Kentucky Senate Bill SJR68

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/29/26
• Refer: 1/29/26

Caption

A JOINT RESOLUTION urging the United States Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act to ensure veterans with disabilities receive their full United States Department of Defense retirement pay and United States Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation without offset.

Summary

SJR68 is a Kentucky joint resolution urging the United States Congress to enact the Major Richard Star Act, a federal bill intended to change how certain military retirement and disability benefits are paid to veterans with disabilities. The resolution states that under current federal law, some medically retired service members with fewer than 20 years of service must forfeit part of their military retirement pay because it is offset dollar-for-dollar by VA disability compensation. The resolution argues that this policy denies affected veterans the full benefits they earned through service and sacrifice. The resolution emphasizes that the proposed federal change would allow eligible veterans to receive both full Department of Defense retirement pay and full Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation concurrently, without offset. It cites an estimated 50,000 affected veterans nationwide, including those with combat-related injuries, and notes an average monthly loss of about $1,900 based on Congressional Budget Office estimates. The measure also highlights Kentucky’s large veteran population and the support of more than 50 veterans’ organizations, framing the issue as one of fairness and support for disabled veterans.

Impact

SJR68 does not change Kentucky statutes or create a state-level benefit program. Instead, it is a memorializing and advocacy resolution that directs the Kentucky General Assembly to formally urge Congress to pass federal legislation. Its practical effect is to place Kentucky on record in support of the Major Richard Star Act and to transmit that position to federal leaders and Kentucky’s congressional delegation. The resolution affects veterans, especially medically retired service members with disabilities who currently experience an offset between military retirement pay and VA disability compensation.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive and sympathetic toward disabled veterans. The bill presents the offset as an injustice and frames the federal proposal as a needed correction to ensure veterans receive the full compensation they earned. The context provided shows no recorded committee debate or votes, but the text itself stresses bipartisan congressional support and broad backing from veterans’ organizations, suggesting favorable sentiment and little visible opposition in the available record.

Contention

The main policy issue underlying the resolution is the existing federal offset rule for medically retired veterans with fewer than 20 years of service. Supporters argue that the offset unfairly reduces earned benefits and creates financial hardship for disabled veterans, while the resolution does not present any opposing arguments. Because this is a resolution urging federal action rather than a state law change, any contention would likely center on the federal cost and policy implications of expanding concurrent receipt, but no specific opponents or dissenting views are identified in the bill text or available committee materials.