Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
The Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment (SAVE) Act, aimed at protecting veterans from deceptive practices under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, passed the House Commerce Committee on Wednesday.
House Bill 0342 (HB0342), sponsored by State Representative Jerome Moon (R-Maryville-District 8), outlines protections regarding the compensation that third-party companies can receive for advising or assisting veterans with benefit matters.
It passed the committee with a vote of 19 ayes and 0 noes. Two members of the committee were recorded as present but not voting: State Representatives Brock Martin (R-Huntingdon-District 79) and Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville-District 95).
Some of the protections provided in the legislation include:
- Prohibiting initial up-front fees.
- Mandating all fees are contingent on a successful outcome.
- Implementing a fee cap.
- Prohibiting direct solicitation of veterans, promising or guaranteeing an increase, and using foreign call centers.
- Prohibiting having access to the veteran’s personal private financial information.
- Mandating disclosure to the veteran that there are free options available to them and mandating signed consent.
- Mandating HIPAA compliant servers.
- Prohibiting taking on a veteran in their first 365 days of discharge.
A violation of the SAVE Act would be considered an “unfair or deceptive act or practice affecting trade or commerce” subject to penalty as defined by the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and further enhanced by the legislation itself.
The companion Senate Bill 0362 (SB0362), sponsored by Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville-District 7), passed on the Senate floor on March 3 with a vote of 30-1.
The only vote against the legislation came from Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31).
House Bill 0342 is scheduled to be heard on the House floor, today (3.31.25) at 2PM.
