An Act To Amend Title 21 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Veteran Designation On Driver Licenses.
Summary
SB 76 amends Delaware’s driver license laws to require the Division of Motor Vehicles to place a veteran designation on a driver license when an applicant provides satisfactory proof of qualifying military service. The bill broadens and clarifies the definition of eligible service to include the United States Armed Forces and the “uniformed services of the United States,” expressly listing branches and components such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA, reserve components, and the National Guard.
The bill also updates the proof-of-service documentation that may be used to verify eligibility. In addition to existing forms, it specifically recognizes PHS Form 1867 for Public Health Service officers and NOAA Form 56-16 for NOAA service members. To qualify, the applicant must have been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. The measure is a targeted amendment to Title 21 and does not create a new benefit program, but it standardizes how veteran status is reflected on state-issued identification.
Impact
SB 76 changes Section 2718 of Title 21 of the Delaware Code governing information on driver licenses. It expands DMV authority and responsibility to issue veteran markings on licenses to a broader set of uniformed service members and adds specific acceptable documentation for verification. The practical effect is to make veteran designation available to more eligible applicants, including certain federal uniformed service personnel not always captured by narrower references to the armed forces alone, while leaving the core licensing framework intact.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition: the Senate passed the bill 20-0 on third reading, and the House passed it 35-0 on third reading. No committee transcripts were provided, but the unanimous votes suggest the bill was viewed favorably as a straightforward administrative and veterans’ recognition measure. The overall sentiment appears positive and noncontroversial.
Contention
No notable substantive contention is reflected in the provided record. The only likely policy issue is the scope of eligibility and documentation—specifically, whether the veteran designation should extend beyond traditional armed forces service to include the Public Health Service, NOAA, reserve components, and the National Guard, and what forms should count as proof. However, the unanimous votes indicate these points were not politically divisive in the legislative process.