Bills affecting Veteran / service member in New York (2026 session)

Allows current, active and retired military service members and reserve units of the state to qualify for distinctive license plates; allows the spouse to also qualify for such distinctive plates.

Authorizes the department of motor vehicles to accept a certificate of release or discharge from active duty issued by the United States department of defense (DD form 214), a veteran identification card issued by the United States department of veterans affairs, or a veterans health identification card issued by the United States department of veterans affairs from veterans of the military as acceptable proofs of identity when applying for a driver license or state identification card.

Eliminates the photo image fee for veterans who have their license or identification cards amended with a veteran notation.

Creates a distinctive license plate for veterans honoring Borinqueneers; defines "veteran" as a person who is a resident of this state, who served in the armed forces of the United States, and was honorably discharged from the armed forces, or has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.

Establishes the "Purple Star School Program" to assist military-connected students and to recognize the value of military service and civic responsibility.

Directs the issuance of special number and distinctive license plates for military service members and members of veterans organizations without payment of service charges or renewal fees.

Creates a veteran's home and land ownership loan program to provide loans to veterans to purchase homes or unimproved land suitable for building; requires such loans to be secured by a second mortgage.

Directs the metropolitan transportation authority, in consultation with the Long Island Rail Road, to establish a no fare program for transportation on the Long Island Rail Road for individuals in active military service of the United States and active duty members of the New York national guard, upon showing a military or national guard identification card.

Establishes a veterans in agriculture assistance and outreach program to help integrate veterans into the field of agriculture, and support veterans currently working in agriculture; designs an associated logotype for the promotion of products produced by a veteran or qualified veteran business entity.

Establishes distinctive "POW-MIA" license plates; establishes the "POW-MIA awareness fund" to fund POW-MIA public education and awareness campaigns and veteran services by Rolling Thunder New York chapters and upon approval by the state director of veterans' services.

Directs the commissioner of the office of mental health to create and operate a law enforcement, first responder, active and non-active-duty service members and veteran informational mobile application.

Requires that the state university of New York's board of trustees and the city university of New York's board of trustees shall each adopt a policy requiring all state university of New York, city university of New York, college, and community college campuses that offer membership programs to the general public for the use of fitness and aquatic facilities, to permit disabled veterans to obtain a membership for the use of fitness and aquatic facilities upon the same terms and conditions as apply to the general public, but without payment of any fees or other charges, or at a discounted rate; defines "disabled veteran".

Provides that the "Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag" shall be the official state flag for the raising of awareness of veteran suicide; directs the commissioner of general services to establish a protocol for the flying of such flag.

Establishes September twenty-second of each year as a day of commemoration known as Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day.

Relates to the issuance of license plates for persons rated one hundred percent disabled by the United States department of veterans affairs.

Enacts the lift our communities advertise locally (LOCAL) program which provides a tax credit on advertising for locally owned minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises, certified service-disabled veteran-owned business enterprises or a small business.

Establishes the veteran career assistance program within the SUNY and CUNY systems to provide veterans with assistance in resume writing and employment placement services.

Grants free access and parking at state parks for active-duty military members and veterans upon showing an active-duty military or veteran's ID card.

Increases the amount of years of military service credit a member may purchase from three years to four years; provides that the provisions of such act shall not be subject to the requirement that the state shall make an equal payment to the retirement system.

Establishes a 13 member veteran suicide mortality review board to serve as the statewide entity responsible for the multidisciplinary review of suicide deaths among veterans by identifying trends and systemic factors contributing to veteran suicide; assessing gaps in services, access to care, and institutional practices; developing evidence-based recommendations for prevention and policy improvement; and promoting collaboration among relevant state, local, and federal agencies.