Read the full stored bill text
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 767
Introduced by Holdcroft, 36.
Read first time January 07, 2026
Committee: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to veterans; to adopt the Certified Help1
Options in Claims Expertise for Veterans Act. 2
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,3
LB767
2026
LB767
2026
-1-
Section 1. Sections 1 to 8 of this act shall be known and may be1
cited as the Certified Help Options in Claims Expertise for Veterans Act.2
Sec. 2. For purposes of the Certified Help Options in Claims3
Expertise for Veterans Act: 4
(1) Compensation means any money, thing of value, or economic5
benefit conferred on, or received by, any person in return for services6
rendered, or to be rendered, by such person or any other person;7
(2) Veterans benefits matter means the preparation, presentation, or8
prosecution of any claim affecting any person who has filed or expressed9
an intent to file a claim for any benefit, program, service, commodity,10
function, status, or entitlement for which veterans, their dependents,11
their survivors, or any other individuals are eligible under the laws and12
regulations administered by the United States Department of Veterans13
Affairs, the United States Department of Defense, or the Nebraska14
Department of Veterans' Affairs pertaining to veterans, their dependents15
or survivors, or any other individuals eligible for such benefit,16
program, service, commodity, function, status, or entitlement; and17
(3)(a) Person means any natural person, corporation, trust,18
partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association, or any other19
legal entity. 20
(b) Person does not include: 21
(i) An agent, attorney, or other representative accredited or22
regulated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or23
(ii) A state or county veterans service officer.24
Sec. 3. (1) No person may act as a veteran's agent or attorney with25
respect to a veterans benefit matter unless such individual has been26
recognized for such purposes by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of the27
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. 28
(2) Except as permitted under state or federal law, no person shall29
receive compensation, directly or indirectly, for referring any30
individual to another person to prepare, present, or prosecute any31
LB767
2026
LB767
2026
-2-
veterans benefits matter before the United States Department of Veterans1
Affairs, the United States Department of Defense, or the Nebraska2
Department of Veterans' Affairs or to advise, consult, or provide3
assistance regarding any such matter. 4
(3) Unless a veteran signs a waiver acknowledging that the veteran5
is choosing to forego free services available to such veteran, a person6
shall not receive compensation for any services rendered in connection7
with any claim in a veterans benefits matter that is filed within the8
one-year presumptive period of active duty release; or9
(4)(a) A person seeking to receive compensation for advising,10
assisting, or consulting with any individual in connection with any11
veterans benefits matter shall, before rendering any services,12
memorialize the specific terms under which the amount to be paid will be13
determined in a written agreement signed by both parties.14
(b) Compensation for such services shall be purely contingent upon15
an increase in benefits awarded, and if successful, compensation shall16
not exceed five times the amount of the monthly increase in benefits17
awarded based on the claim. 18
(c) Such person shall not charge any initial or nonrefundable fee.19
(d) Such person shall not charge interest on any payment plans20
agreed to by the parties. 21
(e) If the amount owed for compensation in conformance with this22
section exceeds the amount of any past-due benefits awarded to the23
claimant, such person: 24
(i) Shall not require the claimant to pay such total amount in a25
single payment; and 26
(ii) Shall provide the claimant with an option to pay such total27
amount in incremental payments not to exceed the amount of the monthly28
increase of benefits awarded to a claimant pursuant to the claim29
associated with such fee agreement. 30
Sec. 4. A person seeking to receive compensation for advising,31
LB767
2026
LB767
2026
-3-
assisting, or consulting with any individual in connection with any1
veterans benefits matter shall not guarantee, either directly or by2
implication, a successful outcome or that any individual is certain to3
receive specific benefits or a specific level, percentage, or amount of4
benefits. 5
Sec. 5. (1) Any person advising, assisting, or consulting on6
veterans benefits matters for compensation shall provide the following7
disclosure at the outset of the business relationship: "This business is8
not sponsored by, or affiliated with, the United States Department of9
Defense, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Nebraska10
Department of Veterans' Affairs, or any other federally chartered11
veterans service organization. The Nebraska Department of Veterans'12
Affairs and other organizations, including local veterans service13
organizations and other federally chartered veterans service14
organizations, may be able to provide you with this service free of15
charge. Products or services offered by this business are not necessarily16
endorsed by any of these organizations. You may qualify for other17
veterans benefits beyond the benefits for which you are receiving18
services here." 19
(2) The written disclosure shall appear in at least twelve-point20
font in an easily identifiable place in the person's agreement with the21
individual seeking services. 22
(3) The written disclosure agreement shall contain an acknowledgment23
that the individual understands its provisions and the individual shall24
sign such acknowledgment. 25
(4) The person offering services shall retain a copy of the written26
disclosure while providing veterans benefits services for compensation to27
the individual and for at least one year after the date on which the28
service relationship terminates. 29
Sec. 6. A person advising, assisting, or consulting on veterans30
benefits matters for a fee shall: 31
LB767
2026
LB767
2026
-4-
(1) Not utilize international data centers for processing a client's1
personal information; 2
(2) Not gain direct access to any login, username, or password3
information for a client's personal medical or financial data or accounts4
or the client's government benefits; 5
(3) Ensure that any individual who will have access to a client's6
medical or financial information undergoes a background check prior to7
gaining such access. Such background check shall be conducted by a8
reputable source and shall include identity verification and a check of9
criminal history record information; and 10
(4) Maintain a certification from the National Association for11
Veterans Rights or an accreditation from the United States Department of12
Veterans Affairs. 13
Sec. 7. A violation of the Certified Help Options in Claims14
Expertise for Veterans Act shall constitute a deceptive trade practice15
under the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act and shall be subject to16
any remedies or penalties available for a violation of such act.17
Sec. 8. Nothing in the Certified Help Options in Claims Expertise18
for Veterans Act shall be construed to: 19
(1) Prohibit a division of fees between attorneys that is otherwise20
proper under Nebraska law and the Nebraska Rules of Professional Conduct;21
(2) Apply to, limit, or expand the requirements imposed on agents,22
attorneys, or other representatives accredited or regulated by the United23
States Department of Veterans Affairs; or 24
(3) Apply to state and county veterans service officers.25
LB767
2026
LB767
2026
-5-