State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky

06/27/2026

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06/25/2026

AT THE HALL
JUNE 24, 2026 -- Rep. Hilovsky: "As prime sponsor in the House for SB 219, the bill to increase the tax exemption for military retirees, I was gratified that all veterans in this photo offered comments in support of the proposal during the House Appropriations Committee hearing this week. The bill passed unanimously out of committee and is on the House Ready List."

06/23/2026

NEWS: Two Bills Sponsored by Rep. Hilovsky Released from Key House Committee

JUNE 23, 2026 -- Two bills sponsored by State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky won release from the House Appropriations Committee today. The committee reviews any legislation that will reduce state revenue or require a state expenditure exceeding $100,000.

Senate Bill 219 seeks to gradually increase the income tax exclusion on military pensions from $12,500 to $25,000 over five years. Twenty-seven of the 41 states with a state income tax fully exempt military retirement pay from the levy.

To be eligible for this exemption under SB 219 (as amended), individuals (age 60 and over) living in Delaware before January 1, 2027, must live in the state for at least three years. Veterans who establish state residency after January 1, 2027, must be legally domiciled in Delaware for a minimum of 5 years.

The second bill, HS 1 for HB 404, seeks to establish a three-year pilot program to test the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality technologies to improve learning and student engagement while reducing teachers' workload.

Both bills have been placed on the House Ready List and can be added to the agenda for consideration by the chamber.

06/22/2026

VIEWPOINT: Why HB 404 is the bill our schools desperately need

Picture a classroom. Twenty-five students, one teacher, a textbook that was printed before half these kids were born, and a test coming up on Friday. Now picture another classroom: same number of students, same teacher except each student has a learning tool that adapts to exactly how their brain works, gives them instant feedback, and keeps them so engaged that attendance has jumped 12%. Which classroom would you want your child in?

Continue reading:

Rep. Hilovsky and Sen. Eric Buckson both support a bill that would create a pilot program that would test artificial intelligence in Delaware schools.

06/20/2026

NEWS: Safeguarding the Public by Checking Unlimited Gubernatorial Power

JUNE 20, 2026 -- A measure that seeks to create a legislative check on a governor's unfettered authority to declare and maintain a State of Emergency has passed the House of Representatives unanimously.

At present, a governor can declare a State of Emergency in response to an emergency or disaster, or when such an occurrence is imminent. A State of Emergency can be maintained for up to 30 days and then renewed for an additional 30 days, an unlimited number of times.

After declaring a State of Emergency in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor John Carney maintained it for two years, issuing hundreds of edicts in numerous orders. These orders carried the weight of law and impacted the daily lives of every Delawarean in countless ways.

While avoiding any criticism of former Gov. Carney, State Rep. Rich Collins (R-Millsboro), the prime sponsor of House Substitute 1 for House Bill 329 (as amended), said the situation revealed a need for reform.

"What we did not know was that when a long-term [State of Emergency] order is put in place, which we only had happen once in our history, the General Assembly, and even the court system, had almost no role," Rep. Collins told the House Chamber before the vote on the bill.

Under the proposal, the governor would continue to be able to declare and maintain a State of Emergency for up to 6 consecutive months (180 days). He or she could issue a second order to extend this period if it's still needed. However, any subsequent renewal order could be amended or terminated by the General Assembly.

The legislature would have the option of meeting virtually to consider State of Emergency actions if it could not meet in person.

The bill included an amendment that specifies the new protocol would not be initiated until the current governor, Matt Mayer, leaves office.

Rep. Collins said he hopes his bill would never need to be used. Still, he characterized the measure as a necessary safeguard that would allow the legislature to intervene in the unlikely event that a future governor acts improperly.

The bipartisan bill cleared the House, 39-0. It is now awaiting consideration by the Senate Corrections & Public Safety Committee.

IN PHOTO: State Rep. Rich Collins discusses his bill on the House floor on Thursday.

06/19/2026

NEWS: Bill Seeking to Reduce the Scourge of Diabetes Clears the House



JUNE 19, 2026 -- A bipartisan bill that promises to improve public health and reduce healthcare costs in Delaware was approved by the House this week, 39-0.



Sponsored by retired medical professional State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R-Long Neck, Oak Orchard), House Bill 305 provides a framework for a three-year observational study to reduce the incidence of Type 2 diabetes.

People with this condition do not respond properly to insulin, making it harder for glucose in the bloodstream to enter cells and provide energy. This impaired process causes high blood sugar levels that can, over time, damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and other organs.

The chronic disease is a massive drain on resources. According to one recent study, treating people diagnosed with diabetes accounts for 1 in 4 healthcare dollars spent in the U.S. People with the disease have medical expenditures 2.6 times higher than what would be expected without it.

Before the vote on the bill, Rep. Hilovsky told his colleagues on the House floor that he witnessed this problem explode from uncommon to rampant over less than four decades. "When I first started practicing in 1983, I routinely examined about five diabetic patients a month," he said. "By the time I retired in 2021, I was averaging 10 diabetic patients a day."

After seeing the degradations and complications of diabetes firsthand, Rep. Hilovsky said he was committed to finding a way to reduce its incidence in Delaware.



The study proposed by the bill will follow a representative group of diabetic patients as they undergo a new, intensive approach to reverse the progression of the disease. The program will incorporate technology, regular testing, professional management, and incentives to improve outcomes.

Federally funded through the Federal Rural Health Transformation Program, the initiative will carry no direct cost to Delaware taxpayers.

According to Rep. Hilovsky, the cost of diabetes care in Delaware exceeds $1.1 billion annually. He said if the new protocol reduces this impact by just 5%, it would save taxpayers more than $50 million per year.

The bill is now pending action in the Senate Health & Social Services Committee.

IN PHOTO: Rep. Jeff Hilovsky accepts the congratulations of other House members following the unanimous passage of HB 305 on Tuesday night.

06/18/2026

Save the date...

06/17/2026

NEWS: Rep. Hilovsky Speaks to Veterans, Advances Bill to Shield More Military Pension Income

JUNE 17, 2026 -- Rep. Jeff Hilovsky spoke to veteran leaders at the recent Veterans Rally held at Legislative Hall. The National Commander of the VFW attended the event.

"I discussed Senate Bill 219, on which I am the House prime sponsor," Rep. Hilovsky said.

Of the 41 states with a state income tax, 27 states fully exempt military retirement pay from state income taxes, and 12 states partially exempt military retirement pay. In 2022, Delaware increased the pension exclusion for military pensioners under 60 to $12,500.

Under SB 219, the income tax exclusion on military pensions would be gradually increased over the next five years to $25,000. That proposal was released from the House Revenue & Finance Committee earlier today (6/17) and is now on the House Ready List awaiting consideration by the chamber.

Rep. Hilovsky said he also discussed his "Claim Shark Bill," House Bill 31, which seeks to protect vulnerable veterans from being taken advantage of. A legal issue affecting the measure is currently under review by a federal court. "I urge my colleagues to pursue this important legislation in the next General Assembly," he said.

06/17/2026

IN THE COMMUNITY: Remembering D-Day

STATE REP. JEFF HILOVSKY:
"Many other Veterans and I attended the June 6th D-Day Remembrance at Fort Miles inside Cape Henlopen State Park. We were honored to have two local World War II veterans among our ranks. It was a beautiful, solemn event to remember the 43 Delawareans who died that day, or later passed from the battle wounds they incurred as part of the Allied invasion force that waded ashore in Normandy 82 years ago."

06/17/2026

IN THE COMMUNITY
REP. HILOVSKY: "While enjoying the conversations and visiting the many booths at the Georgetown Spirit of 1776 Festival, I had a chance to discuss the progress of the new charter high school, Aspira, with Wanda Lopez, who is on the management team at Aspira.

"Aspira is a New Castle County dual-language charter school opening a new location in downtown Georgetown. Having previously toured their New Castle County location and having an understanding of the culture, atmosphere, and student achievement, I believe Sussex County will welcome the addition."