S 4376 New Jersey Senate · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs.

S 4376 establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs in New Jersey, creating a dedicated state agency focused exclusively on veterans' needs. The bill transfers all existing veterans' programs, services, and personnel from the current Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to this new department. The new department will manage veterans' memorial homes, cemeteries, benefits programs, and other services, with a Commissioner who must be an honorably discharged veteran. This change makes New Jersey one of the few states without a separate department for veterans' affairs, aiming to provide more efficient and focused support for veterans.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
General Assembly Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Sep 2025
Introduced Mar 24, 2025 Signed Sep 11, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Jun 30, 2025 · General Assembly Jun 30, 2025

How they voted

326
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
Jun 30, 2025
D Democratic25
25 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican15
7 Yea 6 Nay 2
46% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
5
Committee
3
Sep 11, 2025
Signed into law
Approved P.L.2025, c.139.
executive
Jun 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (72-0-8)
lower
Jun 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (32-6)
upper
Jun 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee, 2nd Reading
upper
Jun 19, 2025
Committee
Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
upper
Jun 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
upper
5 primary · 13 co-sponsors

Sponsors