Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HB 974 — Workers' compensation; employee may satisfy burden of proof by circumstantial evidence.

Last action — House sustained Governor's veto

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 07, 2024.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 76% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 6 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Workers' compensation; presumption that certaininjuries arose out of employment. Provides that in any claim for workers' compensation, where the employee suffers an unexplained fall in the course of employment, such employee may satisfy the burden of proof by circumstantial evidence, testimony of others, other evidence, or any combination thereof.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

20 added · 30 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill HB 974 clarify how certain circumstances in workers' compensation cases are handled, specifically related to injuries and deaths that occur at work. The bill now includes automatic assumptions that accidents are work-related when specific conditions are met, such as the employee being unable to testify due to injury or death occurring at the accident site. This change is important because it makes it easier for workers or their families to receive compensation, reducing the burden of proof they must meet to show the accident was work-related.

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Previous
Latest
SESSION ENGROSSED 24101852D HOUSE BILL NO.
SESSION ENREPRINT VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E N An presumption that certain injuries arose out of employment.a, relating to workers' compensation;
974 House Amendments in [ ] - February 5, 2024 A BILL to amend and reenact § 65.2-105 of the Code of Virginia, relating to workers' compensation;
R O [H 974] L Approved Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
presumption that certain injuries arose out of employment.
L 1.
–––––––––– Patron PrReferred to Committee on Labor and CommerceBy Request) –––––––––– E Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
N § 65.2-105.
E A.
Presumption that certain injuries arose out of and in the course of employment.
In any claim for compensation, where the employee (i) is physically or mentally unable to testify as confirmed by competent medical evidence, (ii) dies with there being no evidence that he ever regained consciousness after the accident, (iii) dies at the accident location or nearby, or (iv) is found dead where he is reasonably expected to be as an employee, and where the factual circumstances are of and in the course of employment, it shall be presumed the accident arose out of and in the course oft of employment, unless such presumption is overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence to the contrary.
G as confirmed by competent medical evidence, (ii) dies with there being no evidence that he everRtestify regained consciousness after the accident, (iii) dies at the accident location or nearby, or (iv) is found dead where he is reasonably expected to be as an employee, and where the factual circumstances are of sufficient strength from which the only rational inference to be drawn is that the accident aroSe out of and in the course of employment, it shall be presumed the accident arose out of and in the course of contrary.t, unless such presumption is overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence to theS B.
H B.
In any claim for compensation, where the employee suffers an unexplained fall in the course of employment, [ it shall be presumed that the fall arose out of the employment, unless such presuDption is overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence to the contrary the employee may satisfy the burden of proof by circumstantial evidence, testimony of others, other evidence, or any combination thereof ] .
In any claim for compensation, where the employee suffers an unexplained fall in the cour9e of others, other evidence, or any combination thereof.proof by circumstantial evidence, testimony 4f R
B E / / 2
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Action History

  1. House sustained Governor's veto

  2. Vetoed by Governor

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024

  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024

  5. Signed by President

  6. Signed by Speaker

  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate reprinted (HB974ER)

  8. Impact statement from DPB (HB974ER)

  9. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB974ER)

  10. Enrolled

  11. Passed Senate (20-Y 19-N)

  12. Read third time

  13. Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)

  14. Reported from Commerce and Labor (9-Y 6-N)

  15. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

  16. Constitutional reading dispensed

  17. Impact statement from DPB (HB974E)

  18. VOTE: Passage (54-Y 45-N)

  19. Read third time and passed House (54-Y 45-N)

  20. Printed as engrossed 24101852D-E

  21. Engrossed by House as amended HB974E

  22. Amendments by Delegate Keys-Gamarra- withdrawn

  23. Committee amendment agreed to

  24. Read second time

  25. Passed by for the day

  26. House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

  27. Read first time

  28. Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (14-Y 8-N)

  29. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (5-Y 3-N)

  30. Impact statement from DPB (HB974)

  31. Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #2

  32. Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

  33. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101852D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 144 not signed on · 65 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (144)

144 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 144 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed Senate (20-Y 19-N)

Passed 20 Yea · 19 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 201901
Total 201901
% of votes cast 50%48%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Not Voting
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Nay
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Nay
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Nay
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Nay
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Nay
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
McGuire, John J., III — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Nay
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Nay
Tara A. Durant — Nay
Timmy French — Nay
Todd E. Pillion — Nay
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)

Passed 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 39001
Total 39001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Not Voting
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Commerce and Labor (9-Y 6-N)

Passed 9 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 9600
Total 9600
% of votes cast 60%40%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Nay
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

VOTE: Passage (54-Y 45-N)

Passed 53 Yea · 45 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 534501
Total 534501
% of votes cast 54%45%0%1%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Nay
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Nay
Coyner, Carrie E. — Not Voting
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Nay
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Ennis, N. Baxter — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Nay
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Green, W. Chad — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Higgins, Geary — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Nay
Knight, Barry D. — Nay
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Nay
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Milde, Paul V. — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Nay
Owen, David — Nay
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Nay
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (14-Y 8-N)

Passed 14 Yea · 8 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 14800
Total 14800
% of votes cast 64%36%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Nay
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (5-Y 3-N)

Passed 5 Yea · 3 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5301
Total 5301
% of votes cast 56%33%0%11%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Not Voting
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Nay
Michael B. Feggans — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

labor
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 974 do?
Workers' compensation; presumption that certaininjuries arose out of employment. Provides that in any claim for workers' compensation, where the employee suffers an unexplained fall in the course of employment, such employee may satisfy the burden of proof by circumstantial evidence, testimony of others, other evidence, or any combination thereof.
Who sponsors HB 974?
HB 974 is sponsored by Karen Keys-Gamarra, Nadarius E. Clark, Rozia A. Henson, Jr., and Shelly A. Simonds.
What is the current status of HB 974?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 974?
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