Delaware · Senate Bill 29 · 153rd General Assembly

Fire Company Volunteer/Funeral Expenses/Increase

SB 29 Sponsored by Darius J. Brown In committee

  1. Introduced Jan 3, 2025
  2. In committee Jan 3, 2025
  3. Passed the Senate Next
  4. Passed the House  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Section 1 of this Act increases to $10,000 the amount of funeral expenses which can be paid for the funeral of a deceased member of a volunteer fire company, volunteer fire company ladies auxiliary, or volunteer ambulance and rescue company. The amount of this benefit has not been increased since 2004 (See 74 Del. Laws, c. 339, § 1). Consistent with a legal interpretation of the existing law by state agencies…

Read the full title (230 words)

Section 1 of this Act increases to $10,000 the amount of funeral expenses which can be paid for the funeral of a deceased member of a volunteer fire company, volunteer fire company ladies auxiliary, or volunteer ambulance and rescue company. The amount of this benefit has not been increased since 2004 (See 74 Del. Laws, c. 339, § 1). Consistent with a legal interpretation of the existing law by state agencies, Section 1 of this Act continues to enable the payment of funeral expenses for the funeral of a deceased member of a volunteer fire company, volunteer fire company ladies auxiliary, or volunteer ambulance and rescue company even if the member was also a state employee entitled to burial benefits under § 8331 of Title 11, § 8395 of Title 11, § 8846 of Title 11, or § 5316 of Title 29. However, Section 1 of this Act makes changes to existing law to make this legal interpretation clear and to specifically identify the state employee burial benefits to which this provision applies. Section 2 of this Act delays the effect of this Act until October 1, 2025, to provide time to implement this Act after the enactment of the fiscal year 2026 appropriations act containing the funding for this Act. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Every action

4 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

  1. CommitteeIntroduced and Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate · Senate Health & Social Services
  2. SenateAmendment SA 1 to SB 29 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
  3. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 5 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits · Senate Health & Social Services
  4. CommitteeAssigned to Finance Committee in Senate · Senate Finance

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 7 cosponsors: 6 Democrats, 1 Republican.

All 7 cosponsors

From Delaware's official records (legis.delaware.gov), checked Nov 1, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.