The Virginia House Committee on Labor and Commerce advanced a broad slate of bills covering health insurance mandates, utility regulation, labor standards, and consumer protection, with the most contested votes — several splitting 13 to 7 — falling on prevailing wage, workplace violence, heat illness prevention, and maternal mental health coverage; meanwhile, a cluster of bills on app store accountability, farm equipment right to repair, and health insurance reimbursement rates were carried over to 2027.
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Delegate Kilgore argued the bill is 'in the wrong code section' because it allows an employee to go outside the workers' compensation system to sue an employer, contrary to 100 years of case law, and that the Workers Compensation Commission is better suited to handle such disputes. Chair Lopez responded that she would follow up to answer his questions. The bill passed 13-7 over Kilgore's stated opposition.
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“Anytime that an employee has an action against an employer in Virginia, it comes under the workers compensation law. What we're doing here is 100 years of case law, we're allowing an employee to go outside the workers compensation system to sue an employer.”
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Sign in to subscribeI will call to order the Committee on Labor and Commerce. I'm going to ask that you mark your attendance. Clerk will open the roll. We have a quorum. We will begin with all of our subcommittee reports. We'll have the first report from Subcommittee 1. That is Chair Maldonado. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair. We're going to start with two sort of administrative items. The subcommittee recommended continuing to 2027. HB763, patron by delegate Siebold. And HB997, also patro by delegate Sebold. And I so move. It's been properly moved and seconded that we carry over these bills. House Bill 763, House Bill 997 over to the 2027 session. That's a board's vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The motion carries. These two bills will be carried over to 2027 Chair Maldonado. Thank you, Madam Chair. The next bill we have up is HB 808, patron by delegate Helmer. There are amendments and the amendments add quote when reducing a loss in subdivision 18 and removes clause Roman ET1 about providing a detailed explanation regarding any change that reduces the loss estimate. More generally, the insurance unfair claim settlement practices. Modification of loss estimates prohibits…
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