ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 2380

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 23, 2026

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2380 (1R).

      As amended, 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 (chief administrator).  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.  After deducting the costs reasonably and actually incurred by the commission for designing, producing, issuing, renewing and publicizing the plates, and for any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program up to $150,000, the commission is required to deposit remaining monies received from the license plate application fees into the ”Veteran Housing Fund” to supplement current State and federal funding for veteran housing programs administered by the State.

      In addition, 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 for 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.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to require the commission, prior to depositing the monies received from the license plate application fees in the “Veteran Housing Fund,” to subtract 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 $150,000.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      Fiscal information for this bill is currently unavailable.