Veterans in New Jersey | MyRepTracker

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

A 2884: Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities.

This New Jersey bill establishes an independent Office of Inspector General (IG) specifically for state veterans' facilities. The IG, appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, investigates complaints about facility policies and conducts inspections to ensure resident safety and care quality. Key mechanisms include the authority to subpoena witnesses and documents, refer criminal matters to prosecutors, and maintain confidential complaint channels for residents, families, and staff. The office directly affects veterans' facilities, their residents, and staff by creating a dedicated oversight body with formal investigative powers. The bill aims to strengthen accountability within state-run veterans' care settings through structured, independent review.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Healthcare

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

A 633: Establishes NJ Military Family Relief Fund; provides for designation on State gross income tax return to permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to military family relief fund.

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.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Military Families

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

A 2350: Prohibits four-year public institution of higher education from charging tuition and fees to student who is spouse or dependent child of disabled veteran.

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.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Higher Education Military Families Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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

A 1710: Establishes New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program.

This bill creates the New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program, which provides funding to veterans' organizations for building-related expenses. It directly affects qualified veterans' groups by covering costs like construction, renovation, repairs, and upgrades to their facilities. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will administer the program using existing statutory authority, distributing grants to support physical infrastructure needs. The program is designed to help veterans' organizations maintain or improve their operational spaces without requiring new legislative authorization for each project.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Employment Veteran Housing

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

A 1724: Modifies title and role of Chief Diversity Officer; establishes New Jersey Office of Supplier Development and Business Opportunities.

This bill changes the title of the "Chief Diversity Officer" to "Chief Supplier Development Officer" within the Department of the Treasury and creates the New Jersey Office of Supplier Development and Business Opportunities. It requires all state agencies and contracting units to collect and report detailed procurement data - including contract awards to certified businesses like minority-owned, women-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, and veteran-owned enterprises - to this office. The office will analyze the data, monitor compliance with contracting goals, provide training to agencies, and develop a cloud-based system to track contracts. This directly affects state agencies responsible for purchasing goods/services and certified businesses seeking state contracts.

Topics ✓ Veterans

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

A 3589: Revises registered apprenticeship requisites of public works contractors and creates opt-out from participation in registered apprenticeship program for public works projects.

This bill allows public works contractors in New Jersey to opt out of participating in registered apprenticeship programs by paying an annual $1,000 fee per craft classification. Contractors choosing this option must still pay all craftworkers at least the prevailing journeyman wage rate. The opt-out fees are split equally: 50% funds workforce development programs for underserved communities, and 50% provides micro-grants to female, minority, and veteran-owned construction firms. Contractors not opting out must register with the state, verify their apprenticeship program meets federal standards (29 C.F.R. sections), and provide documentation of compliance.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workforce Development

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

AJR 103: Designates September 22 as "John Basilone Day."

This bill designates September 22 of each year as "John Basilone Day" in New Jersey to honor the WWII Marine Corps hero John Basilone, a native of Raritan. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance through activities and programs. The resolution commemorates Basilone's Medal of Honor and Navy Cross achievements for his actions at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, with no new policies or funding created. As a purely commemorative measure, it has no direct regulatory impact.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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

A 883: Establishes "Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Grant Program" in DMVA.

Bill A883 establishes a grant program within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to connect disabled veterans with service dogs. The program provides funding to accredited nonprofit organizations (meeting IRS 501(c)(3) requirements) to cover the cost of service dogs and related training for eligible veterans. Key provisions include prohibiting nonprofits from charging veterans for service dogs, requiring DMVA to provide ongoing veterinary insurance for the dogs, and mandating annual reports on program effectiveness. This directly affects disabled veterans (honorably discharged with service-connected disabilities) and qualifying nonprofits that train and provide service dogs.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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

AR 80: Urges U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to utilize and fund existing paratransit transportation networks to transport disabled veterans to and from its New Jersey medical centers.

This resolution urges the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to stop using current transportation providers for disabled veterans traveling to New Jersey’s two VA medical centers (in East Orange and Lyons) and instead fund existing county paratransit services or nonprofit organizations like ARC of New Jersey. It directly affects approximately 53,000 disabled veterans in New Jersey who face inadequate transportation, including reports of veterans being stranded for hours or overnight. The key mechanism is redirecting VA funds to expand existing high-quality paratransit networks - already serving seniors and disabled residents - to cover VA medical appointments, rather than relying on underfunded or inconsistent VA-provided services. The resolution has no legal force but requests the VA reconsider its transportation partnerships.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Transportation ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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

AJR 63: Urges United States Department of Defense and New Jersey Civil Service Commission to permit civil service examinations during deployment.

AJR 63 is a joint resolution urging the U.S. Department of Defense and New Jersey Civil Service Commission to coordinate so deployed military service members can take civil service examinations during their deployment. It directly affects New Jersey military members who are deployed, enabling them to participate in exams while serving, which would maintain their eligibility for civil service jobs upon return. The resolution does not change existing rules but requests collaboration to allow exams during deployment, helping veterans secure public-sector employment faster by keeping them on hiring eligibility lists.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Public Employees National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education Veteran Employment

All veterans bills