SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 854

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 19, 2025

      The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 854.

This bill permits dogs to visit residents at State veterans’ residential facilities.

     Under federal law, service animals are permitted on federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) property with some restrictions.  The federal regulation defines service animals as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.  The work or tasks performed by a service animal are required to be directly related to the individual's disability.  The federal regulation does not include emotional support animals in its definition of service animals; therefore, emotional support animals are not permitted on federal VA property.

     Under the bill dogs, including, but not limited to, emotional support dogs, may be permitted at any State veterans’ residential facility on a temporary basis.

     If permitted by the State veterans’ residential facility, family members of residents at the facility may bring a dog to visit the resident.  At the request of the State veterans’ residential facility, animal shelters, nonprofit organizations, including, but not limited to, animal organizations and veterans service organizations, or charity groups may also bring dogs to the facility to visit residents at the facility.

     The bill provides that the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs must take into consideration the health and respiratory needs of the residents when considering the presence of dogs at a State veterans’ residential facility, and must adopt rules and regulations consistent with federal law and guidelines to effectuate the provisions of the bill.

     Under the bill, a dog brought to a State veterans’ residential facility by a family member of a resident must have a harness, leash, or other tether.  If the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, the dog must be under the handler's control by voice command, signals, or other effective means.

     The bill also provides that a dog brought by an animal shelter, nonprofit organization, or charity group may go without a harness, leash, or other tether in an outdoor setting at the discretion of the dog’s handler and the management at the facility.  However, if in an indoor setting, a dog brought by an animal shelter, nonprofit organization, or charity group must have a harness, leash, or other tether, except that if the handler with the animal shelter, nonprofit organization, or charity group is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, the dog must be under the handler's control by voice command, signals, or other effective means.

     Under the bill, a dog would be denied access to a State veterans’ residential facility or removed from that facility if:

     (1) the dog is not under the control of the handler;

     (2) the dog is not trained to eliminate its waste in an outdoor area; or

     (3) the dog otherwise poses a risk to the health or safety of people or other dogs.

     Nothing in the bill would affect the ability of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to adopt rules and regulations consistent with federal law and guidelines to permit or prohibit a dog from being at the facility overnight or permanently.

     Under the bill, “State veterans’ residential facility” means any State veterans’ memorial home or Veterans Haven facility.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.