New Jersey S 88: Expands eligibility to receive the veterans' property tax deduction and the veterans' property tax exemption.

Bill Text

S88 

SENATE, No. 88 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator JAMES W. HOLZAPFEL

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Diegnan

SYNOPSIS

���� Allows shore municipalities to provide spouse and 
dependent children of veterans free or reduced cost access to beaches.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

��

An Act permitting shore municipalities to provide free 
or reduced cost access to the spouse and dependent children of veterans and amending 
P.L.1955, c.49.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� Section 1 of P.L.1955, 
c.49 (C.40:61-22.20) is amended to read as follows:� 

���� 1.� a.� The governing body of 
any municipality bordering on the Atlantic Ocean, tidal water bays or rivers 
which owns or shall acquire, by any deed of dedication or otherwise, lands 
bordering on the ocean, tidal water bays or rivers, or easement rights therein, 
for a place of resort for public health and recreation and for other public 
purposes shall have the exclusive control, government and care thereof and of 
any boardwalk, bathing and recreational facilities, safeguards and equipment, 
now or hereafter constructed or provided thereon, and may, by ordinance, make 
and enforce rules and regulations for the government and policing of such 
lands, boardwalk, bathing facilities, safeguards and equipment; provided, that 
such power of control, government, care and policing shall not be construed in 
any manner to exclude or interfere with the operation of any State law or 
authority with respect to such lands, property and facilities.� Any such 
municipality may, in order to provide funds to improve, maintain and police the 
same and to protect the same from erosion, encroachment and damage by sea or 
otherwise, and to provide facilities and safeguards for public bathing and 
recreation, including the employment of lifeguards, by ordinance, make and 
enforce rules and regulations for the government, use, maintenance and policing 
thereof and provide for the charging and collecting of reasonable fees for the 
registration of persons using said lands and bathing facilities, for access to 
the beach and bathing and recreational grounds so provided and for the use of 
the bathing and recreational facilities, but no such fees shall be charged or 
collected from children under the age of 12 years.

���� b.��� A municipality may by 
ordinance provide that no fees, or reduced fees, shall be charged to:

���� (1)�� persons 65 or more years 
of age;

���� (2)�� persons who meet the 
disability criteria for disability benefits under Title II of the federal 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.401 et seq.);

���� (3)�� persons in active 
military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and to their 
spouse or dependent children over the age of 12 years; 

���� (4)�� persons who are active 
members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty 
Training and to their spouse or dependent children over the age of 12 years.� 
As used in this paragraph, "Initial Active Duty Training" means Basic 
Military Training, for members of the New Jersey Air National Guard, and Basic 
Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training, for members of the New Jersey 
Army National Guard; 

���� (5)�� persons who have served 
in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and who were discharged or 
released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable and who either have 
served at least 90 days in active duty or have been discharged or released from 
active duty by reason of a service-incurred injury or disability, and to 
their spouse or dependent children over the age of 12 years. The Adjutant 
General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs shall 
promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to veteran eligibility under this 
paragraph; and

���� (6)�� persons holding a 
driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation 
issued pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2013, c.165 (C.39:3-10f6) or section 2 of 
P.L.1980, c.47 (C.39:3-29.3), respectively.

���� c.���� A municipality 
providing for no fees or reduced fees pursuant to paragraph (3), (4), (5), or 
(6) of subsection b. of this section shall track, in a manner deemed 
appropriate by the governing body of the municipality, the number of persons 
who qualify under the provisions of those paragraphs.

���� d.��� A person who qualifies 
for free access to beaches and bathing and recreational grounds and free use of 
bathing and recreational facilities pursuant to paragraph (3), (4), (5), or (6) 
of subsection b. of this section may, in lieu of obtaining and presenting a 
municipal beach tag or similar admission pass to gain such access and use, 
present a DD-214, DD-215, or DD-256 form as issued by the federal