Committee moves veterans claims assistance bill to study after sponsor pitches expansion with safeguards

Senate Bill 66, which would create a regulatory framework for third-party veterans claims assistance and protections, was presented to the Senate Commerce Committee by prime sponsor Senator Tim Lang.

Lang said New Hampshire has one of the country's largest veteran populations by percentage and that delays and limited provider availability justify expanding the pool of people who can assist veterans with claims. He told the committee the bill includes notification requirements and compensation limits intended to protect veterans from exploitation. Committee members expressed mixed views: several supported expanding capacity for veterans' assistance but raised questions about protecting veterans from signing away rights or being taken advantage of; one member proposed a pilot program as a possible compromise.

After discussion and questions — including concerns about protecting potentially vulnerable veterans and the appropriate limits on compensation — the committee decided to send the bill to interim study so sponsors can work on amendments and bring the measure back in a subsequent session. Speaker statements in the transcript show the sponsor signaled willingness to refine the bill and to work with the House Veterans committee if the Senate committee advanced it.