ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 2380
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: May 7, 2026
The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2380.
As amended and reported, the bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue, upon application, disabled veteran license plates (license plates) that display the words “Disabled Veteran” and a wheelchair symbol for any motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in the State by a disabled veteran or by a person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran.
Under the bill, an application for the license plates is to be made to the commission, in a form and manner prescribed by the Chief Administrator of the commission. There is to be a one-time license plate application fee of $50 payable to the commission. Every application for the issuance or renewal of the license plates is required to contain a statement signed by an authorized health care provider with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs certifying that the applicant qualifies as a “disabled veteran,” as defined in the bill. The license plates are to be renewed in accordance with current law concerning motor vehicle registration renewal. However, a disabled veteran license plate holder whose registration is valid for 48 months under current law is required to submit the signed statement on an annual basis during the 48-month period, in a form and manner prescribed by the commission.
In addition, the bill establishes a “Veteran Housing Fund” in the Department of Community Affairs. The commission is required to 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 State.
The bill permits a disabled veteran or person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran who has been issued the license plates to park in a parking space or zone that is restricted for use by a person with a disability, provided that the disabled veteran or a person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran displays the veteran’s valid, unexpired license plates on the motor vehicle while parked in the parking space or zone. The bill prohibits any person operating a vehicle that displays the license plates from parking in a parking space or zone that is restricted for use by a person with a disability unless the disabled veteran who was issued the 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.
The bill specifies that the license plates are not transferable and are exclusively for the use of the person to whom they are duly issued. The knowing misuse or abuse of any benefit, privilege, or consideration granted to a holder of the license plates will be sufficient cause for the revocation of the benefits, privileges, and considerations provided to the holder of the license plates and the forfeiture of the license plates.
Finally, the bill requires the surrender of the license plates 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 or death.
This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
The committee amended the bill to:
(1) revise the definition of “disabled veteran” to mean a resident of this State who is certified by an authorized health care provider with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs as having a service-connected disability rating of at least 70 percent that causes a walking impairment, rather than as having any degree of service-connected disability;
(2) define “walking impairment” to mean and include: 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, portable oxygen, a brace, a cane, a crutch, a prosthetic device, a wheelchair, or another assistance device;
(3) require every application for the issuance or renewal of the license plates to 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”;
(4) clarify that the license plates are to be renewed in accordance with current law concerning motor vehicle registration renewal and require a disabled veteran license plate holder whose registration is valid for 48 months under current law to submit the signed statement on an annual basis during the 48-month period, in a form and manner prescribed by the commission;
(5) provide that there is to be a one-time license plate application fee of $50 payable to the commission;
(6) establish the “Veteran Housing Fund” in the Department of Community Affairs and require the commission to deposit monies received for the license plate applications into the fund to supplement current and federal funding for veteran housing programs administered by the State;
(7) require the surrender of the license plates 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 or death;
(8) clarify that any person operating a vehicle that displays the disabled veteran license plates is prohibited from parking in a parking space or zone restricted for use by a person with a disability unless the disabled veteran who was issued the 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;
(9) revise the title to require the creation and issuance of license plates for disabled veterans, rather than qualified veterans; and
(10) make technical changes.