Veterans (Veteran Employment) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 831: Permits veterans, for civil service purposes, to be defined as a veteran or disabled veteran under federal or State definition of veteran.

This bill clarifies that veterans seeking civil service preference in New Jersey must submit proof of their veteran status to the state veterans agency no later than eight days before an employment list is issued. It specifies that veterans must provide documented evidence of their service eligibility under either federal or New Jersey's existing definitions. The bill does not change who qualifies as a veteran but adds a procedural requirement for verifying status when applying for state civil service jobs. This affects veterans applying for state government positions who wish to claim preference under current law. The change aims to streamline the verification process for civil service hiring.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1877: Provides for retained eligibility for members of NJ National Guard or reserve component called to active federal military service who met fire department maximum age requirement at closing date of civil service examination.

This bill (A1877) helps New Jersey National Guard members and reserve military personnel who were called to active federal duty before their civil service exam list expired. It ensures they retain eligibility for fire department positions if they met the maximum age requirement at the original exam's closing date. The law allows them to be placed on a new civil service list using their original exam score, without reapplying for age eligibility, and covers both fire department and existing police department positions under similar rules. The policy applies to those returning from military service who qualify as veterans.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education Veteran Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3790: Permits certain non-US citizen military service members to take civil service examinations and be eligible for civil service veterans preference.

This bill allows non-U.S. citizen military service members (who haven't renounced U.S. citizenship) to take New Jersey civil service exams and qualify for veterans' preference. It directly affects active-duty service members in the U.S. military who are not citizens but maintain U.S. citizenship status. Key provisions require these individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship 10 business days before employment lists are issued, and to meet standard veteran status criteria (discharge under honorable conditions, service records, etc.). The bill updates New Jersey's civil service rules to align with veterans' preference eligibility for this group during active service.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Employment

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 936: Waives certain professional and occupational licensing fees for veterans and spouses of veterans.

This bill waives initial application and issuance fees for professional and occupational licenses in New Jersey for veterans and their spouses, domestic partners, or civil union partners who already hold a current, equivalent license in another state. It applies when the applicant resides in New Jersey and the out-of-state license meets the board's equivalent or substantially equivalent requirements. The exemption covers all licenses issued by professional boards under the Division of Consumer Affairs. The bill does not affect renewal fees or licenses obtained through other pathways.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education Veteran Employment Tags Licensing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4137: New Jersey Battlefield to Boardroom Act; Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for qualified wages of certain veterans.

The New Jersey Battlefield to Boardroom Act provides tax credits to New Jersey businesses that hire veterans meeting specific criteria. Businesses can claim a credit equal to 10% of qualified wages paid to veterans (capped at $1,200 per veteran annually) for wages earned between 2026 and 2029. To qualify, businesses must hire at least 25% veterans as new employees, maintain 50% of veterans hired the previous year, and provide veteran support services and recruitment efforts. The credit cannot exceed 50% of the business tax liability and is void if wages are claimed for other state benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Veteran Education Veteran Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 224: Establishing veterans' affordable housing preference; authorizing bonus fair share credit for veterans' affordable housing.

This New Jersey bill requires municipalities to reserve at least 50% of affordable housing units in new developments for veterans who served in time of war or other emergency, as defined by state law. It mandates that veterans applying within the first 90 days of a project's marketing period receive priority for these units, with remaining units then open to the general public. After the initial 120-day marketing period, veterans are placed on a special waiting list to maintain the 50% reservation as units become available. The bill adds this veterans' preference to existing affordable housing requirements without altering the overall fair share obligations for low and moderate income housing.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2998: Requires hiring preference for veterans in non-civil service jurisdictions.

This bill (A2998) requires counties and municipalities in New Jersey that have not adopted civil service rules (Title 11A) to give hiring preference to veterans who are equally qualified as non-veteran candidates for open positions. It directly affects local governments without civil service systems and veterans applying for non-police/fire jobs in those jurisdictions. The preference applies only when veterans meet all measurable job requirements at the same level as other applicants. The bill does not change existing veteran hiring preferences for police or fire departments, which are covered under separate statutes.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3233: Indexes amount of veterans' income tax exemption for inflation.

This bill (A-3233) adjusts the New Jersey veterans' income tax exemption amount annually for inflation. It directly affects veterans honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or New Jersey Reserve. The exemption amount, currently $6,000, will be updated each year based on the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI-U) for the 12-month period ending August 31 of the prior year. If inflation is zero, the exemption amount remains unchanged. The change applies to tax years starting in 2023 and beyond.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Incentives Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1918: Waives certain commercial driver license fees for veterans and spouses of veterans.

This bill would waive the transfer fee for veterans and their spouses when moving a commercial driver license (CDL) from another state to New Jersey. It specifically eliminates the fee charged for transferring a CDL from a previous state of residence, directly affecting veterans who received an honorable discharge from U.S. military service or the National Guard. The waiver applies only to the transfer fee, not other CDL-related costs like examinations or endorsements.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 632: Establishes New Jersey Veteran Grant Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

This bill establishes the New Jersey Veteran Grant Program, providing tuition assistance for veterans attending public colleges and universities in New Jersey. It directly affects veterans who completed at least one year of active military service (including National Guard or Reserves), hold an honorable discharge, reside in New Jersey, and apply for other available grants first. The program covers tuition and mandatory fees for up to 18 credits per semester after other aid is applied, with public institutions required to waive any remaining balance. To qualify, veterans must maintain good academic standing, not be in student loan default, and not receive ROTC scholarships, with grants renewable annually based on continued eligibility.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Employment

All veterans bills