SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1903.
As amended by the committee, this bill establishes the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the military family relief fund.
Under the bill, a separate, nonlapsing fund to be known as the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” is established in the Department of the Treasury. Moneys in the fund would be held by the State Treasurer and made available for the purposes of the bill. The purpose of the military family relief fund would be to provide grants up to $2,500 to defray the costs of food, housing, medical services, and other essential expenses for (1) members of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, and their families, (2) members of the New Jersey National Guard and their families, (3) veterans and their families, or (4) the surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces, or a reserve component thereof, a member of the national guard, or a veteran.
The bill provides that the Legislature would annually appropriate all funds deposited in the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” to the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs, as appropriate, which would be credited with:
(1) moneys received by the State as gifts, grants, or donations for the purpose of military family relief, including, at the discretion of the Adjutant General or the commissioner, as appropriate, grants accepted by the departments;
(2) moneys that the Legislature may appropriate; and
(3) other moneys made available including, but not limited to, funds provided by the federal government.
Under the bill, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military Affairs and the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs would jointly determine the application process, and establish the eligibility documentation required for a person to be considered a qualified applicant, and issue the grant from the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund,” if adequate moneys are available, to those qualified applicants.
To be qualified, the applicant is required to be a New Jersey resident and must have resided in the State for a period of not less than 12 consecutive months immediately prior to submitting an application. An applicant must also provide documentation of financial hardship to the department in order to receive the grant and is prohibited from receiving a grant from the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” more than once in any 12-month period.
Under the bill,
“veteran” means an individual who received an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions from active service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, or the New Jersey National Guard.
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 clarify that the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs will jointly administer the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” program.