This bill (S 1600) requires New Jersey municipalities to give veterans with qualifying military service (including wartime or emergency duty) priority access to 50% of affordable housing units in new developments. It mandates that veterans applying within 90 days of initial marketing receive preference for these units, followed by a special waiting list for remaining vacancies. After the initial 120-day marketing period, veterans on the special list get priority when units become available, ensuring the 50% preference rate is maintained. The policy applies to both rental and ownership affordable housing units and does not affect municipalities' ability to claim credit for these units toward their housing obligations.
This bill would create a New Jersey program providing up to $10,000 in matching grants to help eligible military members purchase homes. It directly affects members of the U.S. Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard who served at least 90 days in Operation Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, or Iraqi Freedom, are legal New Jersey residents, and plan to buy a primary residence in the state. The grants match the recipient's contribution dollar-for-dollar for closing costs or equity payments, with no income requirement (though priority would go to those eligible for other state housing programs). The program would be administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency in coordination with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
This bill expands New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans by adding mental illness as a qualifying service-connected disability. It allows veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating (including mental illness) to receive a tax exemption proportional to their disability percentage. The bill also extends this exemption to surviving spouses, civil union partners, or domestic partners who own the veteran's home and continue to live there after the veteran's death. These changes update existing law to broaden eligibility while maintaining the current system of tax relief based on the veteran's documented disability rating.
This bill allows New Jersey municipalities to use up to 30% of their municipal development fee trust funds - designated for affordable housing programs - to provide down payment assistance grants to first-time veteran homebuyers, with each veteran eligible for up to $15,000 per grant. The grants will not be counted as income for determining eligibility for other state benefits or for tax purposes. This policy change directs existing municipal funds toward supporting veterans in purchasing homes, supplementing other state housing assistance programs without creating new funding.
This bill (S 2841) requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to establish an emergency hotline for veterans living in state-operated veterans memorial homes. The hotline would directly serve veterans residing at the Menlo Park, Vineland, and Paramus memorial homes. The bill amends state law (N.J.S.38A:3-6) to mandate this specific emergency communication service. The key provision is the creation of a dedicated phone line for urgent needs, with no additional details provided about operational specifics. This is a procedural requirement focused on improving emergency access for veterans in these facilities.
This bill establishes a "Welcome Home Veterans Bonus" program within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). It provides cash payments to eligible veterans who served in specific military operations (like Operation Enduring Freedom), were honorably discharged, and resided in New Jersey for at least six months before entering service. Veterans receive $1,000 for overseas service with hostile fire pay, $500 for domestic or non-hostile overseas service, and $300 for certain expeditionary medal service, with additional 50% payments for subsequent deployments. The program also includes eligibility for veterans discharged due to sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status (per DD-214), and provides payments to heirs for deceased veterans meeting criteria.
This bill (S 86) waives all adoption fees for veterans adopting dogs or cats from local government-owned kennels, shelters, or pounds in New Jersey. It defines "veteran" broadly to include honorably discharged military service members, WWII Merchant Mariners eligible for federal benefits, and others with honorable discharges. The waiver covers all standard adoption costs - such as vaccinations, spaying/neutering, medical exams, and administrative fees - while allowing shelters to adjust other fees to offset revenue losses. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
S 910 establishes the "Bring Veterans to New Jersey Program" to help New Jersey employers recruit veterans by covering relocation costs. The program reimburses participating employers up to $5,000 per veteran for eligible expenses (like moving costs), provided veterans accept a job with the employer and work there for at least 12 months. Veterans must create profiles through a contracted nonprofit to connect with employers, and employers must pay relocation costs upfront before seeking state reimbursement. If a veteran leaves before 12 months due to circumstances beyond their control (e.g., layoff or family emergency), the state may forgive part or all of the repayment. This directly affects New Jersey employers who join the program and veterans relocating to work in the state.
This Senate Resolution (SR 33) urges the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish an inpatient hospital facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. It directly affects approximately 119,200 veterans living in southern New Jersey counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem), who currently must travel long distances for inpatient care. The resolution highlights that the nearest VA inpatient facility is over two hours away for many, while the proposed location at the existing military base would shorten travel times and leverage current veteran services. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests the VA take this action.
This bill permits dogs, including emotional support dogs, to visit residents at New Jersey State veterans' residential facilities on a temporary basis, with facility approval. Family members and approved organizations (such as animal shelters or veterans' groups) may bring dogs for visits, requiring leashes indoors and current vaccinations (except for service dogs). Facilities must consider residents' health needs, like respiratory issues, and can deny access if dogs are uncontrolled, not house-trained, or pose a health/safety risk. The bill defines service dogs (trained for disability assistance) and emotional support dogs, and requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to adopt rules consistent with federal guidelines.
