New York Military Legislation & Policies

Medicaid Waivers

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

11/28/2016

Allow Service Members to Retain Their Earned Priority for Receiving Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers Final Legislation

For dependents who received developmental disability services and who left the state due to the military service member's military assignment outside the state, upon the dependent's return to the state and when a request for services is made, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities shall: (4) resume services if the individual remains eligible.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Veteran Hiring Protection

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

05/20/2026A11103

Purple Star Schools Program

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Service Member Licensure and Credit

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

01/14/2023A1474

03/13/2023S1364

08/07/2023

Licensure and Academic Credit for Separating Service Members Final Legislation

SUNY and CUNY colleges offer full credit for knowledge and experience gained through military service, using credit recommendations from the ACE Military Guide, Joint Services Transcript (JST), and nationally recognized DSST Credit-by-Exam Program (DSST) and the Defense Language Proficiency Tests (DLPT).

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Advance Enrollment

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

05/19/2021A6528

06/03/2021S5743

11/11/2021

Advance Enrollment Final Legislation

Thanks to a law crafted by Assemblyman Ed Braunstein and Senator James Skoufis, military-connected children whose parent or guardian is being relocated to New York under military orders shall be deemed to be a resident pupil of a school district they will be attending for the purposes of enrollment.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

In-State Tuition Continuity

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

06/01/2021A6249

05/19/2021S5245

11/11/2021

In-State Tuition Continuity Final Legislation

Senator John Brooks and Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon authored and passed legislation which guarantees in-state tuition continuity for spouses and dependents of active duty service members in New York.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Virtual School Enrollment

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Pro Bono Representation

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Legal Protections for Military Families3/5 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Education

Employment

07/01/2003

Employment Final Legislation

Under Chapter 106 of the laws of 2003, the New York State Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination based upon military status. Military Status is defined as a person’s participation in the military service of the United States or the military service of another state, including the Armed Forces of the United States, the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia, and the New York Guard.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Housing

07/01/2003

Housing Final Legislation

Under Chapter 106 of the laws of 2003, the New York State Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination based upon military status. Military Status is defined as a person’s participation in the military service of the United States or the military service of another state, including the Armed Forces of the United States, the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia, and the New York Guard.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Public Accomodations

07/01/2003

Public Accomodations Final Legislation

Under Chapter 106 of the laws of 2003, the New York State Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination based upon military status. Military Status is defined as a person’s participation in the military service of the United States or the military service of another state, including the Armed Forces of the United States, the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia, and the New York Guard.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Other Protections

Veterans Treatment Court2/3 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Treatment

Open Selection

03/16/2021A5719

01/25/2021S1957

03/29/2021

Open Selection Final Legislation

This law immediately and dramatically increases the number of counties in which veterans treatment courts are located. In order to broaden the availability of veteran treatment courts to all veterans, this act authorizes the transfer of a criminal case against a veteran where the charges are pending in a criminal court in a county that does not have a veterans treatment court to a veterans treatment court in an adjoining county. The process is triggered by an application by the defendant to the court. After giving the District Attorney of the originating county an opportunity to be heard, and with the consent of the receiving county's District Attorney; the court may order the removal of the action to a veterans treatment court in an adjoining county, except in cases where the accused and victim are family or from the same household.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Available

03/16/2021A5719

01/25/2021S1957

03/29/2021

Available Final Legislation

This law immediately and dramatically increases the number of counties in which veterans treatment courts are located. In order to broaden the availability of veteran treatment courts to all veterans, this act authorizes the transfer of a criminal case against a veteran where the charges are pending in a criminal court in a county that does not have a veterans treatment court to a veterans treatment court in an adjoining county. The process is triggered by an application by the defendant to the court. After giving the District Attorney of the originating county an opportunity to be heard, and with the consent of the receiving county's District Attorney; the court may order the removal of the action to a veterans treatment court in an adjoining county, except in cases where the accused and victim are family or from the same household.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

State Employment Protections2/2 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Uniform Services & Reemployment Rights Act

05/22/2024A3710

04/18/2024S5441

09/27/2024

Uniform Services & Reemployment Rights Act Final Legislation

Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar sponsored legislation to provide employment protections to New York residents serving in the National Guard of neighboring states when they are ordered to state active duty. The legislation also protects residents of neighboring states who are employed in New York State when they are ordered to state active duty by the National Guard.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Enforcement

05/22/2024A3710

04/18/2024S5441

09/27/2024

Enforcement Final Legislation

Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar sponsored legislation to provide employment protections to New York residents serving in the National Guard of neighboring states when they are ordered to state active duty. The legislation also protects residents of neighboring states who are employed in New York State when they are ordered to state active duty by the National Guard.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Ask the Question Campaign

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

06/03/2021A6100

06/01/2021S2977

11/11/2021

Ask the Question Campaign Final Legislation

This law requires New York State agencies to provide that online and agency forms include the question, "Have you ever served in the military?"

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Remote Driver's License and Vehicle Registration Renewal2/2 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Driver's License

09/30/2024

Driver's License Final Legislation

New York allows driver's licenses to be renewed online for all residents.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Vehicle Registration

09/30/2024

Vehicle Registration Final Legislation

New York allows all residents to renew their vehicle registration remotely.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Defining Armed Forces in State Policy

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

01/01/2025A291

05/20/2026S243

05/20/2026

Defining Armed Forces in State Policy Final Legislation

Under legislation sponsored by Senator James Skoufis, the Empire State added the United States Space Force to the general construction law, election law, insurance law, military law, public officers law, economic development law, civil service law, real property tax law, and the education law, clarifying that Guardians and their families are eligible for the same benefits as other members of the armed forces.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Status and Demographic Content

State Details

Regional Liaison

Other Content

Map Legend

Emeritus Priorities

Status and Demographic Content

State Details

Regional Liaison

Other Content

Map Legend

Emeritus Priorities

Sign up for an eNewsletter

Connect with us

Download Our App