Governor Newsome helps veterans by closing a loophole created by Congress.

[70sEraVet]

On Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation forcing “claim shark” companies to either systematically change their philosophies by the end of the year or no longer operate, according to CalMatters. Under the law, unaccredited private firms can no longer charge fees to assist veterans in filing claims.
Based on federal law, charging veterans for that aid was already illegal, but two decades ago, Congress eliminated criminal penalties for violations, opening the door for private businesses to pursue veterans with offers of fast, efficient service to file claims and maximize benefits.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2026/02/12/california-passes-law-severely-limiting-veteran-claim-shark-companies.html

The article gives some examples of the exorbitant fees these companies are charging veterans. The same services are offered for free by Veteran Service Officers of the American Legion, VFW, and DAV. And I believe most counties have Veteran Service Officers.

[RandySF]

1. Newsom