S. 4646 — SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026

This section reinstates penalties for charging unauthorized fees for preparing, presenting, or prosecuting veterans’ benefits claims under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. It bars violators from recognition as agents or attorneys for one year after a first offense and ten years after each subsequent offense, requires all such assistance to occur under recognized supervision, and defines covered activities to exclude private medical opinions and expert reports. The provision supersedes conflicting state laws on recognition and fees, directs the VA General Counsel to initiate rulemaking within 90 days, and requires annual budget submissions to include staffing and funding estimates for chapter 59 administration.

This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify claimants not represented by an accredited person, upon receipt of an initial claim, of an online tool listing accredited, suspended, or excluded representatives and of a website to report unauthorized representation and fees charged. It requires the Secretary to maintain the searchable online tool, updated at least quarterly, and to include fee warnings with links to the tool on all VA claim-filing portals. It also requires a report to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees within 180 days on recommended improvements to recognition processes under section 5904.

This section requires each public-facing website and online tool of the Department of Veterans Affairs to issue warnings to claimants about agents and attorneys, including those lacking recognition by the Secretary, and adds a message discouraging veterans from sharing Department or bank account login credentials. It directs the Secretary to implement these requirements through the Chief Veterans Experience Officer, effective 180 days after enactment.

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on all Department of Veterans Affairs claim forms a question on whether the claimant was charged for assistance or coaching when gathering information or filing the claim, along with an option to name the person who provided it.

This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an accreditation system for agents and attorneys under chapter 59 of title 38, United States Code. The system must maintain 99.9 percent uptime, enable self-certification of recognition requirements, accept client complaints on violations of sections 5904(b) and 5905(b), and integrate with systems administering section 3 of the Act.

This section prohibits calls to any telephone number assigned to a federal department or agency when made using equipment that can, without further human intervention after initial activation, make repeated calls and provide or receive information, if the equipment is operated by a third party other than the individual or entity to whom the information relates.