All Roll Calls
Yes: 216 • No: 0
New YorkS 81502025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Enacts the governing unaccredited representatives defrauding (GUARD) VA benefits act
Sponsored By: Siela Bynoe (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRSCODES
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Stronger fee protections for veterans
The law bans seeking, agreeing to charge, charging, or receiving unlawful fees for veterans’ benefits matters, including attempts. Federal law controls allowed fees for federal VA matters; New York law and veterans agency rules control state agency matters. People harmed by a covered violation can sue to stop it and seek actual damages or $2,500, whichever is greater. Courts may also award costs and reasonable lawyer fees to a winning plaintiff. These remedies do not take away other available legal rights.
New fraud reporting help for veterans
New York’s veterans agency must provide fraud information for veterans, service members, their families, and caregivers. Required tools include public announcements, statewide outreach, a toll-free complaint hotline, email, and three statewide seminars each year. A dedicated website must explain lawful fees, accreditation checks, reporting tools, disciplinary decisions, enforcement actions, and victims’ rights. The agency must coordinate market monitoring and outreach with consumer protection officials, the Attorney General, and local veterans’ groups. It must establish standard complaint procedures with state officials and report program activities and recommendations in its annual report.
New grants for veterans’ claims help
New York creates a veterans’ services fund supported by covered civil penalties, legislative funding, grants, gifts, bequests, and investment interest. Money can fund only grants to VA-certified veterans’ service groups that help claimants prepare, present, and pursue benefits claims. The state veterans agency determines awards; payments require its approval and the Comptroller’s audit. By February 1 each year, the agency must publicly report spending, award methods, recipients, amounts, purposes, and financial plans. The Comptroller must also certify prior-year penalty and donated deposits by February 1; the law sets no funding or grant amount.
Stronger penalties for veterans’ benefits fraud
Covered violations are deceptive business acts, and courts may impose civil fines up to $10,000 per violation. Certain consumer fraud targeting people seeking veterans’ benefits services also carries an additional civil penalty up to $10,000. Courts consider knowledge, disregard of recipients’ rights, harm, and vulnerability; court-ordered repayment to victims takes priority over civil penalties. Unlawful compensation is a class A misdemeanor, and the new criminal offense requires knowing and willful conduct. The Attorney General may prosecute; stated penalties include up to $1,000 or one year in jail, with fines up to $3,000 for repeat offenses.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Siela Bynoe
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Steve Rhoads
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 6/13/2025
Assembly floor vote
Yes: 133 • No: 0
Senate vote • 6/9/2025
FLOOR Vote
Yes: 62 • No: 0
committee vote • 6/9/2025
Rules Committee Vote
Yes: 21 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
SIGNED CHAP.491
11/5/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
11/3/2025SenateRETURNED TO SENATE
6/13/2025HousePASSED ASSEMBLY
6/13/2025HouseORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.758
6/13/2025HouseSUBSTITUTED FOR A8476
6/13/2025HouseREFERRED TO CODES
6/9/2025HouseDELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
6/9/2025SenatePASSED SENATE
6/9/2025SenateORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1717
6/9/2025SenateCOMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
6/9/2025SenateREFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
5/15/2025Senate
Bill Text
Original
5/15/2025
Related Bills
S 9051, Prohibits artificial intelligence companions from using features which are considered unsafe for minors
S 10643, Relates to labor peace agreements and the cannabis industry wage board; repealer
A 5175, Requires certain security features and warning labels on baby monitors
S 8953, Establishes the Clarence Center Volunteer Exempt Firefighter's Benevolent Association
S 9968, Establishes the Harris Hill Volunteer Fire Company Benevolent Association
A 10052, Extends the effectiveness of the authority of the town of Red Hook to impose real estate transfer taxes and to deposit revenue from such taxes into a community preservation fund