SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1458

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 16, 2024

      The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1458.

This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to develop a mobile application for veterans and their families.  The mobile application will be a resource guide and will provide veterans and their families with information related to veterans’ legal rights, medical and insurance issues, education, housing, the transition from active to civilian life and other support assistance and resources available to veterans and their families.  The guide should have substantially the same information as available on the DMVA website, A Resource Guide for New Jersey’s Military, Veterans and Families, and New Jersey Veterans Benefits Guide.

     Making these resources available through a mobile application will provide veterans with an additional avenue to access DMVA resources.  The content on mobile applications generally loads faster than websites, and mobile applications are easier to use than websites and will provide veterans with a better user experience.

      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.