New Jersey's Bill A 879 exempts from state gross income tax certain income received by surviving spouses and unmarried children of New Jersey-resident military members who die in active duty under specific conditions. It applies to surviving spouses (who are New Jersey residents and have not remarried) and unmarried children under 19 (or qualifying as federal dependents) who were claimed as dependents by the deceased service member or surviving spouse. To claim the exemption, survivors must annually certify their eligibility to the state tax authority, which then issues written proof to employers to prevent tax withholding on their wages. The exclusion covers income received during the taxable year and takes effect for years beginning after the bill's enactment.
ACR 62 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $500 annually, phased over five years (reaching $500 by 2027). It directly affects honorably discharged veterans, their surviving spouses, and veterans living in continuing care retirement communities. The amendment would raise the deduction to $300 in 2023, $350 in 2024, $400 in 2025, $450 in 2026, and $500 starting in 2027, with the deduction canceling taxes if the bill is lower than the deduction amount. This change requires voter approval after legislative passage, as it modifies the state constitution.
This New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 105) urges Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs not to reduce federal funding that reimburses ambulance services for veterans. It directly affects 338,012 veterans in New Jersey who rely on free ambulance transport for medical emergencies, as proposed cuts could shift costs to veterans (with average bills of $400-$600) or lead to service reductions in rural areas. The resolution highlights that shifting this financial responsibility to states/local governments - without adequate resources - would create barriers to emergency care, especially where hospital closures are increasing. It is a non-binding request sent to federal officials, emphasizing the need to maintain current reimbursement levels.
AR 22 is a non-binding Assembly Resolution urging New Jersey's K-12 schools and colleges to include veterans and active military members in discussions about military service, values, and leadership. It specifically encourages institutions to integrate these perspectives into educational programming, particularly during Veterans Month in November. The resolution does not mandate changes but recommends fostering student connections with service members to promote appreciation for military values like integrity and selfless service. It applies to all public educational institutions across New Jersey.
This bill authorizes New Jersey to create special "Sons of the American Legion" license plates for vehicle owners. It requires a $50 one-time application fee and a $10 annual fee, with all collected funds deposited into a dedicated fund. The money in this fund is then annually appropriated to the Sons of the American Legion Detachment of New Jersey to support its activities. The plates must display a design approved with the local Legion detachment and follow standard vehicle registration rules.
This bill expands New Jersey's handicapped parking eligibility to include individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), certified by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. It directly affects veterans and civilians with PTSD who meet the medical certification requirements. The key provision adds PTSD to the existing definition of "person with a disability" in state law, requiring certification from qualified mental health professionals. This change allows eligible individuals to apply for state-issued handicapped parking placards under the same process used for other qualifying disabilities.
This bill amends New Jersey law to add "Vietnam Veterans of America" to the list of organizations whose authorized representatives can receive paid leave to attend state or national conventions. It directly affects state, county, and municipal employees who serve as official representatives of Vietnam Veterans of America. The law specifies that such employees may take up to five total paid days per year for convention attendance (including travel time), with unused leave not carrying over to the next year. The bill also removes two outdated organizations from the existing list.
AJR 16 designates March 16 as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey to recognize service dogs' role in assisting veterans with conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma, and seizure disorders. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to promote public awareness, highlighting that service dog training costs $3,000-$5,000 (not covered by veterans' benefits) and relies on nonprofit organizations like Paws Healing Heroes. This ceremonial resolution does not create new funding or legal requirements but aims to honor the support service dogs provide to veterans.
This bill (A 1901) removes specific date and location requirements for veterans to qualify for New Jersey civil service and pension benefits. It eliminates past restrictions that limited eligibility to veterans who served during exact timeframes (e.g., "between July 14, 1914 and November 11, 1918") or in specific locations (e.g., "in Lebanon" for certain missions). The key change amends the definition of "veteran" in state law to broaden eligibility, allowing veterans who served honorably in designated conflicts to qualify without proving they met these prior time or place conditions. This directly affects veterans whose service history no longer aligns with the old, narrow criteria but otherwise meets the general eligibility standards.
This bill (A4140) modifies how New Jersey calculates financial obligations for psychiatric facility care. It specifically excludes veterans' benefits (such as VA pensions or disability payments) from the income calculation used to determine a veteran's payment responsibility. Under current law, veterans' benefits were counted toward income when applying the sliding-scale fee for care; this bill removes that requirement. The change directly affects veterans receiving treatment in state psychiatric facilities who would otherwise have their benefits considered in determining their out-of-pocket costs.
