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      By: Louderback H.B. No. 5144       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to prohibiting certain deceptive trade practices by   businesses assisting veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs   claims.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 17, Business and Commerce   Code, is amended by adding Sections 17.465 and 17.466 to read as   follows:           Sec.   17.465.     PROHIBITED PRACTICES FOR BUSINESSES ASSISTING   VETERANS. (a) A business operating in this state which advertises   its services to veterans with regard to claims preparation,   presentation, and prosecution with the Department of Veterans   Affairs is prohibited from engaging in false, misleading, or   deceptive acts or practices, including:                 (1)     causing confusion or misrepresenting directly or   by implication the actual costs of participation in the business's   programs or membership programs;                 (2)     causing confusion directly or by implication about   the types of services offered and provided by the business or the   benefits of such services;                 (3)     offering to provide or providing a veteran with   individualized, personal advice while preparing, prosecuting, or   presenting a veteran's specific disability claims unless offering   such advice through individuals accredited by the Department of   Veterans Affairs;                 (4)     causing confusion regarding its affiliation with   the Department of Veterans Affairs; or                 (5)     accessing or seeking to access the Department of   Veterans Affairs benefit information of a veteran through the   Department of Veterans Affairs' eBenefits portal.           (b)     A business that violates this section is liable to this   state for a civil penalty. A civil penalty assessed under this   subsection may not exceed $25,000 per violation.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.