Signed! Pair of New Laws Will Support Veterans and Their Families

DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed two bills into law to support veterans and their families seeking government services. 

SB25-282, sponsored by Senator Matt Ball, D-Denver, and Representative Lisa Feret, D-Arvada, will protect veterans from paying too much for veterans’ services from unaccredited bad actors. 

“Too often, those who have bravely served our country are misled into paying thousands of dollars in fees and even going into debt for services they receive for free from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs,” Ball said. “Without preventing honest consultants in the industry from doing business, this law will address the backlog in claims from the DMVA while cracking down on bad actors who mislead and defraud our nation’s veterans.” 

"My fellow veterans deserve fair and safe access to services that help them get benefits they earned through their service and sacrifice for our country,” said Feret. “‘Claim sharks’ rake in millions of dollars each year from excessive fees on service members' disability claims, sometimes even when they don't even win. Our law helps create guidelines in this unregulated space to protect disabled veterans while allowing companies address the backlog of disability claims. I will not back down as dark money groups try to scam veterans who put their life on their line for our country."

Cosponsored by Senator Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, and Representative Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, SB25-282 protects veterans from unaccredited consultants, often called “claim sharks,” who charge money to help navigate the application process to receive benefits from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). 

The new law mirrors the regulations the federal government uses to regulate social security benefits from the Social Security Administration. It requires that businesses must unambiguously notify veterans that they can receive the same services for free from the DMVA, clearly state that they are not affiliated with the DMVA, and limit the amount of money consultants can receive from veterans’ back pay.

HB25-1083, sponsored by Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, and Representatives Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, and Mary Bradfield, R-El Paso County, supports military families by expanding driver license extensions to dependents of active duty members.

“Veterans’ families make some of the same sacrifices and difficult choices to serve our country that the service members in their families do,” said Michaelson Jenet. “I’m proud to sponsor this new law that extends some of the same critical benefits to them as a way to honor those sacrifices.”

“As a former military spouse, I understand the importance of supporting and honoring military members and their families,” said Hamrick. “Current law allows service members outside of Colorado to extend their expired license for up to three years, and this new law expands this benefit to dependents of military service members. I’m proud to sponsor this law to better support Colorado military families and recognize the sacrifices they make for our state and country.”

Currently, if a Coloradan’s driver’s license expires while they are on active duty outside of Colorado, state law allows the expiration date to be extended for three years. Beginning January 1, 2027, HB25-1083 will also allow dependents of these service members to benefit from this three-year extension.