"Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act' or "SAVE Act"; enact
SB 73, the “Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act” or “SAVE Act,” would add a new section to Georgia’s Fair Business Practices Act to regulate paid assistance in veterans’ benefits matters. The bill defines key terms such as “veteran,” “compensation,” and “veterans’ benefits matter,” and then sets rules for anyone who charges a fee to advise, assist, or consult with veterans on claims for benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Georgia Department of Veterans Service.
The bill prohibits paid referral fees for steering veterans to another person for benefits help, bars compensation for services connected to claims filed within one year of discharge unless the veteran first acknowledges in writing that free services are available, and requires a written fee agreement before services begin. It also limits compensation to contingent fees tied to increased benefits, caps those fees at five times the monthly increase in benefits, and bans initial or nonrefundable fees. Additional provisions prohibit guarantees of success, require a prominent disclosure that the business is not affiliated with VA or state veterans agencies, and restrict the use of international call centers, shared login credentials, and certain data practices. The bill also requires background checks for employees with access to veterans’ medical or financial information.
SB 73 would make violations of these requirements a deceptive and unfair trade practice under Georgia law, allowing enforcement under the Fair Business Practices Act. Each day a violation continues would count as a separate offense. The bill expressly states that it does not apply to, or alter, the rules governing accredited VA agents, attorneys, or other federally regulated representatives.
The available context shows no recorded committee debate or votes, so there is no documented opposition or support in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s structure, its general purpose appears consumer-protective: to prevent misleading or exploitative paid services targeting veterans while preserving access to free government and accredited assistance.
SB 73 would amend Georgia’s Fair Business Practices Act by creating a new consumer-protection framework specifically for paid veterans’ benefits services. It would impose disclosure, contracting, fee, privacy, and staffing requirements on businesses that advise or assist veterans for compensation, and it would classify violations as deceptive and unfair trade practices subject to enforcement under state law. The bill would affect private consultants and businesses offering veterans’ claims assistance, while expressly excluding federally accredited VA representatives and attorneys from its scope.
The bill appears to have a generally protective and pro-veteran policy orientation, aimed at preventing fraud, misleading advertising, and excessive fees in the veterans’ benefits marketplace. Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, there is no documented public sentiment in the supplied materials, but the bill’s framing suggests it is intended to be favorable to veterans and consumer advocates. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments in the context prevents a more specific assessment of legislative sentiment.
The main potential points of contention are the fee restrictions, the ban on referral compensation, the requirement for written disclosures and acknowledgments, and the limits on using certain medical professionals or data-processing practices. Businesses that provide paid veterans’ benefits assistance could view these provisions as burdensome or restrictive, especially the contingent-fee cap and the prohibition on initial or nonrefundable fees. By contrast, supporters would likely argue that these safeguards are necessary to protect veterans from predatory or misleading services and to steer them toward free or accredited assistance. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided record.