Georgia’s heroes deserve protection, not predators. But as the new legislative session approaches, one carried-over bill threatens to unleash some of the most dangerous actors targeting our military community: unaccredited, unregulated predatory claims sharks.

Supporters of Georgia House Bill 108 (SAVE Act) have crafted a narrative filled with comforting myths. But beneath the surface, the facts tell a very different story. HB 108 does not protect veterans; it exposes them.

These predatory claims sharks are already circling nationwide. HB 108 would invite them directly into Georgia by legalizing practices federal law was written to stop.

And with the bill eligible for a Senate vote at any time, the urgency is real.

If Georgia is serious about supporting those who served, we must push back against misinformation and confront the truth head-on.

MYTH vs FACT: The Core of the Debate

MYTH: HB 108 “expands access” to benefits help.

FACT: HB 108 expands risk by empowering unaccredited, unregulated actors who operate without oversight, qualifications, or accountability.

MYTH: These “consultants” simply assist veterans.

FACT: Unaccredited claims sharks routinely charge fees for services that federal law mandates must be free under 38 U.S.C. § 5904.

MYTH: Georgia veterans lack options for accredited support.

FACT: Georgia already has thousands of accredited VSOs and trained professionals ready to provide assistance at no cost; the system works when veterans use trusted, legal channels.

MYTH: Unaccredited agents speed up the claims process.

FACT: They cannot file claims, cannot access VA systems, and frequently delay or damage claims, trapping veterans in long-term fee contracts.

MYTH: HB 108 protects veterans from “bad actors.”

FACT: HB 108 legalizes what federal law was created to prevent and offers predatory businesses exactly what they want—state-backed legitimacy.

HB 108: How We Got Here

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

HB 108 has advanced quickly while relying on misleading talking points, incomplete information, and myths that fail to withstand scrutiny.

Why HB 108 Helps Predators, Not Veterans

Supporters of HB 108 claim this bill expands “choice” and “access,” but the facts prove otherwise. HB 108 would:

• Authorize unaccredited, unregulated claims consultants to charge veterans for initial VA disability claims, services that are legally required to be free.
• Legitimize predatory business models built on aggressive marketing, binding contracts, and hidden fees.
• Expose veterans to incorrect filings, denials, and financial exploitation.
• Undermine the trusted, accredited support network that Georgia’s veterans rely on.

These companies aren’t providing support.
They’re hunting for profit, and HB 108 hands them the legal cover they want.

Predatory Claims Sharks: A Growing Threat

Across the country, predatory claims actors:

• Lock veterans into multi-year contracts
• Charge thousands or skim percentages of earned benefits
• Make false promises about speeding up claims
• Disappear when problems arise—because they’re unaccountable

MYTH: HB 108 will regulate these actors.
FACT: HB 108 invites them in and protects their business model.

Georgia cannot allow these sharks to gain legitimacy here. Veterans paid for their earned benefits in sweat, sacrifice, and service, not with hidden fees.

A Simple, Non-Negotiable Truth: Accreditation Protects Veterans

We would never allow an untrained person to treat a veteran’s medical condition.
We should never allow an unaccredited person to handle a veteran’s VA claim, their pathway to healthcare, stability, and quality of life.

Accreditation ensures:

• Expertise
• Ethics
• Accountability
• Protection

MYTH: Accreditation is “optional.”
FACT: Accreditation is the only safeguard separating veterans from predators.

HB 108 removes those safeguards.
Georgia’s veterans deserve better; Georgia must do better.

The Bottom Line

HB 108 is built on myths, marketed with misinformation, and pushed forward by those who benefit from confusion, not veterans.

The facts are clear.
The risks are real.
And Georgia must reject HB 108.

If lawmakers want to stand with veterans, they must stand with the facts, not the sharks.

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.