Texas Senate Bill SB 2968

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 3/14/25

Caption

Relating to prohibiting certain deceptive trade practices by businesses assisting veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs claims.

Summary

SB 2968 would add new provisions to the Texas Business and Commerce Code aimed at businesses that market services to veterans for Department of Veterans Affairs claims preparation, presentation, and prosecution. The bill prohibits false, misleading, or deceptive practices in that market, including misrepresenting costs, confusing consumers about the nature or benefits of services, implying improper affiliation with the VA, and offering individualized advice on specific disability claims unless the advice is provided by VA-accredited individuals. It also bars businesses from accessing or attempting to access a veteran’s VA benefit information through the VA eBenefits portal. The bill creates a civil penalty for violations, with fines of up to $25,000 per violation, enforceable by the state. In effect, it would strengthen consumer protection rules for veterans seeking help with VA claims and would regulate how private claims-assistance businesses advertise, operate, and interact with veterans’ benefit information.

Impact

The bill would amend Chapter 17 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code by adding Sections 17.465 and 17.466, creating a new set of prohibited practices specifically for businesses assisting veterans with VA claims. It would expand state deceptive trade practice enforcement to cover veteran claims assistance services and authorize civil penalties for violations, while also reinforcing the requirement that individualized claims advice be provided only by VA-accredited individuals. The bill would affect private businesses offering claims assistance, veterans seeking those services, and state enforcement authorities.

Sentiment

Based on the bill’s caption and referral history, the measure appears to be framed as a consumer-protection and veteran-protection bill, with an emphasis on preventing misleading practices in a sensitive area. No committee transcript or vote record is available in the provided materials, so there is no direct evidence of debate, amendments, or opposition. The available context suggests a generally protective and regulatory intent rather than a controversial policy shift.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely to be the scope of restrictions on private veterans’ claims-assistance businesses and the prohibition on individualized advice unless provided by VA-accredited personnel. Businesses in this sector may view the bill as limiting their marketing and service models, while supporters would likely argue that the restrictions are necessary to prevent exploitation, confusion, and unauthorized claims advice. The prohibition on accessing eBenefits information may also raise operational and privacy-related concerns for service providers.