Military and Veterans Affairs Committee releases package of veterans bills, including building grant program and benefits packets

The Military and Veterans Affairs Committee voted unanimously to release a package of veterans-focused bills for further legislative consideration, following brief testimony from veterans-service organization representatives.

The committee released Senate Bill 1630, which would require the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to provide mortgage loan counseling under specified circumstances; Senate Bill 1859, which would direct dental clinics affiliated with public dental schools to give priority to 100% disabled veterans; Senate Bill 2002, which would permit issuance of a motorcycle endorsement to certain out-of-state military personnel; Senate Bill 2402, which would establish a New Jersey veterans organization building grant program; Senate Bill 3595, the "Welcome Home Veterans Act," which would require the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to provide veteran benefit information packets; and Senate Bill 3800, which would enhance legal protections against discrimination for people serving in the military and for veterans. Clerks and members recorded affirmative roll-call votes and the clerk announced each bill "released" from committee for further action.

Why it matters: supporters said the bills are designed to expand veterans' access to benefits and to support local veterans organizations that provide community services. Ken Hackman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars told the committee that targeted information at motor-vehicle offices and direct support for post facilities would help veterans learn about and use earned benefits. "We support S2402 establishing a veterans organization building grant program so that posts across New Jersey could continue to serve our communities for another hundred and 25 years," Hackman said. He urged the legislature to ensure limited grant funds be used for spaces that deliver veteran or community services and not for building or remodeling bars.

Hackman gave several figures describing the VFW's claimed recent activity and impact in New Jersey: he said the organization donated about $8.9 million to communities, logged roughly 248,077 volunteer hours, and had a total community-impact figure he described as about $15.9 million. He also said the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs had recovered more than $13.9 billion in compensation and pension benefits for veterans in fiscal 2023 and that, "for every dollar my office spends on this program here in New Jersey, we bring back $2,325 for the veteran." Those numbers were presented by Hackman in testimony and are reported here as stated to the committee.

Supporters argued that building grants targeted to service spaces — food banks, meeting rooms and program spaces — would preserve and expand services for veterans, youth programs and local community groups. Hackman and other witnesses also described outreach challenges: they said many veterans do not receive targeted state communications and that providing benefit information at high-traffic state offices, like motor-vehicle service centers, would improve awareness.

The committee did not debate changes to the bills on the floor today; each measure was released from committee for the next steps in the legislative process. Chairman Johnson closed the meeting by acknowledging service members deployed overseas before adjourning.