S 2424 provides tuition-free education at New Jersey public colleges for dependent children of veterans who died or are totally disabled due to service-related injuries, as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It covers up to 60 credit hours for associate degrees and 120 credit hours for bachelor's degrees, subject to residency requirements, academic progress standards, and proof that the student has applied for all available federal and state financial aid. The bill requires students to have no other federal tuition benefits covering the same cost and to apply for VA benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The state will reimburse public colleges for waived tuition costs.
This bill (S 2428) adjusts the New Jersey veterans' income tax exemption amount to keep pace with inflation. It directly affects honorably discharged veterans who qualify under state law, increasing their current $6,000 exemption annually based on the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI-U). The exemption will automatically rise each year if the C-CPI-U increases from the previous year's 12-month period ending August 31, but remain unchanged if inflation is flat. This change applies to tax years starting in 2023 and beyond.
S 2422 requires 7% of funds from New Jersey's Main Street Recovery Fund to be allocated specifically for grants to veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran small businesses. These grants can cover capital improvements or operating expenses for eligible businesses meeting standard program requirements like tax compliance and minimum wage standards. The bill amends existing law to mandate this dedicated funding stream, defining eligible businesses as those owned and controlled by veterans per federal standards (15 U.S.C. §632(q)). It does not change other eligibility rules but ensures a set portion of recovery funds directly supports veteran entrepreneurs.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to create a centralized website with resources for veterans seeking public employment, including civil service preference forms, job listings, and transition assistance. It also mandates that DMVA provide printed copies of these resources at Veteran Service Offices and outreach events. Additionally, the Division of Local Government Services must maintain a public list of local government job openings (outside standard civil service rules) that include veteran preference details. The law aims to streamline access to employment information for veterans transitioning to civilian careers across federal, state, county, and municipal government roles.
S 1700 requires dental clinics affiliated with public university dental schools (like Rutgers School of Dental Medicine) to give priority scheduling to 100% disabled veterans seeking oral health services. It directly affects veterans certified as permanently 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs who live in New Jersey. The key provision mandates that clinics must schedule appointments for these veterans within 30 days of request, ensuring timely access to care. The law takes immediate effect and directs the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to create implementing rules.
This bill (S 1153) extends existing motor vehicle registration fee exemptions for certain disabled veterans to toll facilities. It requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority to waive toll charges for veterans who are already exempt from registration fees under Section 1 of P.L.1948, c.28. Eligibility includes veterans with service-connected disabilities qualifying under federal laws (Public Laws 663-79th Congress and 187-82nd Congress) or veterans of World War I with specific disabilities, provided they hold a valid New Jersey driver's license. The bill directly affects qualifying disabled veterans who own passenger vehicles not used for hire, ensuring they pay no tolls on state toll facilities when their vehicle registration is fee-exempt.
This bill (S 866) requires New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide small business loans with preferential terms to veteran-owned businesses. Specifically, it mandates lower interest rates and more flexible repayment terms for businesses where over 50% of employees are veterans, and sets interest at 0% for businesses owned by veterans with service-connected disabilities. The EDA must also eliminate all fees (application, closing, etc.) for these veteran-owned businesses. The policy directly affects small businesses in New Jersey owned or controlled by veterans, aiming to improve access to capital through the state's existing small business loan program.
This bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to close on November 11th each year for Veterans Day. Currently, school districts decide which holidays to observe, but this bill would mandate a closure on Veterans Day by prohibiting districts from opening schools on that date. The policy change would apply starting the first full school year after the bill's enactment. It directly affects students, staff, and families in New Jersey public schools by ensuring Veterans Day is observed as a school holiday.
This bill creates a property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities, calculated proportionally to their disability rating (e.g., 50% disability = 50% exemption). It directly affects veterans declared by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability of at least 30% (or deemed unemployable due to such disability), and their surviving spouses under specific conditions. The state will reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax revenue lost from these exemptions, with a $10,000 cap for partial exemptions (below 100% disability).
This bill (S 2511) expands eligibility for New Jersey civil service and pension benefits by updating the legal definition of "veteran" to include service in specific conflicts like the Lebanon peacekeeping mission (1982-1987) and Grenada (1983). It directly affects veterans who served in these designated periods but previously did not qualify under the existing definition, allowing them to access benefits by meeting service requirements (e.g., 14 days for Lebanon/Grenada). The key mechanism is amending Section 11A:5-1 of New Jersey law to add these conflicts to the list of qualifying service periods. This change ensures veterans of these specific missions can now receive the same benefits as those covered under broader definitions. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
