Relates to veterans' health care; creates a veteran health care review to ensure veterans and their families have access to health and mental health treatment, including for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, military sexual trauma, reproductive and mental health conditions, and suicide prevention.
Assembly Resolution 834 honors Wayne Baumgartner for 56 years of service to the American Legion Brounshidle Post 205 in Tonawanda, New York, recognizing his roles as Post Commander and volunteer work supporting veterans, community events, and local initiatives like school backpack drives and holiday gift distributions. The resolution, adopted by the Assembly, expresses legislative appreciation for his dedication and transmits a copy to Baumgartner. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges his civic contributions. This is a ceremonial resolution, not a substantive legislative measure.
This bill would provide a full real property tax exemption for the primary residence of disabled veterans who meet specific criteria. To qualify, veterans must have been discharged under honorable conditions, have a qualifying disability or LGBT status recognized under veterans' services law, and be rated as permanently and totally disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption also applies to veterans who are individually unemployable due to their disability and have received government pecuniary assistance for housing modifications. The law ensures the property's taxable value cannot go below zero and does not affect any existing tax exemptions veterans may already receive.
This bill creates a special "North Country Honor Flight" license plate for New York vehicle owners. Drivers who choose this plate pay an additional $25 annual fee on top of standard registration costs. Revenue exceeding $6,000 yearly from these fees is directed to the North Country Honor Flight fund, which supports a veterans' travel program helping veterans visit memorials. The fund is managed by state officials and can also accept grants or donations for this purpose.
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.
This bill ensures that military service members who cast absentee or military ballots while on active duty have their votes counted toward the election for which they were cast, even if they die in combat before the election date. It directly affects active-duty service members in all branches of the military (including National Guard and state militias) who vote before deployment and lose their lives during combat operations. The key provision requires election officials to count these ballots as valid if the service member's death occurs prior to the election, without requiring additional action from the voter or their family. This policy change preserves the voting rights of service members who made their choice before their death in service.
Requires the department of veterans' services to obtain information from the United States department of veterans affairs related to the county of residence of New York state veterans discharged from active service, in which county such veterans reside, and transfer such information to the appropriate county veteran service agency.
Includes special districts in veterans' real property tax exemptions provided that such special district exemption is adopted by the local governing body.
Establishes a voluntary veterans' registry for the purpose of providing information on federal, state, and local governmental benefits, programs, and services available to veterans, and to link veterans with resources that can provide assistance.
This bill creates a $1,500 annual tax credit for New York employers who hire eligible workers: New York National Guard members, reservists, volunteer firefighters, and EMS personnel. To qualify, employees must be employed for at least six months, and employers must comply with federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The credit reduces state tax liability but cannot lower taxes below the minimum threshold; any unused portion may be carried forward to future tax years. The policy takes effect for taxable years beginning January 1, 2028.