SB 771 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Workers' compensation; burial expenses, annual adjustment.

Summary
Workers' compensation; burial expenses; annual adjustment. Increases from $10,000 to $15,000 the amount required to be paid by an employer under workers' compensation provisions for burial expenses. The bill directs the Commissioner of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission to adjust the amount of burial expenses and reasonable transportation expenses required to be paid by an employer by a percentage equivalent to the percentage increase of the United States Average Consumer Price Index published by the U.S. Department of Labor beginning January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 3 edits · Mar 5, 2026
MINOR
The bill was enacted into law, updating the burial expense limit from $10,000 to $15,000. It also establishes a mandatory annual adjustment mechanism starting in 2028 to increase these expenses based on inflation, ensuring the amount keeps pace with the cost of living.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains the same, covering workers' compensation for dependents of deceased employees, but the financial thresholds and adjustment rules have been expanded.
FISCAL

Increased the maximum burial expense payment from $10,000 to $15,000.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Commissioner to annually adjust burial and transportation expenses starting January 1, 2028, based on the percentage increase in the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).

TIMELINE

Changed the document status from 'Introduced' to 'Enrolled', indicating the bill has passed all legislative stages and is now official law.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 4, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 2, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 4, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
28
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 832 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB771ER)
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (99-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Appropriations
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor (13-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26104613D
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jeremy McPike
Jeremy McPike
DDemocratic
VA
29