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Bill

S 2572

Requires issuance of one free copy of birth certificate to military veteran.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Vin Gopal and 1 co-sponsor

The bill makes one free certified birth certificate copy available to eligible New Jersey veterans or homeless individuals, with other no-fee copies limited to one per case.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
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Bill Summary · S 2572

Summary of Bill S 2572 (Session 222) – New Jersey

Main purpose

This bill requires the State registrar to issue one free certified copy of a birth certificate to a military veteran who requests it. Additional copies would be subject to the standard statutory fees.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends R.S.26:8-63 to expand the list of situations in which the State registrar can furnish certificates without fee (and to whom):
    • General waivers currently allowed for public pension or military enlistment claims remain in place (subsection a).
    • The U.S. Public Health Service can receive microfilm or photocopies of certain certificates without charge, for purposes related to public administration (subsections b and c).
    • No-fee certified transcript of New Jersey census entries can be provided for public pension or military enlistment purposes, and for administrative use by city, state, or federal agencies (subsections c and d).
    • A no-fee certified copy of a veteran’s death certificate can be provided to the veteran’s legal representative, estate executor/administrator, or a family member authorized to obtain it (subsection e). Only one free copy is allowed under this subsection; additional copies follow standard fees.
    • Homeless individuals can obtain one free certified copy of their birth certificate if the request is made via a homeless shelter or related social services/agency letterhead, with specific verification requirements. The shelter/agency must receive the copy, and only one free copy is allowed; others incur fees. An annual accounting report to the Office of Homelessness Prevention is required (subsection f).
    • A veteran born in New Jersey can receive one free certified copy of their birth certificate on request; additional copies would be charged at the standard fee (subsection g). Only one free copy is permitted under this provision.
  • Definitions and terms:
    • Defines “fee” broadly to include searches, certifications, processing, authentication, shipping, etc.
    • Defines “homeless” as someone without a domicile, determined by a social worker or shelter coordinator.
    • Defines “veteran” as someone discharged or released from U.S. Armed Forces or, for World War II, a discharged member of the American Merchant Marine eligible for federal veterans’ benefits, excluding dishonorable discharges.
  • Administrative rulemaking:
    • The Commissioner of Health must promulgate rules and regulations to implement the bill via the Administrative Procedure Act (procedural step in subsection 2).
  • Effective date:
    • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment (subsection 3).

Who/what is affected

  • Veterans born in New Jersey or who served in the U.S. Armed Forces (and certain eligible Merchant Marine veterans) who request a birth certificate will be eligible for one free certified copy.
  • Homeless individuals in New Jersey may obtain one free birth certificate copy through designated channels (shelters or social service agencies) with required attestations.
  • Families, estate executors/administrators, and legally authorized representatives may benefit from no-fee copies of a veteran’s death certificate (limited to one free copy).
  • The general population remains subject to standard fees for any additional copies beyond the allocated no-fee copies.
  • State agencies and administrative bodies may benefit from no-fee copies for specific administrative or pension/military purposes.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • Legislative action: Introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026; referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
  • Implementation: Requires regulatory rules from the Commissioner of Health to effectuate provisions.
  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment (no delayed effective date specified).

Notable nuances

  • The veteran eligibility explicitly excludes individuals discharged under dishonorable conditions.
  • Only one free copy is permitted for each no-fee veteran-related provision (death certificate to certain parties; birth certificate to a veteran; birth certificate to the homeless recipient).
  • The homelessness provision includes an annual reporting requirement to the Office of Homelessness Prevention detailing each no-fee birth certificate furnished under that subsection.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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