Veterans (Veteran Benefits)

This bill allows honorably discharged veterans in New Jersey to obtain special license plates displaying "Veteran" and their military branch insignia. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of honorable discharge (like a DD-214) and pay a $15 fee on top of standard registration costs. Surviving spouses of deceased veterans may continue using the plates on their vehicles. The plates are designed by the Adjutant General in consultation with the Motor Vehicle Commission, and the commission will notify drivers about the option during registration renewals.

This bill requires New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to allocate at least 12% of all funds from its existing small business loan program to businesses owned or controlled by veterans, with priority given to veterans with service-connected disabilities. It directly affects eligible veteran-owned small businesses in New Jersey seeking loans under the program. Key mechanisms include mandating the EDA to track and report loan allocations to meet this 12% minimum, while prioritizing veterans certified as having service-connected disabilities by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Defense. The requirement applies to all loan funds disbursed in any calendar year under the program, as amended from existing law (P.L.2011, c.201).

This bill (S 2428) adjusts the New Jersey veterans' income tax exemption amount to keep pace with inflation. It directly affects honorably discharged veterans who qualify under state law, increasing their current $6,000 exemption annually based on the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI-U). The exemption will automatically rise each year if the C-CPI-U increases from the previous year's 12-month period ending August 31, but remain unchanged if inflation is flat. This change applies to tax years starting in 2023 and beyond.

This bill (S 1153) extends existing motor vehicle registration fee exemptions for certain disabled veterans to toll facilities. It requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority to waive toll charges for veterans who are already exempt from registration fees under Section 1 of P.L.1948, c.28. Eligibility includes veterans with service-connected disabilities qualifying under federal laws (Public Laws 663-79th Congress and 187-82nd Congress) or veterans of World War I with specific disabilities, provided they hold a valid New Jersey driver's license. The bill directly affects qualifying disabled veterans who own passenger vehicles not used for hire, ensuring they pay no tolls on state toll facilities when their vehicle registration is fee-exempt.

This bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to close on November 11th each year for Veterans Day. Currently, school districts decide which holidays to observe, but this bill would mandate a closure on Veterans Day by prohibiting districts from opening schools on that date. The policy change would apply starting the first full school year after the bill's enactment. It directly affects students, staff, and families in New Jersey public schools by ensuring Veterans Day is observed as a school holiday.

This bill (S 2511) expands eligibility for New Jersey civil service and pension benefits by updating the legal definition of "veteran" to include service in specific conflicts like the Lebanon peacekeeping mission (1982-1987) and Grenada (1983). It directly affects veterans who served in these designated periods but previously did not qualify under the existing definition, allowing them to access benefits by meeting service requirements (e.g., 14 days for Lebanon/Grenada). The key mechanism is amending Section 11A:5-1 of New Jersey law to add these conflicts to the list of qualifying service periods. This change ensures veterans of these specific missions can now receive the same benefits as those covered under broader definitions. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.