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Virginia / State / 2026 Regular Session

2026 Acts of Assembly, chapters 602 and 603 (HB 398, SB 315) Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act: limits on paid help with veterans benefits claims

Catalog reconciledEnactedProgram created

Signed Takes effect

Expands benefits Bars referral and upfront fees for help with VA claims and caps any fee at five times the monthly increase.

Added Code of Virginia 59.1-614 to 59.1-616. No one may be paid for referring a veteran to claims help or charge an initial or nonrefundable fee; paid help needs a signed agreement, is contingent on an increase actually awarded and is capped at five times the monthly increase; no one may be paid for a claim filed within a year of release from active duty without the veteran’s signed waiver of free help; outcomes may not be guaranteed; and a written notice of free help from the Department of Veterans Services and veterans service organizations is required. Enforced as a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Effective July 1, 2026.

Progress

Path to law: Bill in a two-chamber legislature

  1. Introduced Done, House, prefiled
  2. In committee Done, House Labor and Commerce and Appropriations, then Senate General Laws and Technology
  3. Passed one chamber Done, House
  4. Passed both chambers Done, Senate
  5. Signed by the governor Done,
  6. In effect Done,

Sponsors

  • Charniele L. HerringSponsor, Democratic, House, District 4

What it touches

  • Code of Virginia § 59.1-614
  • Code of Virginia § 59.1-615

Catalog entry

Official record

Read 2026 Acts of Assembly, chapters 602 and 603 (HB 398, SB 315) on the jurisdiction's own record