Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Lawmakers weigh bill to regulate paid veteran‑claims agents amid debate over accreditation
Summary
House Bill 1169 would restrict practices by private companies that charge veterans fees for preparing VA disability claims and require alignment with federal accreditation standards. Supporters said it protects veterans from predatory actors; critics warned the current draft could limit veterans’ choice or conflict with federal rules.
BISMARCK, N.D. — The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee took up House Bill 1169 on Friday, a proposal aimed at curbing predatory practices by some private entities that help veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs disability claims.
Representative Jeremy Olsen, sponsor and co‑chair of the Veterans Caucus, told the committee the bill’s purpose is to protect disabled veterans from excessive fees, misuse of private information and false promises, while preserving veterans’ freedom to choose paid or free assistance. “There are respectful organizations who truly do good work to help our disabled veterans,” Olsen said, “but this bill aims to…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
