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HB 2213

Business and labor; Statewide Economic Development Fund Allocation Act; effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Lay

Kansas HB 2213 bans paid non-attorney aid for veterans benefits claims; enforces via KCPA and applies attorney-like ethics to protect veterans and claimants.

Second Reading referred to Rules
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Bill Summary · HB 2213

Summary — HB 2213 (Kansas)

Title: Prohibiting certain conduct and improper collection of veterans benefits fees
Primary sponsor: Rep. Tony M. McCombie
Status: Enacted (signed by Governor 2025-06-20); effective 9/1/2025

Purpose / intent

HB 2213 limits fee-based, non‑attorney activity related to veterans benefits claims and creates a civil enforcement pathway under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). The bill is intended to protect veterans, dependents, survivors, and other claimants from improper or exploitative fee collection and to align professional conduct expectations for people who accept compensation for assisting with veterans benefits matters.

Key definitions

  • “Veterans benefits matter” — broadly defined to include preparation, presentation or prosecution of any claim (or expressed intent to file a claim) for benefits, programs, services, commodities, functions or status under laws/regulations administered by:
    • United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
    • United States Department of Defense (DoD)
    • Kansas Office of Veterans Services (KOVS)

Major provisions

  • Prohibits, except as permitted under federal law, any person from receiving compensation for:
    • Preparing, presenting or prosecuting a veterans benefits matter; or
    • Advising, consulting or assisting an individual in connection with such matters before the VA, DoD, or KOVS.
  • Prohibits receiving compensation for referring an individual to another person to provide those services.
  • Allows fee division between attorneys where permitted by Kansas law and the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct.
  • States that any person who has received compensation for assisting with veterans benefits matters “shall be held to the same ethical standards as an attorney” under Kansas rules of professional conduct in the areas of advertising, solicitation, confidentiality, duty of care, honesty, and zealous advocacy.
  • Declares violations to be violations of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act (K.S.A. 50‑623 et seq.).
  • Contains severability clause.
  • Effective date: 9/1/2025.

Who is affected

  • Non‑attorney paid preparers, consultants, agents, claims processors, and organizations that charge for assisting veterans or claimants in VA/DoD/KOVS matters.
  • Organizations that refer veterans to paid providers.
  • Attorneys (indirectly): attorneys remain able to accept fees but must comply with existing professional rules; fee division among attorneys remains allowed where appropriate.
  • Veterans, dependents, survivors and other claimants are intended beneficiaries (consumer protections).

Enforcement and penalties

  • Violations are actionable under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act — civil enforcement remedies and penalties available under that statute (the bill does not create new criminal penalties).
  • Enforcement likely to involve the Kansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and civil actions in district court.

Fiscal and administrative impacts

  • Kansas Office of Veterans Services: no fiscal effect reported.
  • Office of the Attorney General: estimated additional cost of $156,080 beginning FY2026 (State General Fund) to add 1.00 FTE investigator and 0.50 FTE Assistant Attorney General ($60,849 + $66,952) plus ~$28,279 in technology/training/administrative costs. Future costs to rise with inflation. Litigation costs could be higher but were not estimated.
  • Judicial Branch: could see an increase in district court cases under KCPA, generating docket fees and fines deposited to the State General Fund; precise fiscal effect not estimated.

Legislative history (selected)

  • Filed: 2025-01-29; Referred to House Committee on Veterans & Military.
  • Passed both chambers (final Senate and House passage reported late May 2025).
  • Signed by Governor: 2025-06-20.
  • Effective date: 2025-09-01.

Notes / considerations

  • The bill’s broad definition of “veterans benefits matter” can capture many advisory or preparatory activities; organizations that currently charge for assistance should review compliance needs.
  • The requirement to apply attorney‑like ethical standards to compensated non‑attorneys may raise enforcement and scope‑of-practice questions in practice.
  • Entities that provide legitimate fee‑based representation (e.g., accredited attorneys or representatives authorized under federal law) should document legal basis for compensation to avoid KCPA enforcement.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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