A2380 2R

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman WILLIAM F. MOEN, JR.

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblyman WILLIAM B. SAMPSON, IV

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman ANDREA KATZ

District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Hutchison, Assemblywomen Kane, Carter, Dunn, Assemblyman Kearney, Assemblywoman McCoy, Assemblyman Freiman, Assemblywoman Fantasia, Assemblymen Myhre, Inganamort, Bergen, Assemblywomen Peterpaul, Donlon, Assemblyman Bailey, Assemblywomen Morales, Quijano, Speight, Bagolie, Drulis, Murphy, Swain and Assemblyman Tully

SYNOPSIS

Requires creation of license plates that allow disabled veterans to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disabilities.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As reported by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on June 23, 2026, with amendments.

An Act requiring the creation and issuance of license plates for ¹[qualified] disabled¹ veterans to allow parking in parking spots reserved for persons with a disability and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. For the purposes of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)¹[,] :¹

“¹[disabled] Disabled¹ veteran” means a resident of this State who is certified by ¹an authorized health care provider with¹ the federal Department of Veterans Affairs as having ¹[any degree of] a¹ service-connected disability ¹rating of at least 70 percent that causes a walking impairment.

“Walking impairment” means and includes: difficulty or inability to walk 200 feet or more without stopping to rest; and difficulty or inability to walk any distance without the use of, or assistance from, another person, a service animal, as that term is defined under the federal “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990” (42 U.S.C. s.12101 et seq.) and any regulations under the act, portable oxygen, a brace, a cane, a crutch, a prosthetic device, a wheelchair, or another assistance device¹.

b. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall, upon proper application thereof, issue ¹[a qualified]¹ disabled veteran license ¹[plate] plates¹ for any motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in the State by a disabled veteran ¹or by a person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran¹. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, the license ¹[plate] plates¹ shall display the words “Disabled Veteran” and a wheelchair symbol. Issuance of ¹[qualified] the¹ disabled veteran license plates shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, except as hereinafter otherwise specifically provided.

c. Application for issuance of ¹[qualified] the¹ disabled veteran license plates shall be made to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in a form and manner as prescribed by the chief administrator. ¹Every application for the issuance or renewal of the disabled veteran license plates shall contain a statement signed by an authorized health care provider with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs certifying that the applicant’s stated disability qualifies the applicant to meet the definition of “disabled veteran” pursuant to this section. The disabled veteran license plates shall be renewed in accordance with R.S.39:3-4. However, a disabled veteran license plate holder whose registration is valid for 48 months, pursuant to R.S.39:3-4, shall submit the statement signed by an authorized health care provider with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs certifying that the disabled veteran’s stated disability qualifies the disabled veteran to meet the definition of “disabled veteran” pursuant to this section on an annual basis during the 48-month period, in a form and manner prescribed by the commission.¹

There shall be ¹[no cost] a one-time license plate application fee of $50¹ to ¹be paid to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission by¹ the applicant ¹[for these license plates] . There is established a “Veteran Housing Fund” in the Department of Community Affairs. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall deposit monies received for the license plate applications into the “Veteran Housing Fund” to supplement current State and federal funding for veteran housing programs administered by the State¹ ², less the amount necessary to reimburse the commission for all costs reasonably and actually incurred, as stipulated by the chief administrator, for:

(1) designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the disabled veteran license plates; and

(2) any computer programming changes that may be initially necessary to implement the disabled veteran license plate program in an amount not to exceed $150,000².

d. ¹[A qualified] The¹ disabled veteran license ¹[plate is] plates shall¹ not ¹be¹ transferable and ¹[is] shall be¹ exclusively for the use of the ¹[person] disabled veteran or person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran¹ to whom ¹[it is] the license plates were¹ duly issued.

e. The chief administrator shall notify motorists of the availability of license plates for ¹[qualified]¹ disabled veterans by including a notice with all motor vehicle registration renewals and by posting appropriate posters or signs in all motor vehicle commission facilities and offices, as may be provided by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The notices, posters, and signs shall be designed by the chief administrator.

¹f. The disabled veteran license plates shall be surrendered to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission upon a disabled veteran’s failure to submit the requisite statement signed by an authorized health care provider with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, pursuant to subsection c. of this section, or death.¹

2. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a disabled veteran ¹or person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran¹ issued ¹[a qualified]¹ disabled veteran license ¹[plate] plates¹ may park in a parking space restricted for use by a person with a disability provided that the disabled veteran ¹or person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran¹ displays the ¹[disabled veteran’s]¹ valid, unexpired ¹[qualified]¹ disabled veteran license ¹[plate] plates¹ on the motor vehicle parked in that parking space or zone. A person who has been issued ¹[a qualified] the¹ disabled veteran license ¹[plate] plates¹ by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall not be required to obtain a person with a disability identification card ¹[and shall not be required] or¹ to obtain or display any special license plates or placards issued to persons with a disability by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission ¹, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-205) or section 3 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-206),¹ in order to park in a parking space or zone pursuant to this section, provided that the person displays the person’s valid, unexpired ¹[qualified]¹ disabled veteran license ¹[plate] plates¹ on the motor vehicle while parked in that parking space or zone.

¹Any person operating a vehicle that displays the disabled veteran license plates shall not park in a parking space or zone restricted for use by a person with a disability unless the disabled veteran who was issued the disabled veteran license plates is present in the vehicle or the person is operating the vehicle to furnish transportation to a disabled veteran, including pick up or drop off services.¹

b. The knowing misuse or abuse of any benefit, privilege, or consideration granted to a holder of ¹[a qualified] the¹ disabled veteran license ¹[plate] plates¹ shall be sufficient cause for the revocation of all benefits, privileges, and considerations afforded to the holder of the special license ¹[plate] plates¹ and the forfeiture of the ¹[qualified]¹ disabled veteran license ¹[plate] plates¹.

3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month following enactment. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may take such anticipatory acts in advance of the date as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act.