This bill creates a special "Support Our Veterans" license plate in New Jersey, available to vehicle owners who pay a $50 application fee plus a $10 annual fee. The collected fees fund a dedicated "Support Our Veterans License Plate Fund," which annually supports the Veterans Haven Council's services for homeless veterans housed at Veterans Haven facilities. The fund, managed within the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, covers costs for veterans' housing and support programs. The plate design will be chosen with input from the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, and initial costs are offset by donations from the Veterans Haven Council and other donors, not public funds.
S 3652 creates a New Jersey home purchase grant program for veterans who served at least 90 days in federal active duty. It provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants of up to $10,000 per veteran to cover closing costs, equity payments, or other home-buying expenses, with no income requirements. Eligible veterans must be New Jersey residents with proof of service and intent to buy a primary residence in the state. The bill appropriates $2 million to fund the program, which will operate through the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency in coordination with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
This bill creates an independent Veterans' Memorial Homes Oversight Board to monitor New Jersey's state-run veterans' homes in Menlo Park, Vineland, and Paramus. The 12-member board - appointed with representation from veterans' organizations, family members of residents, and legislative committees - reviews operations, investigates complaints, identifies systemic issues, and makes recommendations. It must submit monthly public reports to the legislature detailing findings and corrective actions taken at each facility. The board operates separately from the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs and has authority to access relevant government records for its reviews.
This bill establishes a New Jersey legislative internship program for veterans, creating paid opportunities in public policy. It targets veterans who were honorably discharged within five years, served at or below E-5/O-3 pay grades, and have at least a 20% service-connected disability (or are Purple Heart recipients), excluding those with 20-year retirements. Veterans residing in New Jersey receive priority, and interns must complete a work period with a legislator’s district office, with potential extension at the legislator’s discretion. The program requires the state to seek federal funding (like the "Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants") and appropriate necessary state funds to operate.
This bill creates a program through New Jersey's Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN) to help veterans' memorial homes establish nurse residency programs for licensed practical nurses and registered nurses. It appropriates $500,000 to fund financial, material, and technical support for participating homes, requiring programs to include a 12-month timeline, full-time schedules, and mentoring by experienced nurses. Veterans' memorial homes must apply for support, with approval on a first-come basis, and will collect data on program completion and nurse retention. The program mandates annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on participation and spending.
This bill allows New Jersey municipalities to establish preferences for low- and moderate-income residents when allocating affordable housing units in new developments. Specifically, it permits municipalities to create a 50% preference for veterans who served in wartime or emergencies for affordable units, granting them priority during the first 90 days of a 120-day marketing period. The preference applies to units designated as affordable under municipal housing plans, with veterans placed on a special waiting list if units remain available after the initial period. This change directly affects veterans seeking affordable housing and gives municipalities new tools to implement housing preferences.
This bill requires New Jersey's Division of Veterans' Healthcare Services to create and maintain emergency plans specifically for state-run Veterans' Memorial Homes. The plans must identify potential emergencies, outline response steps, establish standardized procedures for all homes (including training), and ensure timely information sharing with residents, families, and staff. It directly affects Veterans' Memorial Homes across New Jersey and their residents. The law takes immediate effect and does not override existing federal or state emergency regulations.
This bill codifies New Jersey's "Bringing Veterans Home Initiative" into law, directly affecting unhoused or homeless veterans statewide. It requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to establish six regional housing hubs, create a standardized online referral form, use state data to target veteran homelessness needs, and connect veterans to existing housing benefits. The law mandates publishing the referral form online and classifying veterans for tailored assistance, building on a 2024 pilot program launched by the governor. The initiative aims to provide safe, stable housing for every homeless veteran in the state, with rules to be finalized by the agencies.
This bill establishes a nonrefundable tax credit for disabled veterans in New Jersey who rent residential property. It allows qualifying disabled veterans to claim a credit of up to $1,000 annually for the portion of their rent that covers property taxes (calculated as 18% of rent paid). Married veterans filing separately each receive half the credit, and veterans sharing housing with non-spouses can only claim credit for their own rent payments. The credit applies in addition to existing rent tax credits for seniors or other disabled renters.
This bill establishes a two-year pilot program to address staffing shortages at New Jersey's three veterans memorial homes (Menlo Park, Paramus, and Vineland). It appropriates $370,000 to fund two key mechanisms: (1) scholarships covering education costs for current staff pursuing nursing credentials, requiring a two-year work commitment post-graduation, and (2) recruitment bonuses of up to $6,000 per new registered or licensed practical nurse, payable over two years. The program also mandates specialized training in areas like geriatric care and PTSD management for veterans' staff. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs must report annually on participation and effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature.
