Summary — S.3449 (Materials received)

Note: the materials provided include two distinct measures that share the identifier “S.3449” but are in different jurisdictions and concern different subjects. Below are concise, separate summaries for each measure, with jurisdiction, purpose, key provisions, and expected impacts.

1) New Jersey (State) — S.3449 (introduced June 17, 2024)

Title (in text): Renames Blue Star Memorial Highway Council and system to recognize Gold Star families

Purpose and intent

To rename the Blue Star Memorial Highway Council and the Blue Star Memorial Highway system as the “Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway Council” and the “Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system,” in order to recognize Gold Star families (immediate relatives of service members killed in action). The bill also requires replacement of related roadway signage.

Key provisions

• Amends P.L.1999, c.120 to:
  • Rename the “Blue Star Memorial Highway Council” to the “Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway Council.”
  • Rename the “Blue Star Memorial Highway system” to the “Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system.”
  • Update statutory membership language for the council (7 members appointed by the Governor): one each from DOT, DEP, and Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs (replacing a Department of Health seat), and four members recommended by the Garden Club of New Jersey (4-year terms).
  • Maintain the council’s advisory role to the Department of Transportation on landscaping, ornamentation, and incidental facilities for the memorial highways.
• New requirement: within 90 days of the bill’s effective date, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must update all signage across the State to reflect the new “Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system” name.
• Effective immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

• Department of Transportation (responsible for updating signs and cooperating with the council).
• Garden Club of New Jersey (continues role recommending members and collaborating on memorial sites).
• Local garden clubs and jurisdictions where memorial markers are located (some markers outside DOT jurisdiction).
• Families and communities honoring servicemembers (symbolic recognition extended to Gold Star families).

Fiscal and procedural aspects

• Office of Legislative Services (OLS) fiscal estimate (Aug 6, 2025): One‑year, indeterminate State expenditure increase to design, manufacture, and install updated signage. OLS cannot quantify cost because the number of signs to be replaced is unknown.
• Existing annual DOT support: $50,000 provided to the council for maintenance of memorial signage and markers; additional support to local garden clubs as needed.
• Inventory noted: 43 Blue Star markers and 2 Gold Star markers in the State; 18 Blue Star markers are within DOT jurisdiction.
• Legislative actions: Introduced 6/17/2024; reported favorably by Senate Transportation Committee 12/5/2024; referred to Budget & Appropriations; fiscal estimate issued 8/6/2025.
• Related state companion bill: A4742.

2) Federal (U.S. Senate) — S.3449, “NOTICE Act” (introduced Dec 11, 2025)

Title: Notification of Troop Involvement and Congressional Engagement Act (NOTICE Act)

Purpose and intent

To impose additional notification and reporting requirements on the President before and during federal deployments (federalization) of State National Guard units under 10 U.S.C. § 12406 (i.e., calling Guard into Federal service for invasion, rebellion, or to enforce federal law), enhancing Congressional oversight and specifying information to be provided.

Key provisions

• Amends 10 U.S.C. § 12406 by adding:
  • A requirement that the President notify Congress not later than 24 hours before federalizing National Guard members and units under subsection (a).
  • The 24-hour notice must assert a good-faith legal basis for federalization and specify with particularity:
  • For invasion: the U.S. territory affected, the foreign power, and acts constituting an invasion.
  • For rebellion: place and time, actors involved, and their activities.
  • For enforcement of laws: which federal laws cannot be executed, why regular forces are unable to execute them, and, if acting without a Governor’s consent, evidence of the Governor’s inability/refusal or obstruction.
  • Geographical area and anticipated duration of federal control.
  • Training received by the unit(s) for interacting with civilians, including 18 U.S.C. § 1385 (Posse Comitatus) restrictions.
  • Chain of command and communications requirements with state/local forces.
  • If a deployment lasts longer than 48 hours, the President must notify Congress in writing and provide updates every 72 hours, asserting a good‑faith basis for continued deployment and describing any changed conditions.
• Amends statutory text formatting and subsection structure to incorporate the new requirements.

Who is affected

• The President and Executive Branch (new procedural notification and reporting duties).
• National Guard units and State authorities (new transparency and oversight obligations when Guard units are federalized).
• Congress (explicit, frequent briefings on federal Guard deployments).

Procedural status

• Introduced in the U.S. Senate 12/11/2025 by Senator Booker and cosponsors; read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
• The bill text amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code; implementation would change federal executive practice regarding domestic use of the National Guard and increase Congressional engagement.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a side-by-side comparison of the two measures, or
- Draft a one-page fact sheet focused only on the New Jersey bill (or only on the federal NOTICE Act).