Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans.

A1907

ASSEMBLY, No. 1907

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER

District 28 (Essex and Union)

Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Quijano, Assemblymen Danielsen, Moen,
Assemblywomen Haider, Dunn, Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblymen DePhillips, DeAngelo,
McGuckin, S.Kean, Rumpf, Karabinchak, Assemblywoman Fantasia, Assemblyman
Inganamort, Assemblywoman Flynn, Assemblymen Kanitra, Clifton, Assemblywomen
McCoy and Murphy

SYNOPSIS

���� Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

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

��

An Act

concerning property tax relief for disabled veterans and supplementing Title 54
of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It Enacted

by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� (New section) The
Legislature finds and declares that:

���� a.� New Jersey�s high property
taxes continue to make it difficult for homeowners and renters to live in the
State, as high property taxes increase the cost of homeownership and the cost
of monthly rent.

���� b.� Changes in the housing
market, including high mortgage interest rates and a lack of affordable
housing, have a deleterious impact on homeowners and renters, including
disabled veteran homeowners and renters, many of whom can no longer afford to
buy a home or find an affordable rental unit in New Jersey.

���� c.� In this State,
approximately 73 percent of veterans identify as having a disability, and this
population is recognized as experiencing higher rates of unemployment and
homelessness in comparison to the general population.

���� d.� New Jersey�s high property
taxes and rental costs exacerbate the financial burdens of disabled veterans,
further hindering their ability to live in New Jersey.

���� e.� Approximately 518 veterans
are homeless in this State, accounting for about 5 percent of the unhoused
adult population.

���� f.� It is in the best interest
of the State to provide a rebate for disabled veterans residing in this State
in an effort to prevent disabled veteran homelessness.

���� 2.��� (New section) As used in
P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

���� "Arm's-length
transaction" means a transaction in which the parties are dealing from
equal bargaining positions, neither party is subject to the other's control or
dominant influence, and the transaction is entirely legal in all respects and
is treated with fairness and integrity;

���� "Condominium" means
the form of real property ownership provided for under the "Condominium
Act," P.L.1969, c.257 (C.46:8B-1 et seq.);

���� "Continuing care
retirement community" means a residential facility primarily for retired
persons where lodging and nursing, medical, or other health-related services at
the same or another location are provided as continuing care to an individual
pursuant to an agreement effective for the life of the individual or for a
period greater than one year, including mutually terminable contracts, and in
consideration of the payment of an entrance fee with or without other periodic
charges;

���� "Cooperative" means
a housing corporation or association that entitles the holder of a share or
membership interest thereof to possess and occupy for dwelling purposes a
house, apartment, manufactured or mobile home, or other unit of housing owned
or leased by the corporation or association, or to lease or purchase a unit of
housing constructed or to be constructed by the corporation or association;

���� "Director" means the
Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury;

���� "Dwelling house"
means any residential property assessed as real property which consists of not
more than four units, of which not more than one may be used for commercial
purposes, but shall not include a unit in a condominium, cooperative, horizontal
property regime, or mutual housing corporation;

���� "Homestead" means:

���� a. (1) a dwelling house and
the land on which that dwelling house is located, which dwelling house
constitutes the place of the claimant's domicile and is owned and used by the
claimant as the claimant's principal residence;

���� (2)�� a dwelling house
situated on land owned by a person other than the claimant, which dwelling
house constitutes the place of the claimant's domicile and is owned and used by
the claimant as the claimant's principal residence;

���� (3)�� a condominium unit or a
unit in a horizontal property regime, which unit constitutes the place of the
claimant's domicile and is owned and used by the claimant as the claimant's
principal residence;

���� (4)�� for purposes of this
definition as provided in this subsection, in addition to the generally
accepted meaning of owned or ownership, a homestead shall be deemed to be owned
by a person if that person is a tenant for life or a tenant under a lease for
99 years or more and is entitled to and actually takes possession of the
homestead under an executory contract for the sale thereof or under an
agreement with a lending institution which holds title as security for a loan,
or is a resident of a continuing care retirement community pursuant to a
contract for continuing care for the life of that person, which contract
requires the resident to bear a share of the property taxes that are assessed
upon the continuing care retirement community, if a share is attributable to
the unit that the resident occupies;

���� b.��� a unit in a cooperative
or mutual housing corporation which constitutes the place of domicile of a
residential shareholder or lessee therein, or of a lessee, or shareholder who
is not a residential shareholder therein, and which is used by the claimant as
the claimant's principal residence; and

���� c.���� a unit of residential
rental property, which unit constitutes the place of the claimant's domicile
and is used by the claimant as the claimant's principal residence;

���� "Horizontal property
regime" means the form of real property ownership provided for under the
"Horizontal Property Act," P.L.1963, c.168 (C.46:8A-1 et seq.);

���� "Income" means all
New Jersey gross income required to be reported pursuant to the "New
Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq., before the
application of any authorized exclusion or deduction, except also including:
interest income excluded from taxation pursuant to N.J.S.54A:6-14; pension and
annuity income excluded from taxation pursuant to N.J.S.54A:6-10; income
derived from distributions from or roll overs to a Roth IRA excluded from
taxation pursuant to N.J.S.54A:6-28; other retirement income excluded from
taxation pursuant to N.J.S.54A:6-15; and Social Security income excluded from
taxation pursuant to N.J.S.54A:6-2, as self-reported by the homeowner;

���� "Manufactured home"
or "mobile home" means a unit of housing that:

���� (1)�� Consists of one or more
transportable sections that are substantially constructed off site and, if more
than one section, are joined together on site;

���� (2)�� Is built on a permanent
chassis;

���� (3)�� Is designed to be used,
when connected to utilities, as a dwelling on a permanent or nonpermanent
foundation; and

���� (4)�� Is manufactured in
accordance with the standards promulgated for a manufactured home by the
Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
pursuant to the "National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety
Standards Act of 1974," Pub.L.93-383 (42 U.S.C. s.5401 et seq.) and the
standards promulgated for a manufactured or mobile home by the commissioner
pursuant to the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975,
c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.);

���� "Mobile home park"
means a parcel of land, or two or more parcels of land, containing no fewer
than 10 sites equipped for the installation of manufactured or mobile homes,
where these sites are under common ownership and control for the purpose of
leasing each site to the owner of a manufactured or mobile home for the
installation thereof, and where the owner or owners provide services that are
provided by the municipality in which the park is located for property owners
outside the park, which services may include but shall not be limited to:

���� (1)�� The construction and
maintenance of streets;

���� (2)�� Lighting of streets and
other common areas;

���� (3)�� Garbage removal;

���� (4)�� Snow removal; and

���� (5)�� Provisions for the
drainage of surface water from home sites and common areas;

���� "Mutual housing
corporation" means a corporation not-for-profit, incorporated under the
laws of this State on a mutual or cooperative basis within the scope of section
607 of the Lanham Act (National Defense Housing), Pub.L.849, 76th Congress (42
U.S.C. s.1521 et seq.), as amended, which acquired a National Defense Housing
Project pursuant to that act;

���� "Principal
residence" means a homestead actually and continually occupied by a
claimant as the claimant's permanent residence, as distinguished from a
vacation home, property owned and rented or offered for rent by the claimant,
and other secondary real property holdings;

���� "Property tax" means
payments to a municipality based upon an assessment made by the municipality
upon real property on an ad valorem basis on land and improvements, and shall
include the amount of property tax credit as defined in section 1 of P.L.2018,
c.11 (C.54:4-66.6), but shall not include payments made in lieu of taxes;

���� "Rent" means the
amount due in an arm's-length transaction solely for the right of occupancy of
a homestead that is a unit of residential rental property.� Rent shall not
include any amount paid under the federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
Program or paid as a rental assistance grant under section 1 of P.L.2004, c.140
(C.52:27D-287.1).� If the director finds that the parties in a rental
transaction have not dealt with each other in an arm's-length transaction and
that the rent due was excessive, the director may, for purposes of the
homestead rebate claim, adjust the rent claimed in the homestead rebate
application to a reasonable amount of rent;

���� "Resident" means an
individual:

���� a.���� who is domiciled in
this State, unless the individual maintains no permanent place of abode in this
State, maintains a permanent place of abode elsewhere, and spends in the
aggregate no more than 30 days of the tax year in this State; or

���� b.��� who is not domiciled in
this State but maintains a permanent place of abode in this State and spends in
the aggregate more than 183 days of the tax year in this State, unless the
individual is in the Armed Forces of the United States;

���� "Residential rental
property" means:

���� a.���� any building or
structure or complex of buildings or structures in which dwelling units are
rented or leased or offered for rental or lease for residential purposes;

���� b.��� a rooming house, hotel,
or motel, if the rooms constituting the homestead are equipped with kitchen and
bathroom facilities;

���� c.���� any building or
structure or complex of buildings or structures constructed under the following
sections of the National Housing Act (Pub.L.73-479) as amended and
supplemented: section 202, Housing Act of 1959 (Pub.L.86-372) and as
subsequently amended, section 231, Housing Act of 1959; and

���� d.��� a site in a mobile home
park equipped for the installation of manufactured or mobile homes, where these
sites are under common ownership and control for the purpose of leasing each
site to the owner of a manufactured or mobile home for the installation thereof;

���� �Residential shareholder in a
cooperative or mutual housing corporation� means a tenant or holder of a
membership interest in that cooperative or corporation, whose residential unit
therein constitutes the tenant or holder�s domicile and principal residence,
and who may deduct real property taxes for purposes of federal income tax
pursuant to section 216 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 26 U.S.C.
s.216; and

���� "Tax year" means the
calendar year in which property taxes are due and payable.

���� 3.��� (New section) a.� Except
as provided in subsection d. of this section, a resident of this State 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 to have a
service-connected disability, shall be allowed a rebate for the tax year. The
rebate amount shall be a percentage of the property taxes paid by the claimant
in that tax year on the claimant�s homestead equal to the claimant�s percentage
of service-connected disability. The State Treasurer shall annually on or
before October 31 pay and distribute the amount of a rebate payable to each
claimant whose rebate is approved by the director.

���� b.��� In the case of a
claimant living in a rental property which constitutes the claimant�s
homestead, 18 percent of the rent paid by the claimant during the tax year
shall be considered property taxes paid on the claimant�s homestead. In the
case of a claimant living in a mobile home that constitutes the claimant�s
homestead, 18 percent of the site fee paid by the claimant during the tax year
to the owner of the mobile home park shall be considered property taxes paid on
the claimant�s homestead.

���� c.���� A rebate allowed
pursuant to P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill) shall not exceed $5,000. A claimant with gross income for the tax
year in excess of $200,000 shall not be eligible for the rebate. A rebate
allowed pursuant to P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill) shall not exceed the property taxes paid by the
claimant on the claimant�s homestead.

���� d.� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, if a claimant who
is 65 or more years of age, qualifies for a rebate pursuant to P.L.��� , c.���
(C.������ ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and also qualifies as
an eligible claimant pursuant to the �Stay NJ Act� P.L.2023, c.75, as amended
by P.L.2024, c.88 (C.54:4-8.75a et al.), and the combined amount of property
tax benefits determined by the director in accordance with P.L.2023, c.75, as amended
by P.L.2024, c.88 (C.54:4-8.75a et al.) is:

���� (1) greater than the amount of
the rebate determined pursuant to P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������ ) (pending before
the Legislature as this bill), then the rebate shall not be allowed; or

���� (2) equal to or less then than
the rebate determined pursuant to P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������ ) (pending before
the Legislature as this bill) then the rebate shall be allowed, provided that
the sum total of the rebate determined pursuant to this act and the Stay NJ
property tax credit shall not exceed 50 percent of the property taxes billed to
the individual, up to the maximum amount permitted under section 3 of P.L.2023,
c.75 (C.54:4-8.75c).

���� e.� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, if a claimant is
not 65 or more years of age, or is 65 or more years of age and whose homestead
is a unit of residential rental property, and qualifies for a property tax
credit or rebate pursuant to the �ANCHOR Homestead Property Tax Credit Act�
sections 1 through 10 of P.L.1990, c.61 (C.54:4-8.57 through 54:4-8.66) and
sections 3, 14 through 16 and 18 and 19 of P.L.1999, c.63 (C.54:4-8.58a and
C.54:4-8.66a through 54:4-8.66e), the homestead property tax reimbursement
pursuant to P.L.1997, c.348 (C.54:4-8.67 et seq.), or both, and qualifies for a
rebate pursuant to P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������ ) (pending before the Legislature
as this bill), then the individual shall be entitled to the greater of:

���� (1) the combined amount of the
ANCHOR property tax credit or rebate and the homestead property tax
reimbursement; or

���� (2) the amount of the rebate
determined pursuant to P.L.��� , c. (C. ����� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill).

���� f.� The amount of property
taxes used to determine the amount of the rebate shall not be reduced by the
amount of the deduction taken by the claimant pursuant to P.L.1963, c.171
(C.54:4-8.10 to C.54:4-8.23) and P.L.1964, c.255 (C.54:4-8.40 to C.54:4-8.45 et
al.).

���� 4.��� (New section) a.� No
rebate shall be allowed pursuant to P.L. , c.���
(C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) except upon annual
application, as shall be prescribed by the director.� The director may require
a claimant for a rebate to attach to the rebate application a copy of the
appropriate property tax bill or proof of rent paid for the prior tax year.�

���� b.��� Upon approval of rebate
applications by the director, the director shall prepare lists of individuals
entitled to a rebate, together with the respective amounts due each claimant,
and shall forward those lists to the State Treasurer, the Director of the Division
of Budget and Accounting, and any other officials as the director deems
appropriate, on or before the earliest of such date or dates as may be
convenient for the director to compile such lists.� The director may inspect
all records in the offices of the tax collector and tax assessor of a
municipality with respect to applications, claims, and allowances for rebates.

���� c.���� If a rebate application
contains a claim for a rebate that is incorrectly determined by the claimant or
is based upon incorrect or insufficient information from which the director is
to approve the claim, the director may determine the eligibility of the
claimant for a rebate and the correct amount of a rebate to be paid to that
claimant from such other information as may be available to the director.� In
addition, the director may adjust the amount of any rebate to which a claimant
may be entitled by any part of the amount of any previous rebate erroneously
claimed by and paid to that claimant.

���� d.��� In the case of a
claimant for a rebate whose homestead is a unit in a cooperative, mutual
housing corporation, or continuing care retirement community, the director may
provide that the application shall include the name and address of the location
of the property and the amount of real property taxes attributed to the
cooperative, mutual housing residential unit, or continuing care retirement
community residential unit, as shall be indicated in an official notice, which
shall be furnished by the cooperative, mutual housing corporation, or
continuing care retirement community for the same year.

���� e.���� A rebate shall be
allowed pursuant to P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill) for a claimant whose ownership of an interest in a
homestead is satisfied by the holding of the beneficial interest if legal title
thereto or share therein is held by another for the benefit of the claimant.

���� 5.��� (New section) a.� The
director shall determine the amount of the rebate that shall be provided for
each claimant pursuant to P.L. , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill) based upon the information provided by the
individual applicant in the application or from any other information as may be
available to the director, and shall notify the applicant of the determined
amount in the form of the rebate check or in any other manner as the director
may deem appropriate.� Subject to the provisions of the State Uniform Tax
Procedure Law, R.S.54:48-1 et seq., such notification shall finally and
irrevocably fix the amount of the rebate unless the applicant, within 90 days
after having been given notice of such determination, applies to the director
for a hearing, or unless the director re-determines the same.� After such
hearing the director shall give notice of the final determination to the
applicant.

���� b.� An applicant for a rebate
authorized under P.L.�� , c.�� (C.����� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill) who is aggrieved by any decision, order, finding, or denial by the
director of all or part of that applicant's rebate may appeal therefrom to the
New Jersey Tax Court in accordance with the provisions of the State Uniform Tax
Procedure Law, R.S. 54:48-1 et seq. The appeal shall be the exclusive remedy
available to an applicant for review of a decision of the director in respect
to the determination of all or part of a rebate authorized under P.L.��� ,
c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

���� c.���� A rebate paid as a
result of misrepresentation or paid in error, shall be payable to and
recoverable by the director in the same manner as a deficiency with respect to
the payment of a State tax in accordance with the State Uniform Tax Procedure
Law, R.S.54:48-1 et seq.

���� 6.� Section 4 of P.L.2023.
c.75 (C.54:4-8.75d) is amended to read as follows:

���� 4. a. Not later than February
1, 2025, the director shall promulgate a combined single application form
consistent with the requirements of section 6 of P.L.2023, c.75 (C.54:4-8.75f)
and the recommendations of the Stay NJ Task Force established pursuant to
section 18 of P.L.2023, c.75 (C.54:4-8.75o) that shall be available on and
after that date to be used by State residents to apply for the Stay NJ property
tax credit, the ANCHOR property tax rebate,
[
and
]
the homestead
property tax reimbursement program
, and the disabled veterans� property tax
rebate
.� Applications shall be accepted by the Director of the Division of
Taxation from February 1 through October 31 of each year.� State residents
seeking property tax benefits under those programs shall complete the entire
application and file it with the director.� The director shall determine the
amount of the Stay NJ property tax credit, ANCHOR rebate, and homestead
property tax reimbursement, as applicable, provided to each applicant pursuant
to the requirements of subsection b. of this section.

���� b.��� The director shall
calculate the amount of each property tax benefit provided to an eligible
claimant for each tax year in the following manner:

���� (1) if the eligible claimant
qualifies for an ANCHOR rebate, the director shall first determine the amount
of the eligible claimant's ANCHOR rebate for the tax year, the full amount of
which shall be paid to the eligible claimant;

���� (2) if the eligible claimant
qualifies for a homestead property tax reimbursement, the director shall next
determine the amount of the eligible claimant's homestead property tax
reimbursement for the tax year, the full amount of which shall be paid to the
eligible claimant;

����
(3) if the eligible
claimant qualifies for a disabled veterans� property tax rebate, the director
shall next determine the amount of the eligible claimant�s disabled veterans�
property tax rebate for the tax year, the full amount of which shall be paid to
the eligible claimant;

����
[
(3)
]

(4)
if the eligible
claimant qualifies for a Stay NJ property tax credit, the director shall then
determine the amount of the eligible claimant's Stay NJ property tax credit for
the tax year, of which the eligible claimant shall be paid an amount equal to 50
percent of the property taxes billed to the eligible claimant, up to the
maximum amount permitted under section 3 of P.L.2023, c.75 (C.54:4-8.75c), less
the amounts paid to the eligible claimant pursuant to paragraphs
[
(1) and (2)
]

(1), (2),
and (3)
of this subsection.

���� c.���� (Deleted by amendment,
P.L.2024, c.88)

���� d. (1) The director shall
determine the amount of the Stay NJ property tax credit that shall be provided
for each eligible claimant pursuant to P.L.2023, c.75 (C.54:4-8.75a et al.)
based upon the information provided by the eligible claimant in the application
or from any other information as may be available to the director and shall
notify the applicant of the determined amount, in writing and at such time as
the director may deem appropriate, together with a detailed calculation of the
amount that the eligible claimant is entitled to receive pursuant to subsection
b. of this section.

���� (2) The format of the written
information to be provided by the director shall be determined by the director
and shall, at a minimum, display:� (a) the amount of the eligible claimant's
property tax bill for the tax year; (b) the amount of the ANCHOR rebate,
homestead property tax reimbursement,
[
and
]
Stay NJ
property tax credit,
and disabled veterans� property tax rebate,
as
applicable, that the eligible claimant is entitled to receive; and (c) the
actual property taxes that the eligible claimant shall pay in the tax year
after any property tax credits are applied against the eligible claimant's
property tax bill.

���� (3) Subject to the provisions
of the State Uniform Tax Procedure Law, R.S.54:48-1 et seq., such notification
shall finally and irrevocably fix the amount of the Stay NJ property tax credit
unless the applicant, within 90 days after having been given notice of such
determination, shall apply to the director for a hearing or unless the director
shall redetermine the same.� After such hearing, the director shall give notice
of the final determination to the applicant.

���� e.���� An eligible claimant
for a Stay NJ property tax credit authorized under P.L.2023, c.75 (C.54:4-8.75a
et al.) who is aggrieved by any decision, order, finding, or denial by the
director of all or part of that eligible claimant's Stay NJ property tax credit
may appeal therefrom to the New Jersey Tax Court in accordance with the
provisions of the State Uniform Tax Procedure Law, R.S.54:48-1 et seq.� The
appeal provided by this section shall be the exclusive remedy available to an
applicant for review of a decision of a director in respect to the
determination of all or a part of a Stay NJ property tax credit authorized
under P.L.2023, c.75 (C.54:4-8.75a et al.).

(cf: P.L.2024, c.88, s.3)

���� 7.� Section 6 of P.L.2023.
c.75 (C.54:4-8.75f) is amended to read as follows:

���� 6.��� a. (1) Notwithstanding
the provisions of section 6 of P.L.1990, c.61 (C.54:4-8.62) and section 3 of
P.L.1997, c.348 (C.54:4-8.70) concerning the form and deadline of applications
for the ANCHOR rebate program
[
and
]
,
the
homestead property tax reimbursement,
and the disabled veterans� property
tax rebate,
the director shall promulgate, not later than February 1,
[
2025
]

2026
,
a single combined application form to be used by State residents to apply for
the ANCHOR rebate program, the homestead property tax reimbursement program,
[
and
]
the Stay NJ
property tax credit
, and the disabled veterans� property tax rebate
in
accordance with the recommendations of the Stay NJ Task Force established
pursuant to section 18 of P.L.2023, c.75 (C.54:4-8.75o).

���� (2) To the extent practicable,
the single combined application shall resemble the form and manner of the
application for the homestead property tax reimbursement program, as created
pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1997, c.348 (C.54:4-8.70), except that the single
combined application form shall, at a minimum, require the applicant to submit
information about his or her age, annual income, including the amount of Social
Security payments received by the applicant, homestead property address, as
well as any other information determined necessary by the director in order to
approve or disapprove the applicant's participation in those programs.

���� (3) The combined application
form shall also advise the applicant that the director shall determine the
eligibility of an applicant to receive an ANCHOR rebate, a homestead property
tax reimbursement,
[
or
]
a Stay NJ
property tax credit,
or a disabled veterans� property tax rebate,
or any
combination thereof.� The director shall, for good cause shown, extend the time
of any applicant to file an application for a reasonable period, and in such
case, the application shall be processed and payment of an ANCHOR rebate,
homestead property tax reimbursement,
[
or
]
a Stay NJ
property tax credit,
or a disabled veterans� property tax rebate,
or any
combination thereof, made in accordance with the procedures established in the
case of applications timely filed, except the date for the payment may be
delayed for a reasonable period.� If an applicant or an applicant's spouse has
filed an application for an extension of time to file a gross income tax
return, the date by which the applicant shall file an application may, in the
discretion of the director, be extended for a reasonable period, and the date
for the payment of an ANCHOR rebate, homestead property tax reimbursement,
[
or
]
a Stay NJ
property tax credit,
or a disabled veterans� property tax rebate,
or any
combination thereof, may be delayed for a reasonable period.� A State resident
seeking property tax benefits under any of those programs shall accurately
complete the entire application and file it with the director.

���� (4) For purposes of this
subsection, in order to establish good cause to extend the time of an eligible
claimant to file an application, the eligible claimant shall provide to the
director either medical evidence, such as a doctor's certification, that the
claimant was unable to file the claim by the date prescribed by the director
because of illness or hospitalization, or evidence that the applicant attempted
to file a timely application.� Except as may be established by medical evidence
or inability to file a claim, good cause shall not be established due to a
claimant not having received an application from the director.

���� b.��� Upon the approval of
applications by the director, the director shall prepare lists of individuals
entitled to receive a Stay NJ property tax credit, together with the respective
amounts due each eligible claimant and shall forward such lists to the State
Treasurer, the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, and any other
officials as the director deems appropriate on or before the earliest of such
date or dates as may be convenient for the director to compile such lists.� The
director may inspect all records in the office of the tax collector and tax
assessor of a municipality with respect to applications, claims, and allowances
for Stay NJ property tax credits.

���� c.���� If an application
contains a claim for a Stay NJ property tax credit that contains incorrect
information from the claimant or is based upon incorrect or insufficient
information from which the director is to determine and approve the claim, the
director may determine the eligibility of the claimant for a Stay NJ property
tax credit and the correct amount of a Stay NJ property tax credit from such
other information as may be available to the director.

���� d.��� In the case of an
eligible claimant whose homestead is a unit in a cooperative, mutual housing
corporation, or continuing care retirement community, the director may provide
that the application shall include the name and address of the location of the
property and the amount of real property taxes attributed to the cooperative,
mutual housing residential unit, or continuing care retirement community
residential unit, as shall be indicated in an official notice which shall be
furnished by the cooperative, mutual housing corporation, or continuing care
retirement community for the tax year.

(cf:� P.L.2024, c.88, s.5)

���� 8.��� a.� The tax collector of
each municipality shall, on or before April 1 of each year, furnish the
director with a list of property taxpayers in the district who are delinquent
for taxes due and payable for the year immediately preceding and the amounts of
such delinquencies.� The collector shall report on such list the name, lot and
block number on the property tax duplicate as may be applicable, and the
address of each owner to whom a delinquency is attributable together with the
amount of such delinquency so identified.� No rebate payment under P.L.��� ,
c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be made
to a property owner while that property owner's delinquency remains; provided,
however, that for the purposes of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before
the Legislature as this bill), for an assessment on a property which is on
appeal and for which the statutory percentage of the tax as provided in
R.S.54:3-27 has been paid, the taxes assessed on that property shall not be regarded
as delinquent.

���� b.��� If the director receives
the list as provided for in subsection a. of this section, and the director
determines that a property tax delinquency remains for the preceding tax year
on April 1, the director shall ascertain the amount of the rebate required to
be withheld because of such delinquency in each municipality in the State, and
shall certify such amounts to the State Treasurer as soon thereafter as may be
practicable.

���� c.���� On or before November
15, the director shall notify each rebate claimant whose rebate has been
withheld because of delinquency that the amount of the rebate to which the
claimant otherwise would have been entitled has been sent to the tax collector
in the municipality to be credited against the claimant's delinquency.

���� d.��� Upon certification by
the director as to the amount of rebates required to be withheld because of
delinquency in the several municipalities, the State Treasurer, upon the
warrant of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, shall pay
such amount on or before October 30 to the tax collector in each municipality.

���� e.���� The tax collector in
each municipality shall credit the tax delinquency of each property taxpayer
who appears on the delinquency list set forth in subsection a. of this section
in the amount that otherwise would have been returned to the property taxpayer
as a rebate.� In the event that the amount so credited by the tax collector
exceeds the amount of delinquency, the tax collector may return the difference
to the taxpayer or credit such amount to the subsequent property tax bill.

���� f.���� In the case of
delinquency in the payment of property taxes by a cooperative, mutual housing
corporation, or continuing care retirement community, a rebate that may be due
an individual resident shall be paid by the State Treasurer to the tax
collector of the municipality.� The tax collector shall credit the cooperative,
mutual housing corporation, or continuing care retirement community with such
payment and the cooperative, mutual housing corporation, or continuing care
retirement community shall, in turn, credit the individual unit owner to the
extent of the rebate and notify the applicant of the amount to be credited.

���� g.��� If a tax collector fails
to comply with the provisions of subsection a. of this section requiring the
tax collector to furnish the director with a list, on or before April 1 of each
year, of property taxpayers in the district delinquent for taxes due and
payable for the year immediately preceding and the amounts of such
delinquencies, the director shall pay the rebate directly to the delinquent
applicant rather than to the tax collector of the municipality as set forth in
subsection d. of this section.

���� 9.� The Director of the
Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury is empowered to
promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the "Administrative
Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) and to prescribe
forms to administer the provisions of this act.� Notwithstanding any provisions
of P.L.1968, c.410 to the contrary, the director may adopt, immediately upon
filing with the Office of Administrative Law, such regulations as the director
deems necessary to implement the provisions of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill) which regulations shall be
effective for a period not to exceed 18 months from the date of the filing.�
Such regulations may thereafter be amended, adopted or readopted by the
director as the director deems necessary in accordance with the requirements of
P.L.1968, c.410.

���� 10.� Nothing in this act,
P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill),
shall be interpreted to deny a disabled veteran from receiving any credit,
rebate, or deduction guaranteed by the New Jersey Constitution.

���� 11.� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

����� This bill allows veterans with a service-connected
disability to receive a property tax rebate from the State in proportion to the
percentage of their service-connected disability in certain circumstances.

����� In this State, approximately 73 percent of veterans
identify as having a disability, and this population is recognized as
experiencing higher rates of unemployment and homelessness in comparison to the
general population.� New Jersey�s high property taxes and rental costs
exacerbate the financial burdens of disabled veterans, hindering their ability
to live in New Jersey.� Approximately 518 veterans are homeless in this State,
accounting for about 5 percent of the unhoused adult population.

����� The bill provides property tax relief to veterans who
have a disability rating of less than 100 percent total and permanent
disability.� Current law provides that veterans with a disability rating of 100
percent total and permanent disability are exempt from paying property taxes.

����� Veterans with a service-connected disability are
assigned a disability rating, which may range from 0 percent to 100 percent, by
the United States Department of Veterans� Affairs.� Under the bill, the
assigned rating will determine the percentage of property taxes paid that the
veteran will be allowed as a rebate.

����� Funding for the rebate allowed by this bill is
dependent on annual appropriations by the Legislature.

����� The bill provides that, if a disabled veteran is 65
years of age or older and also qualifies for property tax relief under the Stay
NJ program, and the combined relief under the revisions to the Stay NJ program
is greater than the amount of the rebate, then the rebate is disallowed.� If
the combined relief is equal to or less than the rebate, then both the rebate
and the combined relief are permitted, except that the total sum of benefits
received may not exceed 50 percent of the veteran�s tax bill and is capped at
the maximum value permitted by the revisions to the Stay NJ program.

����� If a disabled veteran is less than 65 years of age or
rents their property, and also qualifies for property tax relief under the
ANCHOR program, the homestead property tax reimbursement program, commonly
known as �Senior Freeze�, or both, the veteran will be entitled to the greatest
of the ANCHOR benefit, the rebate and Senior Freeze, or the rebate.

����� The bill caps the rebate at $5,000 and limits
availability of the rebate to veterans with a gross income of up to $200,000.�
Under the bill, the amount of the rebate cannot exceed the amount of property
taxes paid.

����� The bill provides that the rebate will not impact or
reduce a veteran�s ability to receive the constitutional veterans� property tax
deduction or the constitutional senior and disabled citizens� property tax
deduction and vice versa.

����� The bill also amends current law to require that the
application for the rebate be included in the combined property tax relief
application created through the revisions to the Stay NJ program, which permit
persons age 65 and over to apply for State property tax relief through a single
form.