Georgia has a responsibility to uphold the law, especially when it comes to protecting those who swore an oath to defend our nation. Yet one carried-over bill threatens to do the opposite: Georgia House Bill 108 (SAVE Act).

HB 108 has advanced quietly and could reach the Senate floor at any moment. But despite its title, the bill does not strengthen protections for veterans. Instead, without critical amendments, HB 108 undermines federal law, weakens oversight, and provides cover for individuals and companies operating outside federal accreditation requirements established under 38 U.S.C. § 5904.

This is not about enabling services.
This is about enforcing the law.

And HB 108, as written, does not enforce federal law; it contradicts it.

A Quick Look at the Bill’s Path

• 02/26/2025 – Passed the House (158 Yea, 10 Nay, 4 No Vote, 8 Excused)
• 03/19/2025 – Senate Committee on Veterans, Military & Homeland Security: Voted Favorably
  • No external testimony was allowed
• 03/21/2025 – Cleared Rules Committee; Read a Second Time in the Senate
• Current Status – Awaiting Senate Floor Consideration

Why HB 108 Fails to Enforce Federal Law

Despite its branding, the SAVE Act does not ensure safety, accountability, or compliance. Instead, it would:

• Permit unaccredited claims agents and companies to operate in Georgia, even though federal law strictly limits representation to accredited individuals and organizations.
• Undercut the federal accreditation system, which requires training, oversight, and accountability for anyone assisting with VA claims.
• Create a state-level shield for actors who would otherwise be in clear violation of federal law—making enforcement harder, not easier.
• Contradict 38 U.S.C. § 5904, which exists to prevent exactly this kind of unregulated activity.

This is not merely a policy disagreement.
This is a conflict with federal statute and a threat to lawful governance.

States cannot and must not authorize what federal law expressly prohibits.

Accreditation Is the Law. HB 108 Undermines It.

Accreditation is not optional.
Accreditation is not a suggestion.
It is federal law.

Every individual or organization assisting a veteran with initial VA claims must be:

• Accredited by VA,
• Trained,
• Accountable, and
• Subject to penalties for misconduct.

HB 108 dismisses these longstanding requirements and replaces them with loopholes. It shifts Georgia away from enforcement and toward permissiveness—permissiveness that federal law does not allow.

If we wouldn’t allow an unlicensed professional to perform medical work, audit financial records, or provide legal counsel, we cannot allow unaccredited actors to handle veterans’ VA benefits, the process governed by federal regulations, federal protections, and federal oversight.

Accreditation exists for one reason: to enforce the law and protect veterans.

HB 108 strips that enforcement away.

Share a Personal Story
If you have a personal story about dealing with unaccredited organizations or actors for your benefits claim, add your story to the top of this campaign's advocacy message. In addition, if you feel strongly about the importance of ensuring veterans do NOT go into debt to receive the benefits they EARNED, feel free to share that in the story box as well.