Establishes legislative internship program for veterans.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Renee Burgess and 2 co-sponsors

Establishes a legislative internship program for veterans in the New Jersey Legislature to provide hands-on policy experience and employment opportunities.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee

Summary of Bill S 1190 (Session 222) – New Jersey

Main purpose

Establish a legislative internship program for veterans to create employment opportunities in the public policy field and provide veterans with hands-on experience in the Legislature.

Key provisions and changes

Establishment of a program

Creates a legislative internship program for veterans within the New Jersey Legislature.
Legislators must obtain approval from their House presiding officer before employing a veteran intern.

Eligibility and prioritization

Applications accepted from veterans who:
Are honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces (including Reserve components),
Were released from active duty within the last five years,
Are at or below the pay grades of E-5 (enlisted) or O-3 (commissioned officer).
Applicants must have a service-connected disability rating of at least 20% as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or be a Purple Heart recipient (Purple Heart recipients are exempt from the 20% rating requirement).
Veterans with a 20-year or Temporary Early Retirement Authorization (TERA) retirement are ineligible.
New Jersey resident veterans receive priority in selection.

Intern duties and structure

Each intern completes one work period with the district office of a legislator, with the length and terms set by the participating legislator before employment.
Legislators may offer a subsequent work period if the intern agrees to continue.
Intern duties are determined by the legislator and may include a broad range of legislative activities, potentially including floor attendance if permitted by the presiding officer.

Support and funding

The Legislature, with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, shall seek and apply for federal grants or other federal assistance for the program (e.g., Jobs for Veterans State Grants under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act).
The Legislature shall appropriate necessary funds to implement the program.

Effective date

The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

Veterans who meet eligibility criteria (and New Jersey residents prioritized) may participate as interns in legislative offices.

Legislators who wish to hire veteran interns must obtain approval from their House presiding officers and manage intern work periods.

State agencies (notably the Department of Labor and Workforce Development) may provide support or pursue federal funding for the program.

Procedural and timeline notes

Introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026.

Referred to the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee for consideration.

If enacted, implementation would begin immediately, with ongoing annual funding and potential recruitment cycles coordinated by participating legislators.

Potential impact

Provides structured opportunities for veterans to gain experience in public policy and legislative work.

Helps bridge veteran transition from military service to public sector roles.

Could leverage federal funding to support program operations and expand veteran participation.

May enhance veteran representation within legislative offices and inform policy through veteran perspectives.

If you’d like, I can add a concise pros/cons section or compare this bill to similar programs in other states.