HB 1918 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, providing for prohibiting the receipt of compensation with regard to veterans' benefits.

PRINTER'S NO.   2401

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 1918
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY DELOZIER, GILLEN, CIRESI, COOPER, GALLAGHER, HAMM,
        JAMES, LABS AND WATRO, OCTOBER 3, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, OCTOBER 6, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, providing for
 3      prohibiting the receipt of compensation with regard to
 4      veterans' benefits.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.     Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 8   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 9   § 105.   Prohibiting the receipt of compensation with regard to
10                  veterans' benefits.
11      (a)   Prohibitions.--A person shall not:
12            (1)   Receive compensation for preparing, presenting,
13      prosecuting, advising, consulting or assisting any individual
14      with regard to any veterans' benefits matter, except as
15      permitted under Federal law.
16            (2)   Receive compensation for referring an individual to
17      another person to prepare, present, prosecute, advise,
18      consult or assist the individual with any veterans' benefits
 1      matter.
 2            (3)   Receive any compensation for any services rendered
 3      before the date on which a notice of disagreement is filed
 4      with respect to the individual's case.
 5            (4)   Guarantee, either directly or by implication, that
 6      an individual is certain to receive specific veterans'
 7      benefits or that an individual is certain to receive a
 8      specific level, percentage or amount of veterans' benefits.
 9            (5)   Receive excessive or unreasonable fees as
10      compensation for advising or assisting any individual with
11      any veterans' benefits matter. The factors in 38 CFR 14.636
12      (relating to payment of fees for representation by agents and
13      attorneys in proceedings before Agencies of Original
14      Jurisdiction and before the Board of Veterans' Appeals) as of
15      the effective date of this paragraph shall govern
16      determinations of whether a fee is excessive or unreasonable.
17      (b)   Transparency.--A person seeking to receive compensation
18   for preparing, presenting, prosecuting, advising, consulting or
19   assisting an individual with any veterans' benefits matter
20   shall, before rendering any services, memorialize all terms
21   regarding the individual's payment of fees for services rendered
22   in a written agreement, signed by both parties, that adheres to
23   criteria specified within 38 CFR 14.636.
24      (c)   Grading.--A violation of this section shall be an
25   unlawful practice and a misdemeanor of the third degree.
26      (d)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
27   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
28   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
29      "Compensation."    Payment of any money, thing of value or
30   financial benefit.

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 1      "Person."    An individual, corporation, business trust,
 2   estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company,
 3   association, joint venture, public corporation, government or
 4   governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality or any other
 5   legal or commercial entity.
 6      "Veterans' benefits matter."    The preparation, presentation
 7   or prosecution of a claim affecting an individual who has filed
 8   or expresses an intent to file a claim for a benefit, program,
 9   service, commodity, function or status or entitlement to which
10   is determined under the laws and regulations administered by the
11   United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United
12   States Department of Defense pertaining to veterans, a veteran's
13   dependents, a veteran's survivors or any other individual
14   eligible for the benefits.
15      Section 2.   The provisions of this act are severable. If any
16   provision of this act or its application to any person or
17   circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect
18   other provisions or applications of this act which can be given
19   effect without the invalid provision or application.
20      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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