# Virginia SB972: Emergency Response Exposure Grant Fund and Program.

Virginia SB972, Emergency Response Exposure Grant Fund and Program., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-05 (Left in Finance and Appropriations) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB972-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB972
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Emergency Response Exposure Grant Fund and Program.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-02-05, Left in Finance and Appropriations
- Sponsor: Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Finance and Appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (15 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Emergency Response Exposure Grant Fund and Program. Creates the Emergency Response Exposure Grant Fund and Program to award grants to localities to support certain emergency responders who were exposed to a qualifying emergency, defined in the bill. The bill requires funding to be used for annual cancer screenings and health care expenses incurred by eligible emergency responders, defined in the bill, in the event such emergency responders are diagnosed with cancer from toxic material exposure. The bill permits funding to be used for out-of-pocket medical expenses not otherwise covered by insurance, workers' compensation, or other available funding. The Department of Fire Programs shall administer the Fund and Program.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-15 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (5)

- 2025-02-05: Left in Finance and Appropriations (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB972) (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25104198D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014653.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014652.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014653.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014652.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-SB972-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).