# Virginia SB892: Medical malpractice; certification of expert witness, written opinion.

Virginia SB892, Medical malpractice; certification of expert witness, written opinion., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. (Republican); status to governor, last action 2025-03-21 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0359)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB892-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB892
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Medical malpractice; certification of expert witness, written opinion.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-04
- Last action: 2025-03-21, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0359)
- Sponsor: Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (215 yes, 4 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

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.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-19 | House | Passed House | pass | 91 | 4 |   |
| 2025-02-14 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-01-21 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-17 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-15 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (30)

- 2025-03-21: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0359) (Governor)
- 2025-03-21: Approved by Governor-Chapter 359 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB892ER) (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-19: Passed House (91-Y 4-N) (House)
- 2025-02-19: Read third time (House)
- 2025-02-19: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2025-02-18: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-10: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-07: Assigned Courts sub: Civil (House)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-02-05: Read first time (House)
- 2025-02-05: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2025-01-21: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Reading of substitute waived (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Read second time (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Committee substitute printed 25105058D-S1 (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-04: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-01-04: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102120D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-03-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072671.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072670.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1062207.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1062206.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-15: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1020923.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1020922.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013730.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013729.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072671.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072670.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1062207.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1062206.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1020923.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1020922.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013730.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013729.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB892-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).