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New Jersey / State / 2024-2025 Legislature

P.L.2025, c.172 (A4712 2R) Created an independent Office of the Veteran Advocate to investigate complaints about the veterans department and state-funded veterans' services

Catalog reconciledEnactedProgram created

Signed

Expands benefits Creates an independent Veteran Advocate to take and investigate veterans' complaints about the department and state-funded veterans' services.

Enacted N.J.S.A. 38A:21A-1 to 38A:21A-12. The Veteran Advocate sits in, but not of, the Department of Veterans Affairs, serves as ombudsman for veterans and families, may investigate a death or serious injury of a veteran in the department's care, issue subpoenas and sue the department on probable cause. Approved December 19, 2025, effective immediately.

Progress

Path to law: Bill in a two-chamber legislature

  1. Introduced Done, Assembly
  2. In committee Done, Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs, then Assembly Appropriations
  3. Passed one chamber Done, Assembly, 79-0-0
  4. Passed both chambers Done, Senate, 39-0, substituted for S3504; Conditional veto on November 13, 2025; the Assembly (76-0-0, December 8) and the Senate (38-0) concurred in the Governor's recommendations
  5. Signed by the governor Done,
  6. In effect Done,

Sponsors

  • Cleopatra G. TuckerSponsor, Assembly, District 28
  • Julio MarencoSponsor, Assembly, District 33
  • Joseph P. CryanSponsor, Senate, District 20
  • Joseph F. VitaleSponsor, Senate, District 19
  • Gordon M. JohnsonSponsor, Senate, District 37
  • Garnet R. HallCo-sponsor, Assembly
  • Verlina Reynolds-JacksonCo-sponsor, Assembly
  • Carmen F. Amato, Jr.Co-sponsor, Senate
  • Nilsa I. Cruz-PerezCo-sponsor, Senate
  • James BeachCo-sponsor, Senate
  • Angela V. McKnightCo-sponsor, Senate

What it touches

  • N.J.S.A. 38A:21A-1
  • N.J.S.A. 38A:21A-3
  • N.J.S.A. 38A:21A-5

Catalog entry

Official record

Read P.L.2025, c.172 (A4712 2R) on the jurisdiction's own record