SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1731

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 2, 2026

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1731.

      As amended and reported, this bill renames the Blue Star Memorial Highway Council as the Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway Council and the Blue Star Memorial Highway system as the Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system to recognize Gold Star families. 

      This bill was pre-filed 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) remove the requirement for the Department of Transportation, within 90 days of the bill’s effective date, to update the signage throughout the State to reflect the highway system’s updated name, the “Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system”;

      (2) revise the title of the bill; and

      (3) replace references to the “Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs” with the “Department of Veterans Affairs” throughout the bill.