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AB 826

Veterans' benefits: protections.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Laurie Davies and 2 co-sponsors

Prohibits charging fees for VA claim assistance unless the helper is VA-accredited, with each document or filing violation costing $2,000.

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
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Bill Summary · AB 826

AB 826 — Veterans’ benefits: protections (Gonzalez) — Summary

Bill overview

  • Bill number: AB 826
  • Author: Jeff Gonzalez
  • Introduced: February 19, 2025
  • Subject: Protections for veterans when filing benefits claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Current status (as of 04/21/2025): In committee — set for first hearing; hearing canceled at author’s request. The bill has been through the Assembly Military & Veterans Affairs (M&VA) committee and re-referred to Judiciary (JUD).

Purpose / intent

To protect veterans from being charged fees by unaccredited persons or businesses for assistance in preparing or filing VA benefits claims, and to direct civil penalties toward county veterans services and local prosecuting offices.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 401.5 to the Military and Veterans Code.
  • Prohibition: A person or business may not charge a fee to assist a veteran in filing a veterans’ benefits claim with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs unless that person or business is accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to perform that assistance.
  • Violation definition: Each document filed — or each document the veteran received assistance in filing in exchange for a fee — counts as one separate violation.
  • Penalties: Each violation is subject to a civil fine of $2,000, allocated as follows:
    • $1,000 deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund (Gov. Code § 972.2)
    • $1,000 paid to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine

Who would be affected

  • Protected: California veterans seeking to file claims with the federal VA.
  • Restricted/impacted: Individuals, businesses, or preparers who charge fees to assist with VA claims but are not accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accredited veterans service officers and veterans service organizations (as currently defined under existing law) would be authorized to charge or accept fees consistent with accreditation.
  • Enforcement actors: County district attorney offices (receive portion of fines) and agencies administering the Veterans Service Office Fund.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Referred to Assembly committees on Military & Veterans Affairs and Judiciary; amended multiple times in committee in March–April 2025.
  • On April 8, 2025, M&VA voted do-pass and re-referred to Judiciary (8–0).
  • Scheduled first hearing was set but canceled at the request of the author on April 21, 2025.
  • Fiscal committee review required (fiscal committee: YES); no appropriation is specified.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Aims to reduce fraud, predatory charging, and unauthorized representation of veterans before the VA.
  • Could reduce availability of paid preparers who are not accredited; may shift demand to accredited veterans service officers and recognized veterans service organizations.
  • Enforcement will generate modest funds for county veterans services and DA offices; implementing/enforcement costs and compliance implications may be considered during fiscal review.

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

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