Veterans

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 11, 2025

S 5246: Expands the definition of veteran to include members of the commissioned corps of the national oceanic and atmospheric administration and the commissioned corps of the public health service

Expands the definition of veteran to include members of the commissioned corps of the NOAA and the commissioned corps of the public health service; expands access to certain benefits to those who served in the commissioned corps of the NOAA and the commissioned corps of the public health service.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands veteran definition to include NOAA/Public Health Service corps, granting access to benefits previously excluded.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5962: Relates to certain veterans and competitive civil service exam points

Relates to certain veterans; entitles them to 10 additional competitive civil service exam points if they are disabled; entitles them to 5 additional competitive civil service exam points if they are non-disabled and if they received certain medals or ribbons.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides additional civil service exam points for veterans, directly supporting employment opportunities and recognizing service through expanded benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4668: Awards high school diplomas to veterans; repealer

This bill creates a program allowing veterans who served honorably in the U.S. military but couldn't complete high school to earn a diploma based on their service experience. It removes outdated requirements (like limiting eligibility to World War II veterans) and directs the education commissioner to develop the program. The law takes effect immediately, enabling eligible veterans to receive diplomas without needing to complete traditional coursework. This directly affects veterans who left school early for military service, offering a formal recognition of their skills gained during service.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for veterans by creating diploma pathway without traditional coursework, directly aligning with 'expands educational access' support indicator.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates diploma program for veterans who left school for military service, expanding educational benefits without traditional requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5259: Exempts veterans eighty-five years of age and older from the obligation to pay New York state income tax

This bill exempts New York State residents who are veterans and at least 85 years old as of December 31 of the tax year from paying state income tax on their gross income, effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. It directly affects qualifying veterans aged 85 or older who live in New York and meet the definition of "veteran" under New York's veterans' services law. The exemption applies regardless of whether the veteran's income is subject to federal income tax. The bill creates a new tax law provision (section 601(i)) that overrides other tax rules for this specific group.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill reduces state tax revenue by exempting veterans 85+ from income tax, weakening the tax base and fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExempts veterans 85+ from state income tax, providing direct financial benefit without restrictions or conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3128: Relates to establishing the private employers veterans' preference policy act

This bill allows private employers (like corporations or nonprofits with employees) to voluntarily create written policies giving hiring, promotion, or retention preference to veterans over equally qualified candidates. It defines "veteran" as someone with qualifying military service (e.g., 180+ days active duty with honorable discharge) and requires any preference policy to be applied uniformly. The policy must be in writing and does not apply to government entities like state agencies or school districts. Private employers can adopt this policy without legal obligation, but must follow it consistently for all employment decisions affecting veterans.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill enables private employers to voluntarily offer hiring/promotion preference to veterans, directly supporting veteran employment initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare

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passed both · New York · Assembly May 28, 2026

A 7627: Relates to the availability of information on home care services

Authorizes the Department of Veterans' Services to consult and collaborate with relevant offices in the federal department of veterans affairs, the department of health, the state office for the aging and other HCBS experts to develop educational materials for veterans and their families about the accessibility to home and community-based services.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes collaboration to develop educational materials improving veterans' access to home care services and community-based care options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 129: Relates to exemptions available to veterans

Relates to exemptions available to veterans; requires school districts to provide the veterans alternative exemption; establishes that costs associated with such exemption shall be borne by the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state funding for veterans' school exemption costs, increasing state budget expenditure to cover district costs.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates school districts provide veterans alternative exemptions with state-funded costs, expanding veteran benefits and ensuring state financial responsibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2087: Establishes the veterans' memorials preservation act

This bill, the "Veterans' Memorials Preservation Act," requires public entities like cities, towns, and school districts to preserve existing veterans' memorials - such as parks, monuments, plaques, or structures - without altering, moving, or destroying them, except when changes are "reasonably necessary." It mandates that these memorials remain publicly accessible and properly maintained by the groups that own or manage them. The law directly affects local and state government bodies responsible for veterans' memorials across the state. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransPreserves veterans' memorials as permanent recognition of service, directly supporting veteran recognition through maintained public monuments without ambiguity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 408: Authorizes a veteran's close friend or family member who is reasonably familiar with such veteran's wishes to request that such veteran be buried in a state veterans' cemetery

Authorizes a veteran's close friend or family who is reasonably familiar with such veteran's wishes to request that such veteran be buried in a state veterans' cemetery.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes family/friends to request veteran burial in state cemetery, expanding access to a recognized veterans' benefit service.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3452: Relates to the removal of a criminal action to a veterans treatment court

S 3452 allows criminal cases involving eligible veterans to be transferred to a veterans treatment court within the same county or an adjacent county, expanding access for veterans facing charges in areas without such courts. The transfer requires the veteran's request, court approval, and the district attorney's consent, following a model used in drug courts. This change would immediately more than double the number of counties where veterans can access specialized treatment programs addressing underlying issues like mental health or substance abuse. The bill applies to pending felony cases in local criminal courts and aims to broaden New York's existing network of 20 veterans treatment courts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes veterans treatment courts as a rehabilitative alternative to traditional criminal justice, following drug court models to address underlying issues and reduce recidivism for eligible veterans.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to veterans' treatment programs (mental health/substance abuse) via specialized courts, improving healthcare access for veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands access to veterans treatment courts for eligible veterans facing criminal charges, improving specialized service access through court transfer pathways.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Substance Abuse Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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