SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2954

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 21, 2026

      The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2954.

      This bill, the “NJ Veterans to Local Government Employment Act,” requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to include an employment information section on its website and to provide certain documents at Veteran Service Offices and certain outreach events.

     The DVA, in consultation with the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, will be required to, at a minimum, provide DVA’s Civil Service Veterans Preference Claim form and certain information and resources concerning career opportunities for veterans and the transition to civilian employment.  The DVA’s website will serve as a centralized resource for veterans to access the various public employment and training opportunities available to them at the federal, State, county, and municipal government levels.

     The DVA, through its regional network of Veteran Service Offices, will also provide paper copies of its Civil Service Veterans Preference Claim form and any veterans employment informational packets provided on the website at all such offices and at each “Veteran Outreach Campaign” event scheduled by the DVA.

     This bill also requires the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs to develop and maintain a list of all job vacancies in county and municipal government entities within the State for those entities that do not operate under the provisions of the “Civil Service Act,” which must include any applicable veterans preferences for those vacancies and be made publicly available on the division’s website.  The division’s website must also provide information and resources for individuals seeking employment with, and individuals currently employed by, these government entities, as appropriate.

      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.