HB108: HB108 Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act or SAVE Act; enact

Georgia does not currently have specific rules limiting how much someone can charge a veteran for help filing a claim for veterans' benefits. This bill, called the SAVE Act, adds a new section to Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act of 1975 (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-409) that sets rules for anyone who advises, assists, or consults with veterans on benefits matters for pay. The bill bans paid referrals, caps contingency fees at five times the monthly benefit increase (up to $12,500), bans upfront or nonrefundable fees, and bars guaranteeing outcomes. It requires a written and oral disclosure statement telling veterans the business is not affiliated with the VA or the Georgia Department of Veterans Service. It also requires accreditation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and background checks for employees with access to veterans' personal information, and bans using overseas call centers for veterans' data. Violations count as unfair trade practices, with penalties of at least $10,000 per violation. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Bans anyone from receiving payment for referring a veteran to another person for help with a veterans' benefits claim.
• Caps compensation for helping a veteran with a benefits claim at five times the monthly increase in benefits, up to $12,500, and only if the claim succeeds.
• Prohibits charging any upfront or nonrefundable fee for advising a veteran on a benefits matter.
• Requires paid advisers to give veterans a specific written and spoken disclosure, in at least 14 point type, before starting work.
• Requires paid advisers to be accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and to run background checks on employees who access veterans' medical or financial data.
• Makes each violation a deceptive or unfair trade practice under Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act, with fines of at least $10,000 per violation and each day counted separately.

Veterans and other people eligible for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Georgia Department of Veterans Service benefits, along with any person, company, or organization that charges fees to help them file or pursue benefit claims, including consultants, referral services, and firms using call centers.

Veterans seeking help with benefit claims would gain fee caps, mandatory disclosures, and background-check requirements meant to limit overcharging and predatory practices, while businesses that charge for this help would face new compliance rules and steep penalties, at least $10,000 per violation, for breaking them.

• Section 1 names the law the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act, or SAVE Act.
• Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 10-1-409, defining 'compensation,' 'person,' 'veteran,' and 'veterans' benefits matter.'
• Subsection (b) bars payment for referring a veteran to someone else for benefits help, and subsection (c) restricts fees for claims filed within the one-year presumptive period after active duty unless the veteran waives free assistance in writing.
• Subsection (d) requires a written fee agreement, limits compensation to a contingency capped at five times the monthly benefit increase (max $12,500), and bans nonrefundable fees.
• Subsections (e) and (f) bar using conflicted medical examiners and bar guaranteeing specific benefit outcomes or amounts.
• Subsection (g) requires a specific oral and written disclosure statement, in at least 14 point type, kept on file for one year after the agreement ends.
• Subsections (h) and (i) ban use of international call or data centers for veterans' personal information and require VA accreditation plus background checks for employees handling sensitive data.
• Subsections (j) through (l) make violations an unfair trade practice, treat each day of violation separately, and set a civil penalty of at least $10,000 per violation issued by the Attorney General.

1. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
2. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senate)
3. 2025-03-21Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2025-03-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
5. 2025-02-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-02-26House Passed/Adopted (House)
7. 2025-02-26House Third Readers (House)
8. 2025-02-12House Committee Favorably Reported (House)

• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)Primary sponsor
• David Clark (R, HD-100)
• Brian Prince (D, HD-132)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 26, 2025

   158 yea, 10 nay (4 not voting, 8 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #85

• veterans benefits
• consumer protection
• fee caps
• Fair Business Practices Act
• veterans services fraud