SB 25-282
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
SB 25-282: PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS SEEKING BENEFITS
Prime Sponsors:
Sen. Ball; Pelton B.
Rep. Feret
Published for: Senate State Affairs
Drafting number: LLS 25-1035
Fiscal Analyst:
Josh Abram, 303-866-3561
josh.abram@coleg.gov
Version: Initial Fiscal Note
Date: April 7, 2025
Fiscal note status: The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Summary Information
Overview. The bill creates a deceptive trade practice for certain prohibited actions when assisting with a
veterans’ benefits matter.
Types of impacts. The bill is projected to affect the following areas on an ongoing basis:
Minimal State Revenue
Minimal State Workload
Local Government
Appropriations. No appropriation is required.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts
Type of Impact
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
State Revenue $0 $0
State Expenditures $0 $0
Transferred Funds $0 $0
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
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April 7, 2025 SB 25-282
Summary of Legislation
The bill limits the amount of compensation a person can receive to assist veterans with a
veterans’ benefits matter. A person may only be compensated for advising, assisting, or
consulting on a veterans' benefits matter if the person secures an increase in the benefits
awarded. Compensation is limited to the lesser of $9,000, or 20 percent of any past-due benefits
a veteran actually receives after an increase in monthly benefits is awarded as a result of the
person's assistance. The bill puts other limitations on assisting veterans with benefit issues,
including prohibiting compensation for a claim filed within one year of a members’ release from
active duty, and requiring a written business agreement and specific disclosures for any
compensation a person receives for assisting with a veterans’ benefit matter.
A person violating any of the bill’s limitations or requirements engages in a deceptive trade
practice. If the attorney general or district attorney collects any civil penalty from enforcing
these actions as deceptive trade practice, any revenue from fines is deposited in the Colorado
State Veterans Trust Fund in the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
State Revenue
Civil Penalties
Under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, a person committing a deceptive trade practice
may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $20,000 for each violation. Additional penalties may be
imposed for subsequent violations of a court order or injunction. This revenue is credited to the
Colorado State Veterans Trust Fund, rather than the General Fund like most deceptive trade
practice penalties. This revenue is classified as a damage award and is not subject to TABOR.
Given the uncertainty about the number of cases that may be pursued by the Attorney General
and district attorneys, as well as the wide range in potential penalty amounts, the fiscal note
cannot estimate the potential impact of these civil penalties.
Filing Fees
The bill may increase revenue to the Judicial Department from an increase in civil case filings.
Revenue from filing fees is subject to TABOR.
State Expenditures
Department of Law
Workload in the Department of Law will minimally increase if deceptive trade practice
complaints are filed. The department will review complaints under the bill and prioritize
investigations as necessary within the overall number of deceptive trade practice complaints and
available resources. Page 3
April 7, 2025 SB 25-282
Judicial Department
The trial courts in the Judicial Department may have an increase in cases filed under the
Colorado Consumer Protection Act from the addition of a new deceptive trade practice. It is
assumed that veterans’ benefits assistance providers will abide by the law and that any violation
of the legislation will result in a minimal number of new cases. The fiscal note assumes that this
can be accomplished within existing resources and that no change in appropriations is required.
Local Government
Similar to the state, if district attorneys receive deceptive trade practice complaints related to
the new deceptive trade practice under the bill, workload will increase to investigate complaints
and seek relief when appropriate. It is assumed most such cases will be handled at the state
level by the Attorney General.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect 90 days following adjournment of the General Assembly sine die, assuming
no referendum petition is filed.
State and Local Government Contacts
Judicial
Law
Military Affairs
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit the General Assembly website.