Kansas can lead the nation on helping veterans access benefits | Opinion

Kansas has long prided itself on being a state that stands behind its veterans.

From tax relief to employment preferences and outdoor access benefits, Kansans have consistently supported those who served.

That commitment reflects a simple belief: when men and women step forward to defend this country, we owe them not just gratitude, but results.

Yet for many veterans, securing the Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits they have earned remains far more difficult than it should be.

The disability claims process is notoriously difficult to navigate. Even minor errors in paperwork can lead to months-long delays, leaving veterans waiting on benefits they have already earned.

Nationwide, hundreds of thousands of claims remain pending, and in Kansas, veterans receive VA disability compensation at a rate well below the national average.

For many veterans, these delays and accessibility gaps are not just administrative frustrations — they create unnecessary financial strain.

Veterans navigating this system today generally have several options.

They can file claims on their own, which many quickly discover is a complex and time-consuming process.

They can seek help from Veteran Service Organizations, which provide valuable assistance but often operate with limited staff and resources.

Attorneys are another option, though they typically become involved only after a claim has been denied and an appeal is necessary.

Yet despite this variety of assistance options, access to timely, reliable support early in the process has, for too long, remained uneven.

That is where private claims consultants have increasingly stepped in.

These firms help veterans prepare and submit claims from the outset, often working on a contingency basis so they are only paid if disability benefits are secured.

However, these services currently operate under regulatory uncertainty.

Unlike VSOs and attorneys, a pathway to VA accreditation does not exist for the current model employed by these firms, and as such, there have been few consistent standards governing how they operate, what they can charge, or how they must handle sensitive personal information.

That ambiguity benefits no one, least of all the veterans the system is meant to serve.

Fortunately, House Bill 2626 offers a pragmatic solution.

After years of debate and refinement, lawmakers in Topeka have an opportunity to bring real change to the lives of the tens of thousands of veterans who call Kansas home.

Rather than eliminating the assistance of unaccredited private actors — as some have advocated — the bill establishes clear guardrails.

It prohibits referral fees, caps consulting fees, and bans upfront or nonrefundable charges.

It requires transparent, written agreements and mandates clear disclosures, so veterans understand their options, including the availability of free services.

It also includes strict protections for veterans’ personal data and imposes meaningful penalties for those who violate the law under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.

Some critics have raised concerns that this bill will somehow empower “claim sharks” to prey on veterans and have highlighted legal challenges to similar efforts in other states, particularly pointing to Louisiana.

These concerns deserve to be taken seriously. But they miss important context and overlook why reform is necessary.

Leaving the current system unchanged is what has allowed bad actors to operate unchecked.

HB 2626 addresses that gap by setting clear standards and accountability where little exists today.

Louisiana’s earlier law, meanwhile, ran into legal challenges because it attempted to regulate attorneys and other federally accredited representatives — areas governed by federal law.

Kansas lawmakers took a different approach and focused their legislation solely on private, non-accredited consultants. These are distinctions that should help allay those concerns.

Ultimately, this debate is not about choosing between public and private support.

It is about ensuring veterans have access to both, within a framework that is transparent, accountable, and fair.

Kansas has an opportunity to lead on that front.

Gov. Laura Kelly has consistently expressed support for Kansas service members and their families.

Signing HB 2626 would align with that commitment.

It would protect veterans from bad actors, bring clarity to an uncertain marketplace, and preserve the freedom of Kansas veterans to decide how they pursue the benefits they have earned.

— Todd Tiahrt is a former U.S. Representative from south-central Kansas who served on the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriation Committee.