LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 3595

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JULY 15, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

“Welcome Home Veterans Act”; requires MVC to provide veteran benefit information packets. 

Type of Impact:

Increase in State expenditures. 

Agencies Affected:

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1 

Thereafter

 

State Expenditure Increase

$150,000

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) anticipates that the bill will result in increased upfront expenditures of $150,000 for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission associated with the costs of printing and distributing benefit information packets. 

·         The OLS estimates that the cost of printing materials, including paper and ink, will be $.50 per packet.  Currently, there are approximately 300,000 veterans in the State.  The OLS estimates that it will cost the commission $150,000 to initially print these packets. 

·         The OLS anticipates that the commission will be able to update its website with the current staff available at no additional cost to the commission. 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill establishes the Welcome Home Veterans Act, which requires the commission to provide information concerning federal and State benefits that are available to veterans upon the issuance of an initial license, renewal license, probationary license, or an identification card to a veteran, provided the document issued includes a veteran designation.  The information required to be provided to veterans under the bill is to be available in both a hardcopy version at each commission agency as well as in a digital format on the commission’s website. 

      The information provided to veterans is to include, at a minimum: (1) a copy of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs Veterans’ Benefits Guide; (2) a copy of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers booklet; (3) information on where veterans can find more information about available benefits; and (4) any other information the commission, in conjunction with the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs, believes is necessary for veterans in this State. 

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received. 

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS anticipates that the bill will result in increased upfront expenditures of $150,000 for the commission associated with the costs of printing and distributing benefit information packets. 

      The commission will be required to obtain and distribute veteran benefit information that is made available by the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs.  The commission may be responsible for the cost of printing and materials if the department is unable to provide the necessary number of benefit guides, booklets, and other information required by the bill.  For the purpose of this analysis, the OLS estimates that the cost of printing materials, including paper and ink, will be $.50 per packet.  Currently, there are approximately 300,000 veterans in the State.  The OLS estimates that it will cost the commission $150,000 to initially print these packets.  Notably, it is unlikely that all 300,000 veterans will need licensing or identification services at the commission during the first year after the bill’s enactment.  This initial print run should provide the commission with an adequate number of packets to distribute to veterans seeking licensing and identification card services. 

      Additionally, the bill requires the commission to update its website with the same veteran benefit information available in the packets.  The OLS anticipates that the commission will be able to update its website with the current staff available at no additional cost to the commission. 

 

 

Section:

Authorities, Utilities, Transportation and Communications

Analyst:

Michael D. Walker

Associate Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).