Testimony of Josh Smith, CEO of VBG, Before the Nevada Assembly Committee on Government Affairs

Las Vegas, NV - Chairwoman Considine and members of the Committee,

My name is Josh Smith and I am the CEO and Co-Founder of Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG) and here today to express my concerns with Assembly Bill 145 as currently written. VBG provides Veterans with a private, legal and federally compliant service that assists Veterans in navigating the VA’s disability claims process to help ensure they receive the full benefits that they have earned.

VBG strongly supports Assemblyman D’Silva’s commitment to protecting our Veterans and actually believes that the bill does not go far enough in some areas, as it is absent necessary guardrails which includes disclosure requirements and a fee cap. However, and most unfortunate, Assembly Bill 145 as currently written, prohibits the services of honorable for-profit companies like VBG from serving Veterans.

VBG is based in Nevada and I am proud to share that we’ve grown our company to over 200 employees, primarily based in Las Vegas, while successfully assisting thousands of Nevada veterans over the past decade in navigating the VA disability claim process. At VBG, our commitment remains unwavering: we put veterans’ interests first.

All our clients sign a one-page disclosure upfront acknowledging that free services are available. Unfortunately, the bill as currently written would reduce their freedom of choice and access to Veteran services, making it harder for Veterans to receive the benefits they have earned. As a member of the Assembly Government Affairs Committee, we urge you to consider our concerns and amend Assembly Bill 145 so that we can lend our full support.

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