Don't Legalize the Illegal

Stop Georgia House Bill 108

Georgia House Bill 108 threatens to legalize activity already prohibited under federal law, allowing unaccredited, for-profit claims consultants to charge veterans for benefit services they have no legal right to perform.

Unaccredited Claims Assistance isAlready Illegal

The Federal Law is CLEAR!

Under 38 U.S.C. § 5901-5904, only accredited representatives, agents, or attorneys may assist veterans with VA benefit claims or charge fees for that assistance. Federal law exists to protect veterans from exploitation, requiring accreditation, training, ethical oversight, and fee approval by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. HB 108 undermines those federal protections by attempting to re-legalize what federal law already prohibits, creating confusion for veterans and weakening enforcement.

Federal Reality:

  • Unaccredited consultants cannot legally assist or charge for claims services.

  • VA accreditation ensures accountability, continuing education, and code-of-conduct compliance.

  • Violators can be fined or banned but only if identified and prosecuted.

Georgia should enforce the law, not erase it.

Tell Legislators to Enforce The Law

What HB 108 Would Do

HB 108 Invites Predatory, Unaccredited Consultants Into Georgia

As written, HB 108 would:

  • Sanction unaccredited claims agents to operate under state law, even though their activities conflict with federal law.
  • Authorize for-profit consulting, allowing individuals with no accreditation, oversight, or ethics training to charge veterans fees for filing claims.
  • Eliminate accountability, because state agencies would have no mechanism to enforce VA accreditation or stop bad actors.
  • Create confusion for veterans, making it harder to distinguish between legitimate accredited assistance and illegal profiteering.


This bill doesn’t “protect” veterans. It legitimizes lawbreakers.

Speak Up to Protect Veterans

Georgia Needs Enforcement,Not Enablement

Hold Unaccredited Agents Accountable – Demand Actionable Penalties

Instead of making it easier for unqualified people to profit off of veterans, Georgia should:

  • Enact enforceable penalties for anyone who charges fees or assists with VA claims without accreditation.

  • Require VA accreditation verification for anyone offering claims services in the state.

  • Empower law enforcement and the Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) to investigate and prosecute violators.

  • Publicly list offenders, so veterans can identify and avoid claim sharks.

Protecting veterans means punishing exploitation, not legalizing it.

Tell Legislators to Enforce The Law

Legislative Session Begins 01/12/2026

Tell Georgia's General Assembly to Protect Georgia's Veterans

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Advocate For Those Who Wore The Uniform

Don't Feed the Sharks

Georgia House Bill 108, in its current, original form, is terrible for Georgia’s Veterans.

Unaccredited claims agents are circling Georgia’s veterans, looking to profit from benefits they did not earn and are not authorized to touch. Even though federal law already bans them, HB 108 opens the door for these bad actors, putting our veterans at real risk. Don’t feed the sharks. Stand with the VFW Department of Georgia and demand that lawmakers put veterans first by rejecting HB 108 in its current form and enforcing real, actionable penalties for those who prey on our community.

Share Your Concerns About Predatory Claims Practices

Myth vs Fact

MYTHS FACTS
HB 108 "protects" veterans by licensing consultants. HB 108 would permit illegal activity under state law that federal law already bans.
Unaccredited Claims Companies cannot get accredited; there is no path for agents to get accreditation. Individuals can become accredited' those accredited individuals can work for a for-profit organization.
Paid consultants get faster results. All claims go through the same VA system; nobody can guarantee quicker results. There are NO shortcuts. Accreditation and case quality matter.
Accreditation doesn't matter; it is just red tape. Accreditation protects the veterans through training; ethics; and accountability. Accredited agents can access case status.
HB 108 only targets bad actors. HB 108 would normalize a pay-to-play environment for unaccredited actors. Georgia should prioritize accredited representation.
I have to pay someone to file a claim. No! You NEVER have to pay for assistance with a claim. The VFW and GDVS provide accredited assistance statewide at no cost to the veteran.
Educate Legislators About the Myths

15 Veteran Organizations Agree

Georgia House Bill 108, in its current, original form, is terrible for Georgia’s Veterans. Below is the officially signed joint statement from 15 leading Veterans Service Organizations across Georgia and the nation. Together, these organizations represent hundreds of thousands of veterans, service members, and families who stand firmly AGAINST HB 108 in its current form.

Their unified message is clear: Georgia must not legalize unaccredited claims practices already prohibited under federal law. Read the full statement, share it with others, and join us in urging lawmakers to protect those who served.

Stand With Veterans

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Veterans deserve clarity, not confusion. Below are the most common questions we’ve received about HB 108, accreditation, and the laws that already protect veterans from unqualified claims agents.

Learn how federal law already prohibits these practices, why HB 108 would legalize what’s illegal, and how Georgia can instead enforce accountability with actionable penalties.

That’s the intention stated by its sponsors; but as written, HB 108 would do the opposite. It would permit unaccredited, for-profit claims agents to operate under Georgia law even though federal law (38 U.S.C. §§ 5901–5904) already prohibits such activity. Instead of protecting veterans, it would normalize illegal behavior and make it harder to hold violators accountable.

Accreditation is the veterans’ first line of defense. It means the person helping with a VA claim is trained, vetted, and recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to act on a veteran’s behalf. Accredited representatives must follow federal ethics rules and can lose their accreditation or face prosecution for misconduct. Unaccredited “consultants” have no oversight, no training requirements, and no accountability.

Under Title 38 of the United States Code, only VA-accredited agents, attorneys, or service officers may:

  • Represent veterans before the VA, and
  • Charge fees for that representation.

Anyone who assists or charges fees without accreditation is violating federal law. Georgia House Bill 108 ignores this and would create a state-level loophole allowing illegal actors to appear “legitimate.”

Currently, federal law allows the VA and the Department of Justice to take action, including fines, restitution, and debarment.

However, those penalties are difficult to enforce without state-level cooperation.
That’s why the VFW Department of Georgia believes the legislature should strengthen state penalties and empower GDVS and law enforcement to investigate and prosecute violators, rather than legalize their operations through HB 108.

No, but it would confuse veterans and conflict with existing federal protections.
Even if passed, federal law still prohibits unaccredited claims activity. But HB 108’s language could mislead veterans into thinking these consultants are legitimate, reducing enforcement and enabling bad actors to profit with minimal risk.

Use the VA’s online accreditation search tool: VA Accreditation Search

Enter their name or organization. If no record appears, they are not accredited and cannot legally charge you or represent you before the VA.

Because federal enforcement resources are limited. Predatory consultants often operate locally and never get flagged federally.
Georgia can and should implement actionable penalties at the state level to deter unaccredited activity, just as other states have done.
State enforcement amplifies federal law, closing the gap that HB 108 would otherwise widen.

Yes, but only under these strict conditions:

  • The person must be VA-accredited, and
  • The VA must approve the fee in writing after a decision is issued.

No one, accredited or not, can legally charge up-front fees for initial claims assistance. If someone tries, they're breaking the law.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Georgia recommends the following:

  1. Reject HB 108 as written.
  2. Support legislation that aligns with federal accreditation standards.
  3. Enforce penalties against unaccredited actors who prey on veterans.
  4. Invest in public awareness so veterans know where to find free, accredited help through the VFW and Georgia Department of Veterans Services (GDVS).

Veterans earned their benefits through service; they should never have to go into debt to receive those earned benefits.

Our Stand

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Georgia stands to serve, support, and protect veterans and family members who work and live in the State of Georgia. We believe in integrity, accountability, and service BEFORE self.

Our stance is clear:

  • Federal law already protects veterans; however, that law needs to reinstitute enforceable penalties.
  • HB 108 would undo those protection under federal law.
  • Georgia must enforce penalties, not enable predators.


We will continue to advocate for legislation that strengthens, not weakens, veterans’ protections.

Join The Fight For Veterans

Resources & Reporting

The VFW Department of Georgia is committed to ensuring every veteran has access to accurate information and trustworthy support. Below you’ll find quick links to the fight against HB 108, a pro-veteran legislative scorecard, educational materials, official accreditation tools, and claims assistance directories.