Veterans (Veteran Employment) in New Jersey

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

A 1911: Requires counties to specify expenditures concerning veterans' services when submitting budget to Division of Local Government Services in DCA.

This bill (A 1911) requires New Jersey counties to separately list spending on veterans' services - such as transportation and employment counseling - in their annual budgets submitted to the Division of Local Government Services. It directly affects county governments, mandating they specify these expenditures instead of grouping them with other services. The key provision is a new budget reporting requirement, ensuring transparency about how funds are allocated to veterans' programs. The bill applies to all county budgets submitted after its effective date, which follows enactment. It does not create new programs or funding but improves accountability in existing budget submissions.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Employment Veteran Housing

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

A 1658: Establishes Veterans State Government Fellowship program.

Bill A-1658 establishes the Veterans State Government Fellowship program at Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics, creating a paid fellowship for eligible New Jersey veterans. The program selects up to eight veterans (within 10 years of honorable discharge, at or below E-9/O-5 rank) to work for one year - four in legislative offices (Senate/Assembly majority/minority offices) and four in state departments or agencies. Each fellow receives a stipend comparable to other Rutgers fellowships, funded by an annual $600,000 state appropriation. The program aims to provide veterans with hands-on training in legislative and executive government processes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Appropriations Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Housing

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

A 1429: Permits board of education to employ certain veterans in coaching positions in school district's interscholastic athletic program.

This bill allows New Jersey school boards to hire eligible veterans as coaches in school sports programs without requiring them to hold a teaching certificate or substitute credential. An "eligible veteran" is defined as a state resident honorably discharged after at least four years of military service. The bill directly affects veterans seeking coaching roles and school districts hiring for those positions, removing a current credential barrier. It does not change requirements for other school staff or student-athletes. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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

A 950: Eliminates requirement under veterans' gross income tax exemption that taxpayer serve in active duty status or federal active duty status to qualify for exemption.

This bill eliminates a requirement for New Jersey veterans to have served in active duty or federal active duty to qualify for a $6,000 gross income tax exemption. It directly affects honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, reserve components, and New Jersey National Guard members who previously needed active duty service to claim this exemption. The key change removes the phrase "in active duty status or federal active duty status" from the tax code, allowing all eligible honorably discharged veterans to claim the exemption regardless of their service status. The policy change applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Incentives National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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

A 941: Waives business formation and registration fees for establishment of businesses owned by veterans.

This bill waives New Jersey's business formation and registration fees ($125 for for-profits, $75 for non-profits) for veterans establishing new businesses or non-profits. It applies to veterans who were honorably discharged after at least 90 days of service, including reserve members, and requires submission of a DD-214 or discharge certificate as proof. The fee exemption covers only the initial setup costs, not ongoing renewal fees. This policy directly affects veterans seeking to start businesses by reducing their immediate financial barriers to entrepreneurship. The bill mirrors similar legislation enacted in Pennsylvania in 2016.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Housing

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

A 1905: Authorizes DMVA to grant preference in awarding contracts to vendors that employ veterans.

This bill, known as the "BRAVE Act," requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to give contract preference to vendors employing the highest percentage of veterans when awarding goods or service contracts. Vendors competing for DMVA contracts must submit employee veteran data, which the department must verify within 30 days; false claims lead to 5-year contract bans and contract termination. It defines "veteran" broadly to include disabled veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The law directly affects businesses seeking DMVA contracts and aims to incentivize veteran employment through procurement preferences.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Employment

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

A 652: Authorizes veterans to deduct two years military service from age requirement for police officer under certain circumstances.

This bill modifies New Jersey's age requirement for municipal police officers to allow veterans to deduct military service time from their age. Specifically, veterans who served at least 10 days during a time of war may have up to two years of service deducted from their actual age, meaning their adjusted age must be 35 or younger to qualify. It directly affects veterans over 35 seeking police officer positions in New Jersey municipalities. The change caps the deduction at two years (previously unbounded) while maintaining the 35-year maximum age limit. The amendment updates existing law (N.J.S.40A:14-127) to clarify this provision.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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

A 3036: Increases days of paid military leave for certain public employees who serve in United States Reserves.

This bill increases paid military leave for New Jersey public employees serving in U.S. military Reserves from 30 to 90 work days per year. It directly affects state, county, school district, and municipal employees who are members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps Reserves, or affiliated National Guard units. The key change allows these employees to take up to 90 paid work days for federal active duty, with any additional days provided without pay. Local employers can seek state reimbursement for costs incurred under this policy through the State Treasurer’s office. The change aligns benefits for out-of-state Reserve members with those already provided to New Jersey National Guard members.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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

A 881: Requires EDA to provide loans through small business loan program at lower interest rates, with more flexible repayment terms if issued to small businesses owned or controlled by certain veterans, and prohibit certain fees.

This bill requires New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to offer small business loans with lower interest rates and more flexible repayment terms to veteran-owned small businesses. Specifically, it mandates that businesses where over 50% of employees are veterans receive more favorable terms, and zero-percent interest rates apply to businesses owned by veterans with service-connected disabilities. The bill also prohibits the EDA from charging application, commitment, closing, or guarantee fees for these veteran-owned businesses. These provisions apply to loans issued through the EDA's existing small business loan program.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare Tags Small Business

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

ACR 70: Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature to extend civil service hiring preference to veterans who did not serve in time of war.

ACR 70 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow New Jersey's Legislature to extend civil service hiring preferences to all veterans, not just those who served during wartime. Currently, only veterans with wartime service receive this preference when applying for state government jobs. The amendment would enable the Legislature to create a new law defining eligibility for this hiring preference, potentially including veterans who served in peacetime. This change would directly affect all veterans applying for civil service positions across New Jersey state government. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election following its passage.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Employment

All veterans bills