Bill Text: NJ A5525 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Adjusts State residency requirement for free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, stamps, and permits for disabled veterans.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 4)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-09-17 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [A5525 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A5525-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BRIAN E. RUMPF
District 9 (Ocean)
Assemblyman GREGORY E. MYHRE
District 9 (Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman McGuckin
SYNOPSIS
Adjusts State residency requirement for free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, stamps, and permits for disabled veterans.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning fees for hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, stamps, and permits for disabled veterans and amending P.L.1993, c.303.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1993, c.303 (C.23:3-1e) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no fee, including application fees and issuance fees, may be charged of an applicant for a license, permit, stamp, tag, or certificate to hunt, fish, trap, or otherwise lawfully take fish, game, or any other wildlife in the State, who is an active member of the New Jersey National Guard who has completed Initial Active Duty Training or who is a resident disabled veteran or a disabled veteran who is a resident of a state that provides a similar benefit for New Jersey disabled veterans.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife shall prescribe by regulation the types of evidence that may be used to qualify persons for the benefits of this section.
b. As used in this [act] P.L.1993, c.303 (C.23:3-1e et seq.):
"Disabled veteran" means any [resident of the State] person who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability of any degree; and
"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.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.282, s.5)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill makes free hunting and fishing licenses, stamps, and permits to disabled veterans who are a resident of a state that provides a similar benefit to New Jersey disabled veterans. Under current law, only disabled veterans who are residents of New Jersey are exempt from fees for the licenses, stamps, and permits. To qualify under the act for a fee exemption a veteran must have been honorably discharged from the military and have a service-connected disability recognized by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs or it's successor.
