As Seen in The Sacramento Bee; January 25, 2026
By Trinidad Aguirre, CEO of VetsForever, a VA-accredited law firm
Veterans serve their countries with honor, and our service-disabled veterans deserve our appreciation and the benefits they’ve earned. Senate Bill 694 (SB 694) was introduced in 2025 and is moving through the California Legislature to protect California veterans from bad actors who take advantage of veterans in need of claims assistance. This discussion comes at a critical moment, as California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently issued a press release underscoring the urgency of SB 694 and highlighting the upcoming legislative vote to strengthen protections for veterans statewide.
The complex VA approval process drives many veterans to seek outside assistance with filing disability claims. VA-accredited law groups and VSOs can offer guidance and reduce roadblocks to approvals, but many unaccredited “consultants” gouge veterans in their time of need. Unfortunately, countless veterans fall prey to “claim sharks” each year who extract an exorbitant amount of money from service-disabled veterans.
SB 694 would be a monumental step in protecting veterans in California by eradicating deceptive practices that target them. Specifically, it would prohibit any person from being paid for work related to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for federal veterans benefits unless they are accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as an attorney or claims agent.
Additionally, this bill would make it illegal for claim sharks to access VA computer systems using a veteran’s login information and to charge a fee for assistance with a veteran’s benefits claim that exceeds the fee that could be lawfully charged by a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent.
Constituents who desire to protect veterans in this meaningful way should contact their senators and representatives through the California Legislature’s “Find Your Representative” website and urge them to vote in favor of it in early 2026.
As a 100% service disabled veteran, it took me 20 years of debunking the myths and misinformation before I submitted my first VA claim with a VSO. Almost all of my initial claims were denied, and the frustration and anger I felt were beyond words. I doubled down and truly learned the VA process, paperwork, and the appeal process.
That experience drove me to start VetsForever, a VA-accredited law group that gives veterans a legal option beyond what even honorable VSO’s can provide.
VetsForever applauds legal guardrails at the federal and state level to protect veterans from exploitation, including SB 694. We look forward to California joining the rapidly growing number of states that are protecting our veterans from claim sharks.
If the bill passes in the legislature, it will empower the California Attorney General and other law enforcement partners to pursue and prosecute those who violate the law and take advantage of vulnerable veterans by charging illegal or excessive fees or accessing their protected federal systems without authorization.
For More Info and Resources To Show Your Support For CA SB 694, Click HERE.