Veterans

passed · New York · Senate Mar 23, 2026

S 1787: Relates to a state flag for raising awareness of veteran suicide

Provides that the "Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag" shall be the official state flag for the raising of awareness of veteran suicide; directs the commissioner of general services to establish a protocol for the flying of such flag.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill designates an official flag for veteran suicide awareness, promoting recognition and support for veterans' mental health challenges.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 23, 2026

S 2640: Includes veterans in the definition of military status for purposes of unlawful discrimination

This bill amends New York's law to explicitly include veterans in the legal definition of "military status." It expands the current definition - which already covers active military service - to protect veterans who have completed their service from unlawful discrimination. The key change adds the phrase "a person's participation in the military service... if such person has been released from such service" to the existing definition. This means veterans will now be covered under the same anti-discrimination protections that apply to active-duty military personnel. The change applies to all areas governed by this law, including employment and housing.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly expands anti-discrimination protections to cover veterans in employment, strengthening workers' rights under Labor & Employment by adding veterans to protected classes.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly expands anti-discrimination protections to cover veterans by amending military status definition, strengthening legal safeguards for veterans.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 18, 2026

S 2289: Expands the veterans' preference to include veterans who did not serve during a time of war for certain housing

Bill S 2289 expands the eligibility for veterans' preference in Mitchell-Lama housing projects. Currently, this preference is available to veterans who served during a time of war. This bill removes that wartime service requirement, making the housing preference available to all veterans and their surviving spouses as defined by the civil service law. This change applies to projects with open waiting lists and will be implemented when closed lists reopen. The bill also maintains that current residents have first priority for internal transfers within their existing projects.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands veterans' housing preference to all veterans, increasing access to affordable Mitchell-Lama housing projects.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands veterans' housing preference to all veterans (not just wartime), increasing access to affordable housing benefits as defined in civil service law.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 10, 2026

S 6840: Increases the amount of years of military service credit a member may purchase

Increases the amount of years of military service credit a member may purchase from three years to four years; provides that the provisions of such act shall not be subject to the requirement that the state shall make an equal payment to the retirement system.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransIncreases military service credit purchase from 3 to 4 years, expanding retirement benefits for veterans.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 9, 2026

S 6283: Relates to the state cannabis advisory board

This bill adds a non-voting representative from the division of service-disabled veterans' business development to the state cannabis advisory board. The amendment specifies that this new member, alongside existing non-voting department representatives, will join the board's thirteen voting members. The change does not alter the board's voting structure or policy authority but expands the advisory group's composition to include veterans' business development expertise. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on board membership composition with no direct policy changes to cannabis regulation.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds veterans' business development representative to cannabis board, integrating veteran expertise into advisory process to support veteran employment initiatives.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 6274: Relates to preferences under the affordable home ownership development program for veterans with service-related disabilities

Relates to preferences under the affordable home ownership development program for veterans with service-related disabilities; defines "veteran with a service-related disability".

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates preference for veterans with service-related disabilities in affordable home ownership program, advancing access to affordable housing for a vulnerable group.92% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides housing preferences for veterans with service-related disabilities, expanding access to affordable home ownership benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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signed · New York · Assembly Feb 13, 2026

A 9433: Relates to electronic bell jar vending machines

This bill authorizes veteran organizations and volunteer fire companies to use electronic bell jar vending machines for fundraising. The machines dispense pre-printed tickets with predetermined winners and fixed prize values, but must be approved by the New York State Gaming Commission and operate only for members of these organizations. Key safeguards include prohibiting casino-style operations, requiring machines to track sales and report to the commission, and restricting use to licensed groups under strict rules to distinguish them from slot machines. The bill aims to modernize charitable gaming while maintaining oversight and preventing expansion into commercial gambling.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes veteran organizations to use fundraising machines, enabling financial support for their activities.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

passed · New York · Senate Feb 11, 2026

S 2067: Establishes the veteran career assistance program within the SUNY and CUNY systems

Establishes the veteran career assistance program within the SUNY and CUNY systems to provide veterans with assistance in resume writing and employment placement services.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes veteran career assistance program within SUNY/CUNY for resume writing and employment placement, directly supporting veteran employment services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 9, 2026

S 1188: Requires a 120-day warning period for violations at certain veterans' organization facilities

This bill requires a 120-day warning period before municipal or health agencies can impose monetary fines for violations at facilities owned or operated by congressionally chartered veterans' groups (like American Legion posts or VFW halls). During this period, the veterans' group can fix the violation without penalty. The bill allows a written extension request with proof of corrective efforts, but does not apply to immediate life-threatening safety issues or alcohol law violations. It directly affects veterans' organization facilities covered under federal chartering under Title 36 of the U.S. Code.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides 120-day warning period before fines for veterans' facility violations, allowing time to correct issues without penalty, protecting their operational continuity.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 1919: Eliminates sporting license fees for honorably discharged, disabled veterans

This bill eliminates fees for New York state veterans who are honorably discharged and have a qualifying disability (40%+ service-connected) or meet specific veteran status criteria under the Veterans' Services Law. It directly affects eligible veterans by removing the $765 fee for a lifetime hunting, fishing, and turkey permit license, changing it to $0. The key mechanism updates the environmental conservation law to create a new fee category specifically for these veterans, while maintaining standard fees for other license types. The policy change applies immediately upon enactment, providing permanent fee relief for qualifying veterans purchasing this combined license.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEliminates $765 fee for eligible veterans, providing direct financial benefit and recognition of service under Veterans' Services Law95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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