S 1839 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Establishes "New Jersey Gold Star Family Annuity Program."

This bill establishes the "New Jersey Gold Star Family Annuity Program" to provide annual financial support to eligible family members of New Jersey service members who died while on active duty. It directly affects New Jersey residents who are surviving spouses, domestic partners, parents, siblings, children, or legal guardians of fallen military members (defined as "Gold Star family members"). The program pays a fixed $600 annual annuity on January 1 each year, with future increases tied to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefit adjustments (minimum 1%, maximum 4% annually). Non-residents are excluded, and remarriage does not disqualify recipients.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026

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What changed between versions

Technical Review Of Prefiled Bill → Introduced · 3 edits · Jan 13, 2026

MINOR

The bill was moved from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the newly named Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and all references to the Commissioner were replaced with the Adjutant General as the responsible official for administering the Gold Star Family Annuity Program. This changes which office holds authority over budget requests, application processing, eligibility determinations, appeals, and rulemaking for the program.

SCOPE

The program is now established in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs instead of the Department of Veterans Affairs, reflecting a departmental reorganization or renaming.

ENFORCEMENT

All administrative responsibilities (budget requests, accepting donations, processing applications, determining eligibility, adjudicating appeals, and adopting rules) are transferred from the Commissioner to the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

REQUIREMENT

The language regarding the Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Services was changed from 'a designated Deputy Commissioner' to 'the Deputy Commissioner,' indicating a fixed position rather than an appointed or designated one.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor