SB 2968

bill barring deceptive practices by veterans’ claims businesses

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to prohibiting certain deceptive trade practices by businesses assisting veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs claims.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

No concealed costs, fake ties or unaccredited claim advice.

The bill bars businesses that advertise help to veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs claims from false, misleading, or deceptive practices. It covers hiding the real costs, confusing veterans about services, implying ties to the VA, giving personal claim advice without VA-accredited staff, and accessing a veteran's VA benefit information through the eBenefits portal. A business that breaks these rules owes the state a civil penalty of up to $25,000 per violation, starting immediately or September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the Senate Veteran Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2968 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Sen. Tan ParkerRSenate 12

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to prohibiting certain deceptive trade practices by businesses assisting veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs claims.

WHAT IT DOES

No concealed costs, fake ties or unaccredited claim advice.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 14, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Mar 14, 2025Filed
Apr 7, 2025Read first time
Apr 7, 2025Referred to Vet Affairs
Apr 29, 2025Co-author authorized
May 6, 2025Co-author authorized

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Tan Parker

Donors

Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group PAC$40K Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$25K The Peck Family Trust$25K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Jun 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group PAC$40,000.00

Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group PAC

$40,000.00

Cash: $40,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $40,000.00

Also funds 10 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 17, 2026 to Oct 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 17, 2026 to Jun 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101060289.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$25,250.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$25,250.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $250.00
Total: $25,250.00

fundraiser $250.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Oct 9, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986801, 101009904, 101031351.

The Peck Family Trust$25,000.00

The Peck Family Trust

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 14, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986801.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group PAC

$40,000.00

Cash: $40,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $40,000.00

Also funds 10 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 17, 2026 to Oct 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 17, 2026 to Jun 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101060289.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$25,250.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $250.00
Total: $25,250.00

fundraiser $250.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Oct 9, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986801, 101009904, 101031351.

The Peck Family Trust

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 14, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986801.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 14, 2025

04/07/2025 S Referred to Vet Affairs

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Angela PaxtonRSenate 8

Charles SchwertnerRSenate 5

Senate committee · Veteran Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

HB 5144 by Louderback (identical)

Subjects

Business & Commerce--Trade Practices

Civil Remedies & Liabilities

Military & Veterans

Text

The text as introduced · 306 words

By: Parker
S.B. No. 2968

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibiting certain deceptive trade practices by

businesses assisting veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs

claims.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 17, Business and Commerce

Code, is amended by adding Sections 17.465 and 17.466 to read as

follows:

Sec. 17.465. PROHIBITED PRACTICES FOR BUSINESSES ASSISTING

VETERANS. (a) A business operating in this state which advertises

its services to veterans with regard to claims preparation,

presentation, and prosecution with the Department of Veterans

Affairs is prohibited from engaging in false, misleading, or

deceptive acts or practices, including:

(1) causing confusion or misrepresenting directly or

by implication the actual costs of participation in the business's

programs or membership programs;

(2) causing confusion directly or by implication about

the types of services offered and provided by the business or the

benefits of such services;

(3) offering to provide or providing a veteran with

individualized, personal advice while preparing, prosecuting, or

presenting a veteran's specific disability claims unless offering

such advice through individuals accredited by the Department of

Veterans Affairs;

(4) causing confusion regarding its affiliation with

the Department of Veterans Affairs; or

(5) accessing or seeking to access the Department of

Veterans Affairs benefit information of a veteran through the

Department of Veterans Affairs' eBenefits portal.

(b) A business that violates this section is liable to this

state for a civil penalty. A civil penalty assessed under this

subsection may not exceed $25,000 per violation.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.