduced mission capability in Delaware and less federal funding coming to Delaware. This Act amends the existing code relating to Delaware National Guard education benefits by switching from a system that reimburses service members to a system that pays certain tuition and fees, on behalf of a service member, directly to a Delaware postsecondary institution. This change allows more service members to use education benefits, which will improve Delaware National Guard recruiting and retention, and enhance the professional education qualifications of its members. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual and clarifies that the tuition assistance provided for Delaware private postsecondary institutions is based on the average tuition for state-supported postsecondary institutions. This Act is effective immediately and is implemented on July 1, 2026, to allow updates to rules, regulations, and forms for the Delaware National Guard tuition assistance program.
This Act is intended to supplement protections under federal law for members of the military, their families, and veterans by adding “military status” as a protected class for purposes of the State’s public accommodations, housing, insurance, education, and employment laws. Technical corrections are also made to existing statutory language to conform with the requirements of the Legislative Drafting Manual. This House Substitute No. 1 adds language to clarify that distinctions or differential treatment based on military status that are allowed by State law or regulation, federal law or regulation, or government contract, are not unfair or discriminatory practices. It also updates existing statutory language that was changed by 84 Del. Laws c 429.
This Act provides supplementary appropriations to certain Grants-in-Aid recipients for Fiscal Year 2026. Section 1 – Government Units and Senior Centers $ 37,093,119 Section 2 – One-Times and Community Agencies $ 47,093,493 Section 3 – Fire Companies and Public Service Ambulance Companies $ 13,258,013 Section 4 – Veterans Organizations $ 839,000 GRAND TOTAL $ 98,283,625
