Virginia · Senate Bill 892 · 2025 Regular Session

Medical malpractice; certification of expert witness, written opinion.

SB 892 Sponsored by Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. Became law

  1. Introduced Jan 4, 2025
  2. In committee Jan 4, 2025
  3. Passed the Senate Jan 21, 2025
  4. Passed the House of Delegates Feb 19, 2025
  5. To the governor Mar 11, 2025
  6. Became law Mar 21, 2025

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Medical malpractice; certification of expert witness; written opinion. Provides that at the time of service of process of every complaint, counter claim, third party claim, or warrant in debt in a medical malpractice action or every complaint, counter claim, or third party claim in an action for wrongful death against a health care provider, the plaintiff shall be deemed to have obtained a written opinion signed by…

Read the full title (175 words)

Medical malpractice; certification of expert witness; written opinion. Provides that at the time of service of process of every complaint, counter claim, third party claim, or warrant in debt in a medical malpractice action or every complaint, counter claim, or third party claim in an action for wrongful death against a health care provider, the plaintiff shall be deemed to have obtained a written opinion signed by an expert witness stating that the defendant in the action deviated from the applicable standard of care and the deviation was a proximate cause of the injuries claimed. The bill provides that a plaintiff may have separate certifications for standard of care and causation. The bill also requires a plaintiff to certify to the defendant upon whom service of process has been requested to certify within 21 days of the defendant's answer being filed that such plaintiff obtained the necessary expert opinion at the time service was requested or affirming that such plaintiff did not need to obtain a certifying expert witness opinion in accordance with relevant law.

Every action

32 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 24 earlier steps
  1. SenatePrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102120D
  2. CommitteeReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice · Senate Courts of Justice
  3. CommitteeReported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 0-N) · Senate Courts of Justice15–0 vote
  4. SenateCommittee substitute printed 25105058D-S1
  5. SenateRules suspended
  6. SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N)40–0 vote
  7. SenatePassed by for the day
  8. SenateRead second time
  9. SenateReading of substitute waived
  10. SenateCourts of Justice Substitute agreed to
  11. SenateEngrossed by Senate - committee substitute
  12. SenateRead third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)40–0 vote
  13. House of DelegatesPlaced on Calendar
  14. House of DelegatesRead first time
  15. CommitteeReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  16. CommitteeAssigned Courts sub: Civil · House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Subcommittee 2
  17. CommitteePlaced on Courts of Justice Agenda · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  18. CommitteeSubcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) · House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Subcommittee 28–0 vote
  19. CommitteePlaced on Courts of Justice Agenda · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  20. CommitteeReported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N) · House of Delegates Courts of Justice21–0 vote
  21. House of DelegatesRead second time
  22. House of DelegatesMoved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar
  23. House of DelegatesRead third time
  24. House of DelegatesPassed House (91-Y 4-N)91–4 vote
  1. SenateEnrolled
  2. SenateBill text as passed Senate and House (SB892ER)
  3. House of DelegatesSigned by Speaker
  4. SenateSigned by President
  5. SenateEnrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
  6. GovernorGovernor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
  7. GovernorApproved by Governor-Chapter 359 (Effective 07/01/25)
  8. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0359)

Roll calls

6 recorded votes: 3 on the floor, 3 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N) · Full Senate

40–0
Jan 17, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 40 No 0
Party not listed: 2 yes, 0 no Democrats: 19 yes, 0 no Republicans: 19 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 40

Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) · Full Senate

Passed 40–0
Jan 21, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 40 No 0
Party not listed: 2 yes, 0 no Democrats: 19 yes, 0 no Republicans: 19 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 40

Passed House (91-Y 4-N) · Full House of Delegates

Passed 91–4
Feb 19, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 91 No 4 Not voting 5
Party not listed: 19 yes, 1 no Democrats: 45 yes, 0 no Republicans: 27 yes, 3 no
How each member voted

Yes · 91

No · 4

Not voting · 5

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Jan 15, 2025 Senate Courts of Justice Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 15

 Passed 15–0
Feb 10, 2025 House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Subcommittee 2 Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 8

Not voting · 1

 8–0
Feb 14, 2025 House of Delegates Courts of Justice Reported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 21

Not voting · 1

 Passed 21–0

Sponsors

The member who introduced it.

From Virginia's official records (lis.blob.core.windows.net), checked Nov 13, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.