Enacts the governing unaccredited representatives defrauding (GUARD) VA benefits act

Latest action Nov 5, 2025

Protects veterans from fraud and unaccredited representatives; institutes a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for violation; establishes the class A misdemeanor crime of unaccredited representation of a veteran; establishes a veterans' services fund.

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Where it stands

Signed into law.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A8476, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Veterans' Service Law.

Committee

Codes · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Codes · New York State Senate, Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs · New York State Senate, Veterans' Affairs · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To make soliciting or receiving compensation in a veterans benefits matter, except as allowed under federal law, a Class A misdemeanor

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 9, 2025Result: passed
(62) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Rules
Senate RulesJun 9, 2025Result: passed
(21) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Angelo Santabarbara, Judy Griffin and 3 more on Agora

Democratic4
Republican1

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Siela Bynoe says this is needed

Veterans are often subject to scams and fraud. Attackers are being more efficient with their approaches and it is imperative to protect them, as they have made significant sacrifices and have laid their lives on the line to protect citizens.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Nov 5, 2025
Signed
SIGNED CHAP.491
NY Senate
Nov 3, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Senate
Jun 13, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading Rules CAL.758
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.758
NY Assembly
Jun 13, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jun 13, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly

Show full history (10 earlier events)

Jun 13, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR A8476
NY Assembly
Jun 11, 2025
Reference Changed to Ways and Means
REFERENCE CHANGED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Jun 9, 2025
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1717
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1717
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
May 19, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
May 16, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS
NY Assembly
May 15, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 22, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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