Veterans

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

A 1122: Waives pet adoption fees for certain military personnel and veterans.

This New Jersey bill eliminates all pet adoption fees at local government-run shelters and kennels for active military members (including New Jersey National Guard after basic training), veterans, and reservists. Shelters may adjust their overall fees to offset costs from waiving these fees for eligible individuals. The policy covers standard adoption expenses like vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and wellness exams. It defines "veteran" broadly to include honorably discharged service members and WWII Merchant Marine veterans.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill waives pet adoption fees for veterans, expanding access to a tangible benefit and recognizing service through financial support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Housing

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

A 3631: Provides credits under corporation business tax and gross income tax for qualified wages of certain disabled veterans.

This New Jersey bill provides tax credits for businesses and individuals who pay qualified wages to disabled veterans. It allows a 15% credit (capped at $1,800 per veteran annually) on wages paid to veterans with a 30%+ service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, for sustained employment (185+ business days) during 2017-2020. The credit applies against both corporation business tax and gross income tax, with unused portions carryable forward for up to seven years. Businesses cannot claim the credit if wages are already counted toward other state tax credits or if the veteran hire appears to replace existing workers solely for the credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credits against corporation and gross income taxes, reducing tax liability for businesses hiring disabled veterans. Targeted tax relief aligns with fiscal policy support.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax credits to incentivize hiring disabled veterans (30%+ disability), expanding employment opportunities for a protected group and supporting workforce inclusion.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides tax credits to businesses hiring disabled veterans (30%+ VA disability), directly supporting veteran employment through financial incentives for sustained employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare

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

A 875: Excludes basic pay received for active duty military service from gross income taxation.

This bill excludes basic pay received by New Jersey residents serving in active duty or active duty for training with the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard from the state's gross income tax. It directly affects military members who receive this pay, expanding an existing exclusion that already covers military allowances like food/housing and combat zone pay. The key change removes basic pay - the primary component of military compensation - from taxable income calculations, aligning New Jersey's treatment with federal exclusions for such pay. The bill applies to taxable income years beginning January 1 after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExcludes military basic pay from state income tax, providing direct tax relief to service members, aligning with support indicators for tax relief.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExcludes military basic pay from NJ income tax, expanding financial benefits by increasing disposable income for active-duty members and veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax National Guard & Reserve

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

A 873: Requires EDA administer small business loan program to provide loans to small businesses owned or controlled by certain veterans.

This bill (A 873) amends New Jersey's existing small business loan program to require the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to ensure at least 12% of all loan funds distributed annually go to veteran-owned or veteran-controlled small businesses. It prioritizes businesses owned by veterans declared to have service-connected disabilities by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Defense. The EDA must administer the program to meet this allocation goal while maintaining existing eligibility rules for all small businesses. This directly affects veteran entrepreneurs seeking loans and the EDA's oversight of the program.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates 12% of small business loans to veteran-owned businesses, including those with service-connected disabilities, directly funding veteran entrepreneurship and economic support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare Tags Small Business

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

A 1239: Authorizes creation of Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation license plates.

Bill A 1239 authorizes New Jersey to issue special Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation license plates for motor vehicles. Vehicle owners pay a $50 application fee and a $10 annual fee on top of standard registration costs, with all extra fees deposited into a dedicated "Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation License Plate Fund." The fund's annual proceeds are appropriated to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to support its mission of providing scholarships to children of active duty, retired, or deceased Marines. This policy directly affects New Jersey vehicle owners who choose the plates and benefits the Foundation, which has awarded over 30,000 scholarships since 1962.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds scholarships for children of military personnel via license plate fees, directly supporting veterans' families through dedicated funding.90% confidence

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died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2351: Requires Commissioner of Department of Veterans Affairs to develop mobile application to provide guidance on available resources to veterans and their families.

This New Jersey bill requires the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to develop a mobile application that provides veterans and their families with information on state and federal resources. The app would cover topics including legal rights, benefits, medical and insurance issues, education, housing, and support for transitioning from military to civilian life. It aims to improve access to these resources through a mobile platform designed to be faster and more user-friendly than traditional websites. The bill was introduced in 2026 but withdrawn after being enacted in prior legislation (P.L.2025, c.292).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly includes 'medical and insurance issues' in app scope, improving access to existing healthcare resources and services for veterans.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRequires mobile app to improve veterans' access to resources like benefits, healthcare, and housing, enhancing service accessibility.95% confidence

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

A 3643: Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for disabled veterans and individuals with certain types of military service.

This bill provides free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to New Jersey state parks and forests for disabled veterans (honorably discharged with a service-connected disability), active and retired New Jersey National Guard members, active duty military personnel stationed or residing in New Jersey, and members of the state's military reserves. It amends existing laws to eliminate fees for these groups and requires the state to cover the cost by appropriating funds from the General Fund to the hunters' and anglers' license fund. The Department of Environmental Protection will determine acceptable documentation for verifying eligibility, such as military service records or VA disability certifications. The bill takes effect January 1 following enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state appropriation of funds to cover free licenses/park access, increasing government spending on public services for veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides free recreational access and park admission for veterans, expanding benefits per bill's explicit fee elimination for eligible veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget National Guard & Reserve Veteran Healthcare

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

A 2807: Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of United States Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard and make recommendations on how State should address issues.

This bill establishes a 11-member task force within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to study challenges faced by returning members of the U.S. Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard who deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The task force, including agency commissioners and public members with expertise in military transition, mental health, and veteran support, will hold public hearings and review current programs. It must identify issues affecting veterans' physical, mental, and social well-being, develop recommendations for state action, and issue a final report with legislative proposals within six months. The task force expires 30 days after submitting its report.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes task force to study veterans' challenges and recommend state solutions, indicating proactive support for veteran services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Employment Veteran Mental Health

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

ACR 36: Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of annual veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,250.

ACR 36 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's annual property tax deduction for veterans from $250 to $1,250, effective 2024. It directly affects honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses who reside in New Jersey, allowing them to deduct this larger amount from property taxes or have taxes canceled if the bill is below $1,250. The amendment would require voter approval at the next general election following its passage. This change updates a long-standing provision that previously capped the deduction at $250. The bill does not alter eligibility requirements for veterans or surviving spouses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,250, providing direct tax relief per tax policy indicators.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransIncreases property tax deduction for veterans from $250 to $1,250, directly expanding financial benefits for honorably discharged veterans and surviving spouses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education

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

A 2816: Extends veteran's gross income tax exemption to spouses of deceased veterans.

This bill (A 2816) amends New Jersey's tax code to extend a $6,000 gross income tax exemption currently available to veterans to the spouses of deceased veterans. Under the current law, a veteran's spouse could claim this exemption only in the tax year the veteran died (if filing jointly), but not in future years. The bill would allow the spouse to continue claiming the $6,000 exemption starting the year after the veteran's death, and until the year they remarry. This directly affects surviving spouses of veterans who were honorably discharged and eligible for the exemption in their final tax year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends $6,000 tax exemption to surviving spouses, providing ongoing tax relief for vulnerable veterans' families, directly aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExtends tax exemption to surviving spouses, expanding financial benefit beyond current law's one-year limit for veterans' families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Incentives Military Families

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