Veterans (Veteran Mental Health) in New Jersey

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

AJR 18: Urges US Department of Veterans Affairs to study use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans.

AJR 18 is a non-binding New Jersey joint resolution urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to study hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a potential treatment for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD or traumatic brain injury (TBI). It does not create new programs or funding but requests the VA conduct research on HBOT's efficacy, referencing existing VA pilot programs and prior evidence reviews. The resolution directly addresses the VA, not veterans or healthcare providers, and focuses on gathering evidence to inform future treatment options. It was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly's Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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

A 3274: Establishes Military Suicide Prevention Task Force.

This New Jersey bill creates a 17-member Military Suicide Prevention Task Force within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Department of Human Services. The task force includes military leaders, veterans, mental health experts, and representatives from state agencies, with specific requirements for veteran representation and expertise in areas like PTSD and military sexual trauma. Its key duties are to review military suicide issues, identify evidence-based prevention strategies, recommend state actions (including legislation), and submit biannual reports to the Governor and Legislature. The task force directly affects active-duty service members, veterans, and state agencies responsible for military and veteran services in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Benefits Veteran Mental Health

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

A 3838: Codifies Bringing Veterans Home Initiative.

This bill codifies New Jersey's "Bringing Veterans Home Initiative" into law, directly affecting unhoused or homeless veterans statewide. It requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to establish six regional housing hubs, create a standardized online referral form, use state data to target veteran homelessness needs, and connect veterans to existing housing benefits. The law mandates publishing the referral form online and classifying veterans for tailored assistance, building on a 2024 pilot program launched by the governor. The initiative aims to provide safe, stable housing for every homeless veteran in the state, with rules to be finalized by the agencies.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Homelessness Veteran Employment Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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

A 1041: Requires employers to post information concerning veterans' benefits and services.

This bill (A 1041) requires employers with 50+ full-time or equivalent employees in New Jersey to display a government-created poster in the workplace. The poster must provide clear information about veterans' benefits and services, including contact details for state veterans' programs, mental health resources, educational training, tax benefits, veteran ID options, unemployment insurance eligibility, legal services, and the VA Crisis Line. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development must collaborate with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to develop the poster. The requirement would take effect 90 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Mental Health

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

A 3778: Requires Adjutant General of DMVA create program for veterans to receive evaluation and treatment for PTSD and total brain injury.

This bill amends New Jersey law to require the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to create a comprehensive public webpage specifically for women veterans. The webpage must include information on medical and insurance issues, veterans' legal rights, benefits, education, and transition resources. It does not establish a new treatment program but mandates the dissemination of existing information about medical resources, including those related to veterans' health needs. This change aligns with the Adjutant General's existing duty to provide public information on veterans' programs and benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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

A 1005: Establishes "New Jersey Veterans Assistance Trust."

This bill establishes the New Jersey Veterans Assistance Trust, a new state entity within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The trust will accept donations from federal, state, local, or private sources to provide grants or loans directly to veterans, veterans' families, and programs supporting them - without replacing existing government funding. It will operate under a 14-member board including agency commissioners, veterans advocates, business representatives, and legislative appointees. The trust may invest unspent funds in approved securities but must maintain separate accounting and undergo state audits. The bill creates a structured mechanism to pool resources for veteran support, pending legislative approval.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education Veteran Mental Health

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 ✓ Veterans

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

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

A 382: Establishes counseling program for eligible family members of active duty military members and disabled veterans.

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.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Mental Health Telehealth Military Families Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1597: Requires DMVA create Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of certain veterans.

S 1597 requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to create a free bereavement counseling program for family members and volunteer caregivers of veterans who died by suicide. The program provides up to 24 months of counseling (max 30 hours yearly) through clinicians licensed in mental health fields, matching participants with available clinicians after application. Eligible participants include spouses, parents, siblings, or unpaid volunteer caregivers from qualified veterans' organizations who provided care for at least three months before the veteran's death. The DMVA must proactively inform grieving families through Veteran Service Officers and funeral directors when a veteran's death is by suicide, and the program will be advertised online. This bill directly affects New Jersey veterans' families and unpaid caregivers grieving suicide losses, with implementation beginning six months after enactment.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Mental Health

All veterans bills