DE HB2

Increases burial benefits under the State Employees' Pension Plan from $7,000 to $8,000, the first increase since 2001

Raises funeral expenses paid for deceased volunteer firefighters, volunteer fire company ladies auxiliary members, and volunteer ambulance and rescue company members from $7,000 to $8,000, the first increase since 2004

Clarifies that volunteer firefighters and similar volunteers who also qualify as state employees can receive both the volunteer funeral benefit and their state employee burial benefit

Specifies that eligibility for volunteer funeral expenses requires at least 10 years of active service in Delaware, with service across multiple volunteer organizations counting toward the requirement

Takes effect October 1, 2025, to allow implementation after the fiscal year 2026 appropriations act provides funding