CALL TO ACTION: Protecting Our Veterans from Exploitation: Support SB 694

 As Chair of the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee—and a proud veteran myself—protecting those who’ve served our country has always been my top priority.Veterans have served their country with dignity and pride. They have earned—and deserve—every benefit their country owes them, including their disability benefits.

Many veterans depend on free, trusted support from their County Veteran Service Offices (CVSOs) or nonprofit Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs). These professionals are accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), trained to assist with claims, and held to strict accountability standards.

But not everyone follows those rules.

Unfortunately, some veterans are misled by false promises of faster processing or increased lump-sum payments from unaccredited agents—often referred to as “claim sharks.” These bad actors have no VA training, face no oversight, and often charge illegal, excessive fees. They pressure veterans into signing exploitative contracts and even demand sensitive login credentials to access federal systems—putting personal information and rightful benefits at risk.

That’s why I introduced Senate Bill 694—to stop these predators from targeting our veterans.

SB 694 will:

• Prohibit unaccredited individuals from providing claims assistance;
• Ban them from requesting or requiring veterans to hand over login information to federal systems;
• Cap fees in accordance with what VA-accredited attorneys or claims agents are legally allowed to charge.

Despite strong bipartisan support in both the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee and the Assembly Judiciary Committee, SB 694 now sits in the Assembly Appropriations Committee—where it faces stiff opposition from those who profit off veterans. These unaccredited agents have worked tirelessly to kill this bill so they can continue to take advantage of veterans.

As my office and I work to ensure a pathway forward for the bill, I am calling on you—my fellow brothers and sisters, service men and women—to urge my colleagues to support SB 694. We must remind our lawmakers that taking care of veterans isn’t optional. It’s a duty.

Please contact your Assembly and Senate representatives and urge them to support SB 694. You can find your representatives here: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

Let’s send a clear message: California will not tolerate the exploitation of those who’ve worn the uniform.

Thank you, and God bless.

Senator Bob Archuleta, Thirtieth Senate District
Chair, Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee