Legislative Updates
Government Affairs Report 3 2021
A2244 Revises provisions of State law concerning claiming and proper disposal of cremains of veterans and eligible spouses or dependents.
7/30/2020 passed by the Assembly (74-0-0)
1/28/2021 substituted for S1770
1/28/2021 passed Senate (33-0)
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to be An Effective Veterans Advocate in Your State Legislature
Bateman Bill Expanding Veterans’ Property Tax Break Clears Senate
A38873/ S2601 Revises provisions of State law concerning claiming and proper disposal of cremains of veterans and eligible spouses or dependents.
This legislation was introduced 5/7/2018 and referred to the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee. It was reported out of the Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, 2nd Reading 11/7/2019. It was never posted for a vote on the floor.
The Senate version of this legislation was Introduced in the Senate, 5/21/2018 and referred to the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee. 3/7/2019 it was reported from the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, 2nd Reading. 5/30/2019 it was passed by the Senate (37-0).
NJ Military and Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Left in Committee 2018-2019
FY20 NDAA Conference Report – Eliminates Widows Tax
18 November 2019 – Changes to VVA Legislative Action Center
6 October 2019 – October 2019 Gov Affairs
1 October 2019 – VVA Scorecard 2018 2019 A
4 September 2019 – House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health Legislative Hearing, 09/11/19, 10:00am atHouse Visitors Center 210, Place House Visitors Center, room 210, U.S. Capitol, Washington DC, Chairwoman Rep. Brownley, D-CA 26th, presiding.
Agenda and Witnesses HR 2681 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on the availability of prosthetic items for women veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
HR 3224 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for increased access to Department of Veterans Affairs medical care for women veterans.
HR 3036 — Breaking Barriers for Women Veterans Act
HR 4096 — Improving Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act
HR 2972 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the communications of the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to services available for women veterans, and for other purposes.
HR 2628 — Veterans Early Treatment for Chronic Ailment Resurgence through Examinations (VET CARE) Act
HR 2816 — Vietnam-Era Veterans Hepatitis C Testing Enhancement Act
HR 3798 — Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act
HR 3867 — Violence Against Women Veterans Act
HR 2752 — VA Newborn Emergency Treatment Act
HR 1527 — Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act
HR 2798 — Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act
HR 2645 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to newborn children.
HR 3636 — Caring For Our Women Veterans Act
HR 2982 — Women Veterans Health Care Accountability Act
HR 1163 — VA Hiring Enhancement Act
Witnesses — TBA
The hearing is open to the public
To view the hearing go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvI8xjyh45-XAJbfPcjUdbQ
14 August 2019 – VA Just Updated Its Disability Rating Schedule for These Health Concerns
30 June 2019 – Legislative Update June 2019 Gov Affairs
20 June 2019 – HEARING on “ENSURING QUALITY HEALTHCARE for OUR VETERANS”
22 May 2019 – Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Hold Hearing on Pending Legislation
9 April 2019 – Vietnam Veterans of America – Legislative Update
31 March 2019 – Government Affairs Report
8 March 2019 – VVA President John Rowan Delivers VVA’s Legislative Priorities
5 February 2018 – Last week I sent out a notice that S129, legislation that excludes Armed Services combat zone pay from gross income taxation was scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Budget and Appropriations committee on February 5, 2018. That bill has since been pulled from that committee and referred to the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs committee. No date for a hearing is posted at this time.
Where this bill was previously posted for a hearing in the Senate Budget and Appropriations committee as noted in:
Vol. XLII No. 5 Internet Update III
Prepared: January 26, 2018
Vol. XLII No. 6 Internet Update IV
Prepared: January 30, 2018
S129 has been pulled from the agenda and is not listed for a hearing in:
Vol. XLII No. 7 Internet Update II
Prepared: February 2, 2018
Call to Action!
There will be a Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Meeting at 1:00 PM in Committee Room 1, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ January 25th, 2018 on legislation that would require the Adjutant General consider waiving the state of residency requirement for admission to veterans’ facilities.
Currently with the three homes operating at capacity with a waiting list for each home, it does not appear to be prudent to expand or otherwise allow residents from outside of New Jersey to utilize NJ facilities which are partially funded by NJ taxpayers.
S189 Requires Adjutant General to consider need for inpatient hospice care for admission to veterans' facilities; permits waiver of State residency requirement. This legislation was initially introduced 4/4/2013, referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee. It was not considered for a hearing in any of the previous sessions (2012-2013, 2014-2015, 2016-2017).
This bill requires the Adjutant General to consider the need for inpatient hospice care of a veteran or disabled veteran when providing standards and procedures for application and determination of eligibility for admission to a veterans’ facility. The bill also permits the Adjutant General to waive any State residency requirement that would prevent such a veteran or disabled veteran from admission to a veterans’ facility in the State.
If you are of the opinion that this is not a good idea, which could have a negative impact on our New Jersey veterans, please send an email to members of the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.
Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Chairman Patrick Diegnan is new to the committee.
SenDiegnan@njleg.orgVice Chairman Jeff Van Drew continues to serve on the committee.
SenVanDrew@njleg.orgChristopher Connors continues to serve on the committee.
SenConnors@njlefg.orgJoseph Pennacchio is new to the committee.
SenPennacchio@njleg.orgTroy Singleton is new to the committee.
SenSingleton@njleg.org
13 Dec 2017 – Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Reach Out
6 Dec 2017 – Senate, No. 2859 State of New Jersey 217th Legislature
