A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning public safety.
Summary
SB 136 creates a new chapter in Indiana law regulating compensation for people who assist with veterans’ benefits matters. It prohibits charging or receiving compensation for preparing, presenting, prosecuting, advising, consulting, or assisting with a veterans’ benefits claim except as allowed under federal law. It also bars payment for referring someone to another person for those services, prohibits guarantees about obtaining specific benefits or benefit amounts, and requires a written, signed fee agreement before any services are provided. The bill further incorporates federal standards on excessive or unreasonable fees.
The bill also amends Indiana’s deceptive consumer sales law to make any violation of the new veterans’ benefits chapter a deceptive act. That means violations could be enforced under Indiana’s consumer protection framework, expanding potential remedies and enforcement tools beyond the veterans’ benefits chapter itself. The bill is effective July 1, 2026, and is framed as a public safety measure in the Indiana Code.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is protective and regulatory, aimed at preventing exploitation of veterans and their families by fee-charging intermediaries. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of debate, but the structure of the bill suggests a consumer-protection approach rather than a partisan policy fight. The bill’s tone is consistent with efforts to curb misleading marketing and predatory claims in the veterans’ services space.
The main point of contention likely concerns the scope of permissible compensation and how closely Indiana should tie state law to federal veterans’ benefits regulations. Businesses or individuals who provide veterans’ claims assistance may view the fee restrictions, referral ban, and written-contract requirement as burdensome or restrictive, while veterans’ advocates would likely support them as safeguards against abusive practices. Another possible issue is enforcement through the deceptive acts statute, which can increase liability exposure for violators.
Impact
SB 136 adds a new chapter to Title 10 governing compensation for assistance in veterans’ benefits matters and amends Indiana’s deceptive consumer sales statute to treat violations as deceptive acts. It directly affects individuals and entities that help veterans file or pursue claims, including consultants, advisors, and referral intermediaries, by limiting when they may be paid, requiring written fee agreements, and prohibiting excessive or unreasonable fees. It also creates a state-law enforcement hook through consumer protection law, potentially allowing broader civil enforcement and remedies.
Sentiment
The bill appears generally favorable and protective in tone, with an emphasis on shielding veterans from misleading or predatory fee arrangements. No committee testimony or vote history is provided, so there is no recorded opposition or support to measure, but the bill’s design suggests it is intended to be a consumer-protection measure with likely support from veterans’ advocates and regulators. The absence of recorded controversy in the provided materials means sentiment can only be inferred from the bill’s purpose and structure.
Contention
The likely areas of contention are the restrictions on compensation and referrals, the requirement that fee agreements comply with federal regulations, and the incorporation of federal fee-limit standards into state law. Providers of veterans’ benefits assistance may argue that the bill limits legitimate business models or creates compliance burdens, while supporters would contend that such limits are necessary to prevent deceptive promises and excessive fees. Enforcement through the deceptive acts statute may also be debated because it increases the consequences of noncompliance.