A 2380 — Requires creation of license plates that allow disabled veterans to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disabilities.

A2380 1R2R [First[Second Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

Assemblyman Hutchison, Assemblywomen Kane, Carter, DunnDunn, Assemblyman Kearney, Assemblywoman McCoy, Assemblyman Freiman, Assemblywoman Fantasia, Assemblymen Myhre, Inganamort, Bergen, Assemblywomen Peterpaul, Donlon, Assemblyman Bailey, Assemblywomen Morales, Quijano, Speight, Bagolie, Drulis, Murphy, Swain and Assemblyman KearneyTully         SYNOPSIS      Requires creation of license plates that allow disabled veterans to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disabilities.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Assembly TransportationAppropriations and Independent Authorities Committee on MayJune 7,23, 2026, with amendments.

            1.  1.    a.  For the purposes of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)1[,] :1            “1[disabled] Disabled1 veteran” means a resident of this State who is certified by 1an authorized health care provider with1 the federal Department of Veterans Affairs as having 1[any degree of] a1 service-connected disability 1rating of at least 70 percent that causes a walking impairment.

          “Walking impairment” means and includes:  difficulty or inability to walk 200 feet or more without stopping to rest;

          b.  b.    The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall, upon proper application thereof, issue 1[a qualified]1 disabled veteran license 1[plate] plates1 for any motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in the State by a disabled veteran 1or by a person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran1.  In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, the license 1[plate] plates1 shall display the words “Disabled Veteran” and a wheelchair symbol.  Issuance of 1[qualified] the1 disabled veteran license plates shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, except as hereinafter otherwise specifically provided.

          c.  c.     Application for issuance of 1[qualified] the1 disabled veteran license plates shall be made to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in a form and manner as prescribed by the chief administrator.  1Every application for the issuance or renewal of the disabled veteran license plates shall contain a statement signed by an authorized health care provider with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs certifying that the applicant’s stated disability qualifies the applicant to meet the definition of “disabled veteran” pursuant to this section.  The disabled veteran license plates shall be renewed in accordance with R.S.39:3-4.  However, a disabled veteran license plate holder whose registration is valid for 48 months, pursuant to R.S.39:3-4, shall submit the statement signed by an authorized health care provider with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs certifying that the disabled veteran’s stated disability qualifies the disabled veteran to meet the definition of “disabled veteran” pursuant to this section on an annual basis during the 48-month period, in a form and manner prescribed by the commission.1           There shall be 1[no cost] a one-time license plate application fee of $501 to 1be paid to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission by1 the applicant 1[for these license plates] .  There is established a “Veteran Housing Fund” in the Department of Community Affairs.  The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall deposit monies received for the license plate applications into the “Veteran Housing Fund” to supplement current State and federal funding for veteran housing programs administered by the State1.State1 2, less the amount necessary to reimburse the commission for all costs reasonably and actually incurred, as stipulated by the chief administrator, for:       (1)   designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the disabled veteran license plates;

     and d.       1[A(2)   qualified]any The1computer disabledprogramming veteranchanges licensethat 1[platemay is]be platesinitially shall1necessary notto 1be1implement transferable and 1[is] shall be1 exclusively for the use of the 1[person] disabled veteran orlicense personplate furnishingprogram transportationin onan behalfamount ofnot a disabled veteran1 to whomexceed 1[it$150,0002. is] the license plates were1 duly issued.

          e.  d.    The1[A chiefqualified] administratorThe1 shalldisabled notifyveteran motoristslicense of1[plate theis] availability of license plates forshall1 1[qualified]1not disabled1be1 veteranstransferable byand including1[is] ashall noticebe1 withexclusively allfor motorthe vehicleuse registrationof renewalsthe and1[person] bydisabled postingveteran appropriate posters or signsperson infurnishing alltransportation motoron vehiclebehalf commissionof facilitiesa anddisabled offices,veteran1 asto maywhom be1[it providedis] by the Newlicense Jerseyplates Motorwere1 Vehicleduly Commission. issued. The notices, posters, and signs shall be designed by the chief administrator.

          1f. e.     The disabledchief veteranadministrator shall notify motorists of the availability of license plates shallfor be1[qualified]1 surrendereddisabled toveterans theby Newincluding Jerseya Motornotice Vehiclewith Commissionall uponmotor avehicle disabledregistration veteran’srenewals failureand toby submitposting theappropriate requisiteposters statementor signedsigns byin anall authorizedmotor healthvehicle carecommission providerfacilities withand offices, as may be provided by the federalNew DepartmentJersey ofMotor VeteransVehicle Affairs,Commission.  pursuantThe tonotices, subsectionposters, c.and signs shall be designed by the chief administrator.

of     this1f.   section,The or death.1         2.   a.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a disabled veteran 1or person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran1 issued 1[a qualified]1 disabled veteran license 1[plate]plates plates1shall maybe parksurrendered into a parking space restricted for use by a person with a disability provided that the disabled veteran 1or person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran1 displays the 1[disabled veteran’s]1 valid, unexpired 1[qualified]1 disabled veteran license 1[plate] plates1 on the motor vehicle parked in that parking space or zone.  A person who has been issued 1[a qualified] the1 disabled veteran license 1[plate] plates1 by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shallupon not be required to obtain a persondisabled withveteran’s afailure disability identification card 1[and shall not be required] or1 to obtainsubmit orthe displayrequisite anystatement specialsigned licenseby platesan orauthorized placardshealth issuedcare toprovider persons with a disability by the Newfederal JerseyDepartment Motor Vehicle Commission 1, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1949,Veterans c.280Affairs, (C.39:4-205) or section 3 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-206),1 in order to park in a parking space or zone pursuant to thissubsection section,c. provided that the person displays the person’s valid, unexpired 1[qualified]1 disabled veteran license 1[plate] plates1 on the motor vehicle while parked in that parking space or zone.

of this section, or death.1        2.    a.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a disabled veteran 1or person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran1 issued 1[a qualified]1 disabled veteran license 1[plate] plates1 may park in a parking space restricted for use by a person with a disability provided that the disabled veteran 1or person furnishing transportation on behalf of a disabled veteran1 displays the 1[disabled veteran’s]1 valid, unexpired 1[qualified]1 disabled veteran license 1[plate] plates1 on the motor vehicle parked in that parking space or zone.  A person who has been issued 1[a qualified] the1 disabled veteran license 1[plate] plates1 by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall not be required to obtain a person with a disability identification card 1[and shall not be required] or1 to obtain or display any special license plates or placards issued to persons with a disability by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission 1, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-205) or section 3 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-206),1 in order to park in a parking space or zone pursuant to this section, provided that the person displays the person’s valid, unexpired 1[qualified]1 disabled veteran license 1[plate] plates1 on the motor vehicle while parked in that parking space or zone.