House approves bill requiring accreditation for private veterans benefits helpers

The Alabama House approved Senate Bill 206 on final passage after lawmakers debated how to protect veterans who seek help filing Department of Veterans Affairs claims. The bill requires private companies that assist veterans with VA claims to be accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and to comply with federal limits on fees and required disclosures. The vote was recorded as 103 yeas, 0 nays.

Supporters said the measure closes an enforcement gap in Alabama that leaves some veterans vulnerable to excessive fees from private firms. Representative (President) Pasco, the sponsor on the floor, told the House the bill "closes that gap" by establishing a state-level requirement that private entities be VA-accredited so the state can track and enforce compliance. He said veterans already have free assistance through State Department of Veterans Affairs veteran service officers (VSOs) in county offices, but private vendors can still offer services only if they meet accreditation standards.

Opponents and questioners on the floor pressed sponsors for implementation details and for assurances that accredited private providers would not replace free VSO services. Representative Hall (Madison) repeatedly asked whether accredited organizations would still be allowed to operate and whether family members (widows, children) of veterans would be covered; sponsors replied the bill protects both veterans and family members who seek private help. Representative Bracey (Mobile) and others pressed for data about how many organizations were operating without accreditation and what fee levels veterans were paying; sponsors said exact company counts were not in committee materials but said the bill would make such tracking possible.

Sponsors said the bill aligns with existing federal fee caps and focuses on enforcement rather than creating a new fee schedule. Lawmakers discussed outreach: several representatives urged that the State Department of Veterans Affairs publish lists of accredited providers and make veterans aware that county VSOs provide free help.

The House adopted a committee substitute and then passed the bill on final passage, 103-0. The sponsor and several colleagues said they expect the State Department of Veterans Affairs to use its authority to publicize accredited providers and to assist veterans in finding free state-supported services.

Votes at the end of the session show SB206 passed; the House clerk recorded the final tally as "103 I 0 nays."