SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1839

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 19, 2026

      The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1839.

      This bill establishes the “New Jersey Gold Star Family Annuity Program” in the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide an annual annuity to a surviving Gold Star family member of a member of the Armed Forces or National Guard who died on active duty for the United States.

     The bill defines a Gold Star family member as an individual who is a New Jersey resident and is the surviving spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, parent, brother, sister, child, legal guardian, or other legal custodian, whether of the whole blood or the half blood, or by adoption, of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard who died while on active duty for the United States. 

     The annual annuity will be paid January 1 of each year in the amount of $600.  Starting two years after the bill’s effective date, the amount of the annual annuity may be increased by an amount equal to the increase for compensation and pension benefits administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in the previous year, provided that any such adjustment may not be less than one percent nor more than four percent. 

     No payment will be made to a Gold Star family member who is not a New Jersey resident. 

     Remarriage will not disqualify an otherwise eligible Gold Star family member from receiving the annual annuity provided under the program.

     Under the bill, the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs will include in the department’s annual budget request an amount of funding necessary to fund the annuity program.  The Commissioner and a designated Deputy Commissioner may also accept donations or grants for the purpose of making benefit payments.

     The bill requires program applicants to submit applications for annuity benefits to the Commissioner.  Any complete application is required to demonstrate the applicant’s relationship to the deceased service member, confirm that the deceased service member died while on active duty for the United States, and provide proof of New Jersey residency.

     Proof of New Jersey residency must be provided annually.

     Any applicant or beneficiary Gold Star family member who ceases to be a New Jersey resident, but subsequently resumes residency in this State is required to submit a new application to reinstate an annuity benefit.

     Under the bill, the Commissioner is responsible for determining whether any person seeking to be considered a “Gold Star family member” for the purpose of receiving an annuity benefit meets the program qualifications, adjudicating appeals, and making a final determination regarding benefits for a particular application or appeal. 

      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.