SB 594
bill barring paid help on veterans benefits claims
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 assistance with veterans benefits claims.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Unless federal law allows it. No paid referrals, no guaranteed outcomes.
The bill bars anyone from taking pay to prepare, present, or advise on a veterans benefits claim unless federal law allows it, and bars paid referrals, guaranteed-outcome promises, and excessive fees. It reaches anyone who charges veterans, their families, or survivors for help with federal VA or Defense Department benefits, and it requires a signed written fee agreement before any paid work. Breaking these rules counts as a deceptive trade practice, so veterans can sue under the state's consumer protection law starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Dec 13, 2024 and referred to the Senate Veteran Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB594 · 2024-12-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to assistance with veterans benefits claims.
WHAT IT DOES
Unless federal law allows it. No paid referrals, no guaranteed outcomes.
The bill bars anyone from taking pay to prepare, present, or advise on a veterans benefits claim unless federal law allows it, and bars paid referrals, guaranteed-outcome promises, and excessive fees. It reaches anyone who charges veterans, their families, or survivors for help with federal VA or Defense Department benefits, and it requires a signed written fee agreement before any paid work. Breaking these rules counts as a deceptive trade practice, so veterans can sue under the state's consumer protection law starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Vet Affairs
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.
Skyview Development LLC$36,332.00
Skyview Development LLC
$36,332.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $36,332.00
- Total
- $36,332.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 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: 100987569, 101063137.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Skyview Development LLC
$36,332.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $36,332.00
- Total
- $36,332.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 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: 100987569, 101063137.
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 Dec 13, 2024
02/03/2025 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.
Senate committee · Veteran Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Business & Commerce--Trade Practices
Military & Veterans
Text
The text as introduced · 360 words
89R3172 CXP-F By: West S.B. No. 594 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to assistance with veterans benefits claims. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER J. ASSISTANCE WITH VETERANS BENEFITS CLAIMS Sec. 434.451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Compensation" means the payment of money, a financial benefit, or another thing of value. (2) "Veterans benefit matter" means a claim by a veteran, a veteran's dependent or survivor, or any other person for a benefit, program, service, commodity, function, or status, the entitlement to which is determined under laws and regulations administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Department of Defense. Sec. 434.452. PROHIBITED ACTIONS. (a) A person may not: (1) except as permitted by federal law, receive compensation for: (A) preparing, presenting, or prosecuting a veterans benefit matter; or (B) advising a person on, consulting with a person about, or assisting a person with a veterans benefit matter; (2) receive compensation for referring a person to another person to provide a service described by Subdivision (1); (3) guarantee, either directly or by implication, that a person is certain to receive specific veterans benefits or a specific level, percentage, or amount of veterans benefits; or (4) receive excessive or unreasonable fees as compensation for providing a service described by Subdivision (1). (b) The factors and presumptions specified by 38 C.F.R. Section 14.636 govern a determination of whether a fee is permitted or is excessive or unreasonable for the purposes of this section. Sec. 434.453. FEE AGREEMENT. A person seeking to receive compensation for a service described by Section 434.452(a)(1) must, before providing the service, memorialize in a written agreement signed by both parties all terms regarding the payment of fees for services provided. The fee agreement must comply with all requirements specified by 38 C.F.R. Section 14.636. Sec. 434.454. DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE. A violation of this subchapter is a deceptive trade practice actionable under Subchapter E, Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.