This bill establishes the New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund, allowing taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to it through their state income tax return. The fund would provide grants up to $2,500 to cover essential expenses like food, housing, and medical costs for eligible military members, veterans, and their families who reside in New Jersey and demonstrate financial hardship. To qualify, applicants must have lived in New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months, provide proof of hardship, and cannot receive more than one grant per year. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs would administer the program, with funds annually appropriated from the relief fund for these grants.
This bill prohibits New Jersey's four-year public colleges from charging tuition or fees to the spouse or dependent child of a disabled veteran who meets specific criteria. To qualify, the student must be accepted for undergraduate study, have applied for all available state/federal grants and scholarships, and applied for VA tuition benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The state will reimburse institutions for waived tuition costs. It directly affects disabled veterans' families seeking undergraduate education at public universities.
This bill establishes a state-funded counseling program to provide mental health services for family members of New Jersey's active-duty military personnel and disabled veterans. Eligible family members (spouses, domestic partners, civil union partners, or children of active-duty service members or disabled veterans who live in New Jersey) can receive up to 10 annual counseling sessions - either in-person or via telehealth - reimbursed by the state. The program requires the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to create a statewide provider list, set reimbursement rates, track session usage, and run outreach campaigns. Mental health professionals must agree to provide all 10 sessions per family member to qualify for reimbursement. The bill defines "disabled veteran" as a New Jersey resident honorably discharged with a VA-recognized service-connected disability.
S 88 allows New Jersey shore municipalities to offer free or reduced-cost beach access to the spouse and dependent children (over age 12) of veterans who served at least 90 days in active duty or were honorably discharged due to a service-connected injury or disability. The bill amends existing law (P.L.1955, c.49) to expand eligibility beyond currently covered active military personnel and National Guard members to include qualifying veterans. Municipalities would need to adopt this through local ordinances, track usage, and accept standard veteran documentation (like DD-214 forms) for verification. This policy change directly affects veterans' families seeking affordable beach access in coastal communities.
S 1875 exempts specific military compensation from New Jersey's state income tax for New Jersey residents serving outside the state. It directly affects New Jersey-domiciled military personnel stationed in other states or overseas by excluding their active-duty pay, mustering-out payments, and housing allowances from taxable income. The bill amends New Jersey tax law (N.J.S.54A:6-7) to create this exclusion for service performed outside New Jersey. This policy change provides tax relief to military members who maintain New Jersey residency while serving in other locations.
This bill (S 2578) requires New Jersey's four-year public colleges to waive all tuition and fees for the spouse or dependent child of a disabled veteran who meets specific conditions. To qualify, the student must be accepted and enrolled as an undergraduate, apply for all available state and federal grants/scholarships, and apply for VA tuition benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The state will reimburse institutions for the waived costs. It applies to disabled veterans certified by the VA as having a total, permanent service-connected disability.
This bill establishes a program within New Jersey's veterans' memorial homes to provide direct support services to families of residents. It requires the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to have resident advocates (already established by law) administer the program, making key resources accessible on-site. The program provides family members with timely information on health updates, facility events, state/federal benefits applications, financial assistance, and counseling services - both in-person and referrals for external support. It defines "family member" to include spouses, domestic partners, and children (by blood or adoption) who are New Jersey residents. The bill mandates implementation within 90 days of enactment.
This bill extends New Jersey's tuition benefit to children and surviving spouses of U.S. Armed Forces members who died while on active duty (previously limited to New Jersey National Guard members). It allows eligible dependents to attend public colleges tuition-free for up to 16 credits per semester, subject to applying for all other available state, federal, and VA education benefits first. Additionally, it provides a new monetary award equal to 10% of tuition costs for non-tuition expenses like housing, meals, or supplies. The benefit applies to public institutions listed in state law and takes effect immediately for the next academic year.
This bill extends New Jersey's $6,000 gross income tax exemption for veterans to their surviving spouses. Currently, spouses can claim the exemption only in the year a veteran dies (if filing jointly), but not in subsequent years. The bill would allow surviving spouses to continue claiming the exemption annually until they remarry, provided the veteran was eligible for the exemption in the year they died. This change directly affects spouses of deceased veterans who were honorably discharged and received the tax benefit. The exemption reduces taxable income for qualifying households, lowering their state tax liability.
This bill creates tax credits for New Jersey employers who hire immediate family members (spouse, child, or parent) of military members killed in action. Employers receive a 10% credit on qualified wages paid to these new hires, capped at $1,200 per family member per tax year, provided the employee works full-time for at least nine consecutive months. The credit is nonrefundable but can be carried forward for up to 20 years, and employers cannot combine it with other state tax credits for the same wages. It applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax, effective for tax years starting after the bill's enactment.
