State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R-Long Neck, Oak Orchard) joined other lawmakers and members of the veteran community at the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover earlier this week to celebrate a recently enacted tax benefit for veteran pensioners.
Sponsored by State Sen. Eric Buckson (R-Dover) and Rep. Hilovsky, Senate Bill 219 (as amended) doubles the income tax exclusion on military pensions from $12,500 to $25,000. The higher exclusion will be phased in over three years.
“Military retirees dedicated years of their lives to serving our country, and they should not be penalized simply because they choose to call Delaware home,” said Sen. Buckson. “This legislation recognizes that service and makes Delaware a more attractive place for those who have earned their retirement through a career in the military.”
Rep. Hilovsky said that making Delaware a more attractive place for military retirees and their families is a step that will benefit all residents. “This law provides meaningful tax relief to the men and women who served our nation while encouraging them to make Delaware their home. Veterans bring skills, leadership, and a track record of selflessness that will strengthen any community they choose to live in.”
According to the National Conference on Citizenship 2025 Veterans Civic Health Index, veterans volunteer 35 percent more hours per year than non-veterans.
Rep. Hilovsky added that when the tax break is fully phased in, it will save the average veteran retiree approximately $700 to $1,000 annually. However, he said veterans working in their post-military careers will provide a multi-fold return on that investment by contributing thousands of dollars to state programs through the taxes they pay on their earnings.
In this video, Rep. Hilovsky reflects on action taken by the General Assembly over the last four years to aid veterans and active-duty personnel. Those gains include the following:
- House Substitute 1 for House Bill 1 (2025) — Establishing a new state-level Department of Veterans Affairs led by a cabinet-level Secretary.
- House Bill 160 (2025) — Improving access to education benefits for Delaware National Guard members.
- House Bill 354 (2024) — Adding the children of active-duty military personnel to the enrollment priority list for school choice and charter programs.
- House Concurrent Resolution 118 (2026) — Launching a study on the feasibility of creating a Veterans Cemetery in Kent County.
