Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 8 R · 2 D cosponsors

SB 1209 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, further providing for Veterans' Trust Fund; in veterans' organizations, further providing for grants to veterans' service officer programs and providing for veterans' claims assistance standards; and imposing penalties.

Last action — Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, March 18, 2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 11, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 10 sponsors

    1 primary, 9 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (8 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Preventing Profiteering from Veterans' Benefits

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

159 added · 180 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Bill SB 1209 include the removal of a requirement for the department to publish a list of all registered service providers on their website. While the registration process still includes important details about service providers, such as their fees and the services they offer, the lack of a publicly accessible list may make it harder for veterans to find and verify these providers. This change raises concerns about transparency and accessibility for veterans seeking assistance with benefits.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
1489 PRINTER'S NO.
1489 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
1508 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
1209 2026 INTRODUCED BY PENNYCUICK, MASTRIANO, ROBINSON, LAUGHLIN, FONTANA, BROWN, STEFANO, BAKER, VOGEL AND MILLER, MARCH 11, 2026 REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, MARCH 11, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, further organizations, further providing for grants to veterans' service officer programs and providing for veterans' claims assistance standards;
1209 2026 INTRODUCED BY PENNYCUICK, MASTRIANO, ROBINSON, LAUGHLIN, FONTANA, BROWN, STEFANO, BAKER, VOGEL AND MILLER, MARCH 11, 2026 SENATOR MASTRIANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AS AMENDED, MARCH 17, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, further organizations, further providing for grants to veterans' service officer programs and providing for veterans' claims assistance standards;
(1) A county director of veterans affairs or an employee 20260SB1209PN1508 - 2 - of a county veterans affairs office acting in the course of official duties.
(1) A county director of veterans affairs or an employee 20260SB1209PN1489 - 2 - of a county veterans affairs office acting in the course of official duties.
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBLISH A LIST <-- OF ALL REGISTERED ENTITIES ON ITS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE.
(3) A description of services offered, including whether 20260SB1209PN1508 - 3 - assistance includes claim preparation, presentation, consultation or related support.
(3) A description of services offered, including whether assistance includes claim preparation, presentation, 20260SB1209PN1489 - 3 - consultation or related support.
(v) A notice that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs does not require paid assistance to file a veterans' benefits claim and that filing a claim through a paid provider does not guarantee a favorable 20260SB1209PN1508 - 4 - outcome or a specific disability rating.
(v) A notice that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs does not require paid assistance to file a veterans' benefits claim and that filing a claim through a paid provider does not guarantee a favorable outcome or a specific disability rating.
(vi) An acknowledgment signature line for the veteran, service member or eligible dependent confirming receipt of the disclosure.
20260SB1209PN1489 - 4 - (vi) An acknowledgment signature line for the veteran, service member or eligible dependent confirming receipt of the disclosure.
20260SB1209PN1508 - 5 - (2) Promise, guarantee or imply a specific outcome, veterans' benefits level, disability rating or increase in veterans' benefits.
(2) Promise, guarantee or imply a specific outcome, 20260SB1209PN1489 - 5 - veterans' benefits level, disability rating or increase in veterans' benefits.
(6) REPRESENT THAT A PERSON HAS SPECIAL ACCESS TO <-- GOVERNMENT CLAIMS SYSTEMS OR THE ABILITY TO EXPEDITE VETERANS' BENEFITS CLAIMS.
(3) A PERSON SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION MAY NOT REQUEST, <-- REQUIRE OR INDUCE A VETERAN, SERVICE MEMBER OR DEPENDENT TO PROVIDE LOGIN CREDENTIALS, PASSWORDS, AUTHENTICATION TOKENS OR OTHER SECURE ACCESS INFORMATION FOR ANY FEDERAL OR STATE 20260SB1209PN1508 - 6 - VETERANS' BENEFITS SYSTEM.
(i) five times the amount of the monthly increase awarded based on the claim;
20260SB1209PN1489 - 6 - (i) five times the amount of the monthly increase awarded based on the claim;
(j) Veterans' Trust Fund.--Money collected under this 20260SB1209PN1508 - 7 - section shall be deposited into the Veterans' Trust Fund.
(j) Veterans' Trust Fund.--Money collected under this section shall be deposited into the Veterans' Trust Fund.
In addition to criminal penalties, the <-- department may impose a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 per violation MAY BE IMPOSED.
In addition to criminal penalties, the department may impose a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 per violation.
<-- (l) Enforcement.--The Office of Attorney General may <-- investigate a complaint, issue a subpoena, review the record of a person subject to this section and take administrative action necessary to enforce this section.
(l) Enforcement.--The Office of Attorney General may investigate a complaint, issue a subpoena, review the record of 20260SB1209PN1489 - 7 - a person subject to this section and take administrative action necessary to enforce this section.
(L) ENFORCEMENT.--A CONTRACT ENTERED INTO IN VIOLATION OF <-- THIS SECTION SHALL BE VOID AND UNENFORCEABLE, AND A PERSON MAY NOT COLLECT OR RETAIN COMPENSATION OBTAINED THROUGH A CONTRACT ENTERED INTO IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.
THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS MAY REFER SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION TO:
(1) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL;
(2) THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT ATTORNEY;
OR (3) ANY RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL LICENSING BOARD.
"Service member." An individual who serves in the United 20260SB1209PN1508 - 8 - States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or the Pennsylvania National Guard.
"Service member." An individual who serves in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or the Pennsylvania National Guard.
20260SB1209PN1508 - 9 -
20260SB1209PN1489 - 8 -
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Action History

  1. Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, March 18, 2026

  2. Second consideration, March 18, 2026

  3. First consideration, March 17, 2026

  4. Reported as amended, March 17, 2026

  5. Referred to VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, March 11, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 9 co-sponsors · 243 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (9)

Not signed on (243)

243 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 243 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1209 do?
Preventing Profiteering from Veterans' Benefits
Who sponsors SB 1209?
SB 1209 is sponsored by Nick Miller (Democratic), Rosemary M. Brown (Republican), Tracy Pennycuick (Republican), Doug Mastriano (Republican), Devlin J. Robinson (Republican), Daniel Laughlin (Republican), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), Elder A. Vogel (Republican), and Lisa Baker (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 1209?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 11, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 1209?
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