For Immediate Release 9/9/25
Contact: Meghan Callahan, mc@callahanpa.com
Today, California’s Senate Judiciary Committee chose to kick the can down the road and delay enacting needed protections for veterans from claim sharks. Rather than voting up or down on SB 694, they voted to send the bill to rules where the bill’s fate is uncertain. SB 694 seeks to rein in these illegal operators, whose business model is based on charging thousands of dollars for a free service, while engaging in shady practices designed to maximize the fees they squeeze from vulnerable, disabled veterans
The following statement in response to Senate Judiciary’s actions can be attributed to David West, Marine Corps veteran and president of the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers.
“I’m in disbelief that the Senate Judiciary Committee chose to stand with companies who prey on disabled veterans rather than our brave men and women who served. Remarkably, Senator Umberg – a veteran himself – led the assault on our efforts to protect veterans.
“SB 694 is supported by every veterans’ organization in the state, labor, public safety, seniors and business. The only opposition is from claim shark companies and their astroturf groups, including a trade association led by MAGA loyalist, Peter O’Rourke. Every legislator who voted for a slow death of SB 694 should be ashamed. They had a chance to protect veterans today, and they chose to let claim sharks continue to operate indefinitely.
“The claim sharks’ entire business model is based on illegally charging thousands of dollars for a free service, while engaging in shady practices designed to maximize the fees they squeeze from vulnerable, disabled veterans. Rather than play by the rules, they want to rewrite them.
“No veteran should be misled, harassed or bullied by claim sharks looking to make a buck off their sacrifices. But that’s who these companies are, and that’s what they do. CACVSO will continue to fight for veterans, because that’s what we do.”
SB 694 supporters include:
SB 694 Supporter List (Sept 8)
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta
- AARP California
- American Legion Auxiliary Post 272
- American Legion Department of California
- AMVETS – Department of California
- CalAsian Chamber of Commerce
- California African American Chamber of Commerce
- California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
- California Association of Highway Patrolmen
- California Association of Veterans Service Agencies (CAVSA)
- California Department of Justice
- California Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (CAL-EANGUS)
- California Highway Patrolmen
- California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- California Professional Firefighters
- California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
- California State Commanders Veterans Council
- California Veterans Assistance Foundation
- City and County of San Francisco
- Consumer Federation of California
- Consumer Protection Policy Center/University of San Diego School of Law
- County of Contra Costa
- County of Humboldt
- County of Kern
- County of Los Angeles
- County of Monterey
- County of Nevada
- County of Placer
- County of Sacramento
- County of San Bernardino
- County of San Luis Obispo
- County of Ventura
- Disabled American Veterans, Department of California
- Homefirst
- IBEW 1245
- Korean War Veterans Association
- Latino Caucus of California Counties
- Long Beach Area Veterans Collaborative
- Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
- Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative
- Military Officers Association of America,
- California Council of Chapters
- Militaryengagement.com
- Military Veterans Affairs County of Los Angeles
- National Veterans Foundation
- Nation’s Finest
- Nevada County Veterans Service Officer
- New Directions for Veterans
- Paralyzed Veterans of America
- Peace Officers Research Association of California
- Public Counsel
- Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC)
- Scottish-American Military Society
- SEIU California
- Swords to Plowshares
- TurboVets
- U.S. Vets
- Ventura County Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (VCC-MOAA)
- Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
- Veterans Village of San Diego
- Vetfund Foundation
- Vetsadvocacy
- Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
- Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
- Village for Vets