Minn. committee hears competing views on bill to curb "claim sharks," refers HF1855 to judiciary

Rep. Grama, the bill’s author, told the House Veterans Committee that House File 18‑55 targets "claim sharks" that charge veterans for assistance with VA benefits and "take a cut" of veterans’ retroactive payments. She said the bill would require providers who charge for help on claims to be VA‑accredited and to use written fee agreements, prohibit guaranteeing outcomes and give veterans consumer‑protection remedies under state law.

The bill drew long testimony from veterans service organizations, county veteran service officers and private providers. Dr. Kristi Janigo, legislative chair of the American Legion Department of Minnesota and an assistant county veteran service officer, said those who do this work "at no cost to the veteran are not motivated by profits" and described accreditation and training required of county and VSO representatives. Ben Johnson, deputy commissioner for Grama and Services at the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), told the committee: "I simply want to state unequivocally that we support this bill in its current form," and emphasized the state and…