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Assembly committee releases package of veterans bills and resolutions, including benefit‑eligibility expansion and retirement credit change
Summary
The Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee voted to release multiple bills and resolutions including A2138 (a veterans mobile app), A3161 (broadening veterans benefits eligibility), A4751 (retirement credit rules for State Police members) and several resolutions recognizing veterans; supporters from veterans groups testified in favor.
The Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee released a series of bills and resolutions on the agenda, voting to advance measures that organizers and veterans groups said would expand or recognize veterans' benefits in New Jersey.
The committee released A2138, which would require the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to develop a mobile application providing veterans and their families a resource guide with information on legal rights, benefits, medical and insurance issues, education, housing and transition supports. Proponents on the record registered their support and the committee voted to release the bill.
The committee also released A3161, described by the sponsor as a measure that broadens eligibility for certain civil service preferences and retirement benefits by removing requirements tied to service in specific wars or geographic war zones and instead requiring federal active service. Testimony included representatives of veterans organizations. "This legislation is a VFW priority," a Veterans of Foreign Wars representative said during testimony.
A4751, which allows members of the New Jersey State Police Retirement System to purchase credit for periods that include enrollment in a U.S. military service academy or the State Police Academy and prior employment as a class 2 special law enforcement officer, was presented by state trooper associations as a parity and recruitment tool; the associations expressed support and the committee released the bill.
The committee also released several ceremonial resolutions: AJR25/SJR71 (designating the first full week of May as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week), AJR60/SJR103 (declaring New Jersey a Purple Heart State), AJR66 (commemorating the 71st anniversary of the Korean War armistice), and AR165 (urging federal legislation for proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans with service‑connected permanent disabilities).
Roll calls recorded the committee members present and registered unanimous or near‑unanimous "yes" votes for the releases. The bills and resolutions will move to the next steps in the legislative process.
