SMYRNA — Today, Governor Matt Meyer signed House Bill 1 creating a Delaware Department of Veterans Affairs, elevating veterans’ services to a cabinet‑level agency – an historic step toward strengthening how Delaware serves its veteran community. With this action, Delaware will soon have a Secretary of Veterans Affairs at the table of state leadership ensuring the voices, needs, and experiences of veterans are represented at the highest levels of government.
“If you go out and fight for your country and your neighbor when you return home you should have the best services and the right people the strongest possible advocate in state government,” said Governor Meyer. “Today we are elevating their voices to the cabinet level, empowering a Secretary of Veterans Affairs, guided by lived experience, to lead. This is not a gesture, it’s a guarantee to honor those who protected us.”
The legislation was carried by bipartisan sponsors in both chambers and received unanimous House and Senate approval.
“As a lifelong Delawarean and veteran of the Delaware Air National Guard, I have seen firsthand the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform and the challenges they face when their service ends. Our veterans bring so much to this state – they are leaders and contributors to our economy and communities,” said Rep. William Carson, Prime Sponsor of HB 1. “This Department is about meeting their needs, addressing their concerns, and honoring our commitment to those who have served and sacrificed for our country. I’m grateful to my colleagues in the General Assembly for unanimously passing this legislation, and to Governor Matt Meyer for recognizing the importance of this initiative.”
“As a veteran, I know what it means to put on the uniform, and I know what it feels like to take it off. Retiring from service doesn’t mean the mission ends, but too often, the support does,” said House Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris. “HB 1 is our state’s commitment to stand by our nation’s heroes long after their last salute. Taking off the uniform should never mean walking alone, and thanks to this legislation, we will soon have the resources to ensure that there will always be a helping hand extended to our veterans.”
“Our veterans have spent their lives and careers serving our country, and it is our duty to reciprocate their selflessness with quality care and respect,” said Sen. Nicole Poore, Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. “House Bill 1 serves as a placard of Delaware’s commitment to our veterans not just with words, but with immediate action and advocacy. Signing this legislation allows Delaware to walk beside our veterans through every stage of life and ensure they feel supported and recognized within their community.”
“It’s long overdue,” said Senator Lawson, a Senate Sponsor of HB 1. “Our veterans have given so much to our state and country, and this new department will ensure they receive the dedicated resources, representation, and support they deserve.”
The new department will serve more than 70,000 veterans across the First State, bringing together services that are currently scattered across multiple agencies. Once fully implemented, the department will offer centralized access to benefits assistance, housing support, healthcare coordination, and mental health services. A transition plan will guide its development over the next several years, with full independence from the Department of State required by July 1, 2030.
To lead the new agency, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must be a veteran, and all supervisory staff must also be veterans whenever possible, ensuring that those making decisions have lived experience in military service. The Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs will continue its work, retaining oversight of the Delaware Veterans Home and serving in an advisory role to the new department.
“Delaware’s veterans, including our Citizen Soldiers and Citizen Airmen of the Delaware National Guard, have answered our nation’s call with courage and sacrifice, and we have a solemn duty to ensure they receive the care, benefits, and support they have earned,” said Maj. Gen. James Benson, Adjutant General of the Delaware National Guard. “By creating a cabinet-level Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Governor Meyer and our state leaders have taken a historic step toward closing the gaps that too often leave veterans without critical resources. This legislation strengthens our commitment to the more than 70,000 veterans who call Delaware home, ensuring they have a direct connection to the healthcare, housing, and benefits they deserve.
“The creation of the Delaware Department of Veterans Affairs is a landmark achievement for our state’s veteran community,” said Nolan Lewis, Chair of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs. “This legislation ensures that Delaware’s many veterans will be better served through focused leadership, improved access to resources, and a stronger voice in state government. We thank Governor Matt Meyer, the General Assembly, and all our partners for recognizing the unique needs of veterans and making this vision a reality. This is more than just structural change — it’s a long-overdue investment in the people who’ve selflessly served our nation.”
The new department is expected to streamline how veterans interact with both state and federal benefit systems. Officials also anticipate that centralizing services could help unlock additional federal funding and reduce long-term state costs related to veteran support.
Today’s bill signing reflects a continued commitment by the Meyer administration to build a more accessible, responsive, and accountable state government. For Delaware veterans, it marks a new era—one defined by dedicated leadership, strategic coordination, and respect backed by action.