Not All Help Is Helpful: Why SB 694 Matters for California Veterans

For veterans navigating the complexities of VA benefits, help can be a lifeline — or a trap. 

On one end, there are credentialed advocates who walk veterans through the process with integrity and training. On the other, there are unaccredited consultants who charge steep fees, make big promises, and operate without oversight. Some have even required veterans to hand over login credentials, a practice as unethical as it is illegal. 

Senate Bill 694 (Archuleta) takes direct aim at those predatory practices. And while the legislation speaks to a very specific type of exploitation, its message is broader: 

Protect the people who have served. Elevate the systems designed to support them. And close the loopholes that others have learned to exploit. 

At VetFund Foundation, we believe that kind of accountability is part of how we honor service — by making sure benefits are accessible, ethical, and defended.  

What SB 694 Does 

SB 694 reinforces protections for veterans and service members by: 

• Prohibiting unaccredited individuals from charging for assistance with VA benefit claims 

• Declaring contracts that violate this rule void and unenforceable 

• Expanding consumer protections to include all veterans benefits (not just pensions) 

• Making it illegal to require veterans to share DOD, VA, or DHS login credentials 

• Barring debt collectors from contacting a veteran’s chain of command without consent 

These provisions empower state enforcement and protect the trust at the heart of the benefits system. 

Why It Matters 

The system works when veterans have access to qualified, trained professionals, like those working through CalVet, County Veterans Service Offices, or nationally accredited organizations. 

But it breaks down when unvetted companies use aggressive marketing to lure veterans into unnecessary contracts. These are often disguised as free consultations, fast-track approvals, or guaranteed benefits — none of which they’re legally authorized to provide. 

SB 694 protects against those abuses. But more than that, it affirms a principle: help should actually help. 

Who Supports It 

SB 694 is backed by a diverse coalition of organizations who serve, support, and stand with veterans: 

·       California Association of County Veterans Service Officers (co-sponsor) 

·       Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Department of California

·       American Legion Department of California (co-sponsor) 

·       Disabled American Veterans, Department of California 

·       Military Officers Association of America – CA Council 

·       Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) 

·       National Veterans Foundation 

·       Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) 

·       AMVETS - Department of California 

·       VetFund Foundation 

…and many more. 

We believe veterans deserve support systems that work, and the safeguards to ensure they’re not taken advantage of when seeking help. SB 694 is a strong step toward that goal.

The bill is currently in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. We’ll continue to track its progress and keep you updated on the outcome.

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