[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6252340,"mediaKeyId","3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4","parentId",3188764,"title","Panel hears dueling views on 'claim-shark' laws; committee asks LSO to collect state and federal drafts for further study","audioSeconds",553,"startMs",8296610,"endMs",7742955,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4&start=8296&end=7742","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4/thumbnail_8296610.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252340/Wyoming/Panel-hears-dueling-views-on-claim-shark-laws-committee-asks-LSO-to-collect-state-and-federal-drafts-for-further-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252340-9464eb3f66e76ad320338c401a1bf6cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135591&Signature=QE0doZhakK~aF5WuZJGq2kq1UKc57I6XdYa5ebUQpTM1NFQivXpQYETFG1p44TaTNMvSQn4DTcH3sWTLwFDV2x3AyzXlJK7NltPq8YrE1sBDdDJ64FbybZ6OZHzrxyBTaT-SN~9DUbq-6R7YvI6SgUcJYpZa6cu4bwUjFFWsNLfGAzx18qFvBkqAlWSqOrOsjW6N0aumA0symFxmHLLRgPkKMTBajuH92~mgE6HZu82PQe6-Vri6uOQfuga9kuCVlw3moffdvFPHBOEJ52HA4dohsGdQU3u8FrnGCYP-bnKsRuSnKKT2ezgyAmfRUmR5YBIgASP-YAFnetCou4SRzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","Staff briefed the committee on state and federal legal frameworks that govern who may receive compensation for assisting veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit claims. Talise Hansen, committee staff attorney, summarized federal rules requiring accreditation to act as a representative before the VA, noted Congress removed some criminal penalties in 2006 and briefed the committee on a wave of state bills addressing so-called “claim sharks.”

Public testimony included: a VFW representative who urged the state to prohibit unaccredited persons from charging veterans and to include enforceable penalties; an industry representative and CEO of a consulting firm who described operations that provide fully developed claim assistance on a contingent-fee model and said a recent Third Circuit decision vacated a lower court injunction in New Jersey; and representatives who said reputable companies can speed adjudication by submitting fully developed claim packages.

Committee members heard these principal points:
- State and federal law: Federal law requires accreditation for persons acting as an agent/representative before the VA; the VA enforces accreditation rules but enforcement tools at the federal level have been constrained since 2006, prompting states to act.
- Predatory practices: Witnesses and staff described practices in which some for-profit firms charge upfront or excessive fees or operate in ways that veterans’ advocates say harm clients. Eight states already have statutes that restrict unaccredited providers; some other states passed consumer-protection bills in 2024–25. Utah’s bill became law in March 2025 (staff summary), and several states have introduced similar legislation.
- Industry perspective: Private firms said they operate on contingent-fee models, provide technology and staff resources to develop claims (often using the fully developed claims process), and that bans on fee-for-service advising would deny veterans an option that many choose after using free services.

After questioning and public testimony, committee members agreed not to draft a bill immediately. Instead, members asked the Legislative Service Office to compile: existing state statutes and model bills (including the SAVE/Choice-type bills and the New Jersey/Third Circuit litigation record), pending federal draft legislation, and empirical complaints/evidence of predatory activity. Committee members asked for those materials and suggested a target date for committee study materials in advance of the August meeting.

Ending: Committee did not adopt legislation at the meeting. Members requested staff compile comparative statutes and pending federal measures and return with recommended drafting options; no draft was filed at this session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Committee, May 1, 2025 - PM","oneSentenceSummary","The committee heard competing testimony on whether the state should bar unaccredited providers from charging veterans for claims-assistance services and asked staff to gather state and federal bill texts and evidence of predatory practices for further review.","taxTitle","House of Representative, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",30484,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252345,"Committee directs staff to draft change to indigent-veterans burial statute to remove wartime limitation",467,6448125,6915180,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4&start=6448&end=6915","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4/thumbnail_6448125.jpg","/articles/6252345/Wyoming/Committee-directs-staff-to-draft-change-to-indigent-veterans-burial-statute-to-remove-wartime-limitation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252345-e0130ebb8f3868c071988f18c1f91477/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135591&Signature=OW7W0MKg1WXqSnXADBZN5hcB8Ju2sM0N~qAemt5zd-esOpvjNgaFdr-hvlyNhYnZWJqEOqw9CKchdmSFkJS5VAPcLDv-8JMX9koGv4SBKYXvIf1g7~HjcGlAYSO4K6JcGKu8kUBt4Nby91kUE27CgfR2VkyrcZg~7sflYaUSJ0XG~gNBII88hExtXnCOVfAtBAQKP3C2yn2HU1ckzsq9I7jru3BfhWFB791jLEC0KUw2YKmKJ~AjDMMD~rvaLe2fTtR9jLC11UrqxsJ9M5jUoE7iHaYFA724eGlGsFqvuw1ekQlQc~-bLF7c7s2WoqVFI7-~SONANisiJyZrALrilA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee directed staff to draft statutory language that would remove the phrase limiting burial reimbursement to veterans who served “in time of war or conflict,” making the provision apply to indigent veterans more broadly.

Tim Shepherd, executive director of the Wyoming Veterans Commission, told the committee he found a drafting anomaly: the current statutory language references reimbursement for burials of veterans who served “in time of war or conflict.” Shepherd said counties have not declined indigent burials for veterans, but the amendment would eliminate any potential future ambiguity and remove the wartime language so the statute clearly covers indigent veterans regardless of service era.

Committee members discussed which agency currently pays reimbursements and whether Department of Family Services (DFS) needed to be consulted about funding. Shepherd and committee members agreed to consult DFS before drafting was finalized; Shepherd noted he had not yet confirmed specific DFS program funding lines or fiscal impacts and would discuss with DFS staff before the bill draft is returned.

Action: Representative Larson moved—seconded by Co-Chair Brown—and the committee voted to direct staff to prepare an amendment to the indigent-veterans burial statute. The committee recorded no opposition.

Ending: Staff will draft statutory language to remove the wartime/conflict limitation and will consult DFS about reimbursement mechanics and potential fiscal effects before the next committee meeting.","Lawmakers asked staff to draft statutory language removing a wartime-or-conflict limitation from state statute governing indigent-veteran burial reimbursement and directed follow-up with Department of Family Services on funding mechanics.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252348,"Wyoming National Guard briefs committee; lawmakers ask staff to draft referral and reenlistment bonus bills",4369,3326185,7695525,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4&start=3326&end=7695","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4/thumbnail_3326185.jpg","/articles/6252348/Wyoming/Wyoming-National-Guard-briefs-committee-lawmakers-ask-staff-to-draft-referral-and-reenlistment-bonus-bills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252348-4a52440ccaef84fd64ddb20bd5dc1f6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135591&Signature=UaFa3SKuiP2gk5JJUJ-nONMLaW2MKKuEwkMzneF6LkXtnajyO4Wf90nf4qbsg863ZEveHXRQmLZ3547fYwKWyo9ytI~XEOhv07Zn2damoC1y0a9wpTIirWFkzxf5Q0Rc8MkxM9QkfJclgGpUHdaNdi0OO7DEDEg1~J~4hlvOkhkR0Zf152Lpgg9E~43f3zoW7hNxI2FrFWVDsDg~3l1gMG0ey-VczzQEdiil6lQ9fKhoC5jhvTdhvm2SVFW5yhp4FGd-PZgay7tChN-AMZ9t2bDx46dLsIYPfp3Kf9kEyxxa3SOrkdMdEpg46GIueQn1Xf8N9ay5EOmuI4R8yogDtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adjutant General (Brig. Gen.) Charles Porter and National Guard leaders briefed the committee on current force structure, deployments and a plan to restore end strength, and asked legislators to consider revising recruiting and retention incentives.

Porter said the state’s National Guard force structure stands at roughly 1,600 soldiers on the Army side and about 1,380 on the Air side, and that about 95–96% of the National Guard budget comes from federal sources. He said several units are currently deployed and that deployments and post-COVID personnel trends have reduced state strength over recent years.

To address shortfalls Porter reviewed a referral bonus the legislature had funded previously ($500 per successful recruit) and asked the committee to consider increasing it to $1,000 and expanding eligibility to include retirees and veterans. He said other states (North Dakota) that raised their referral bonus saw measurable strength gains. Porter and recruiting leaders told the committee they believe raising the level and expanding eligibility would increase enlistments and help restore unit readiness. The department also proposed a state reenlistment/retention bonus aimed at personnel approaching an end-of-term date to keep trained servicemembers in state formations.

After discussion committee member Representative Geringer moved—and the committee approved—requests for staff to draft two separate pieces of legislation: one for a referral/recruiting bonus and one for a reenlistment/retention bonus. Representative Larson and others supported drafting two distinct bills rather than combining the ideas.

Porter also briefed members on the Air National Guard’s selection to receive C-130J aircraft, the timeline the department has received for aircraft arrival (the department said aircraft on ramp are expected early in 2028), and expected personnel and maintenance changes when the wing transitions to the J model.

Ending: The committee voted to ask staff to draft separate referral and reenlistment bonus bills; the department will provide supporting comparative data from other states and cost estimates for the proposals when staff prepares drafts.","The Wyoming Military Department described force structure, deployments and a long-running recruitment slide; the committee directed staff to draft separate bills for a referral (recruiting) bonus and a retention (reenlistment) bonus after the department requested increases to reach end-strength targets.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252353,"Defense State Liaison Office briefs committee on military-family supports, licensure compacts and child-care MOU",373,409005,782905,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4&start=409&end=782","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4/thumbnail_409005.jpg","/articles/6252353/Wyoming/Defense-State-Liaison-Office-briefs-committee-on-military-family-supports-licensure-compacts-and-child-care-MOU","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252353-2aebf185b1cd6b581a77d76748363a20/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135591&Signature=U3sgNkM~Z5QXovVMB0GZ6zGTDyyZI3q3y1lMJTLZs1nL3WdVBL1DfiO5GhF97j8m2sbK2JC51WOzD49iM2OOwDWmjy0ySSl~YrtA8oPQyTm-9BPrCT29bvv9pCvOtCFnLXMxpkZ6c5NNLuzrRZUKJ~jUBgm9ReZrDf9qPjbyjoxZ4qobYr5tSkV9cJGPmpdC-2kbw0HvFoAJ5wpqW~CtoA3CZ~kMWUKGURp7Sk~oXNxFjwsgx~IhITTpW-bvwDPxFc7EyZZHHAw497lKsCOfYi30WOJua69f8Jtjjz0KwQRVCfYABMGdopyJQ7rZ60eHkwV8bledJ8awrEXEtyfnBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tammy Perot, regional staff for the Department of Defense’s Defense State Liaison Office, briefed the committee on a slate of policy priorities her office encourages states to adopt to support military families.

Perot told the committee that the office’s vision is “thriving military families” and that many of the ideas her office recommends have been pilot-tested in other states. She noted the Defense Office’s work is coordinated with military services, veteran service organizations and the Council of State Governments. Perot said the office recommended policies that range from improving state licensure information for military spouses to expanding hiring preferences and adopting occupational licensure compacts.

Perot highlighted several concrete items:
- A new memorandum of understanding between the state Department of Family Services and F. E. Warren Air Force Base (she said it was signed April 18). Per the MOU, the base may now provide oversight for family child-care homes that specifically provide care for military children; Perot praised the MOU as a model for other states.
- Concurrent jurisdiction language the state previously adopted is a model; Perot said additional work remains for the Air Force to finalize the transfer of jurisdiction.
- Occupational licensure compacts: Perot urged the state to consider additional compacts (physician assistant, dental professions, respiratory therapists, social workers and others) and explained compacts are state-to-state agreements designed to maintain state authority while allowing multistate portability. She said Wyoming is currently a member of seven licensure compacts and urged the committee to consider further compact adoption to reduce barriers for military spouses and mobile health-care providers.
- Special education and mobility: Perot said 31% of military families with children with disabilities experienced more than 60 days without services after a move; she recommended considering expanded advanced enrollment policies and clearer parental-consent rules to speed service continuity for children who move between states.

Committee members asked procedural questions about why some states (California, New York) have not joined compacts and how compacts handle differing state standards; Perot and other panelists described the compact-development process and common safeguards. Perot emphasized compacts preserve state regulatory authority and typically require participating states to have comparable standards before joining.

Ending: Perot asked the committee to consider the listed policy options and offered the Defense State Liaison Office as a resource for drafting and stakeholder engagement; she said the office has staff available to consult with committees and state agencies on implementation.","Tammy Perot of the Defense State Liaison Office outlined a list of policy priorities for states to support military families, highlighted a new memorandum of understanding on family child care with F. E. Warren Air Force Base and urged consideration of multistate occupational licensure compacts to help military spouses and health-care workforce.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252358,"State committee agrees to form working group to study gas-tax indexing for YDOT funding",215,31950,247360,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4&start=31&end=247","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188764-b4de7ec6d71c483c54b9d58fd07d98c4/thumbnail_31950.jpg","/articles/6252358/Wyoming/State-committee-agrees-to-form-working-group-to-study-gas-tax-indexing-for-YDOT-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252358-0d224d93056323d22dc0ef4c7a416210/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135591&Signature=SyxFXmQSpTyBu7aINojJJk4o0iN-I~4CVOWFhAjbQApTl98CmvX-WF2XHJajyO3x21KOft9kqNCxRWGMSAc9QTIE6AG1kWABwxHnZNYSi7l3uA9NerZ-NEGA7rZsxGe1FE~aYoQgbDhY3kO1cNSQmY2TXzj1efeRCCNjdYmrB86S2oMugp51FLx5FjEfXPuBoKeywKp87YthCqRH~TBscEg05SuGtVHsEu1rlAdn3UMXZk03dLJTpErKBoJsLTb3DaQY6B5dGjEXQLJeUg-TFwGqs2xtpnk7NsvDk-qqAolosIHJNdc~11EkJe8Dl~xdHdr7xdLJIt6MwU88pl3PPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Curt Nicholas proposed that the committee form a working group to evaluate a gas-tax indexing proposal and draft bill language for the panel’s August meeting, which the committee agreed to do.

Nicholas told the committee he had seen similar proposals pass after multiple attempts in other legislatures and said indexing could spread future increases into smaller, incremental adjustments tied to surrounding states' rates. He asked that the working group “sit down, work with YDOT to go through those numbers and the information and data that's out there” and produce a draft for the committee’s August meeting.

Co-Chair Brown agreed the committee’s top priority is road funding and supported forming an educational working group, saying review “doesn't mean it’ll produce a bill” but is necessary due diligence. The committee agreed the chairs would each appoint two members and that staff would add the working group to the next meeting agenda. Members said stakeholders such as trucking associations and county commissioners should be invited.

The committee did not adopt any tax changes at the meeting. The action taken was direction to staff and the chairs to form the working group, identify stakeholders, and present draft bill language and supporting analysis at the August meeting. The committee did not set a preferred tax level or indexing formula at this time.

The committee asked staff to include YDOT data and cross-border pricing analyses in the working group’s homework and to notify members who will be appointed.

Ending: The committee expects the working group to deliver an educational briefing and a draft bill in August; no vote on any tax measure occurred at this meeting.","A legislative committee directed staff to form a bipartisan working group to analyze a gas-tax indexing bill and present draft language at the panel’s August meeting as part of efforts to identify new revenue for Wyoming Department of Transportation (YDOT).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel hears dueling views on 'claim-shark' laws; committee asks LSO to collect state and federal drafts for further study

Committee directs staff to draft change to indigent-veterans burial statute to remove wartime limitation

Wyoming National Guard briefs committee; lawmakers ask staff to draft referral and reenlistment bonus bills

Defense State Liaison Office briefs committee on military-family supports, licensure compacts and child-care MOU

State committee agrees to form working group to study gas-tax indexing for YDOT funding