RICHMOND, VA – In a strong show of support for Virginia’s frontline law enforcement, Delegate Mitchell Cornett introduced House Bill 130 during the 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly. The legislation seeks to amend Section 65.2-402 of the Code of Virginia, expanding workers’ compensation presumptions for certain cancers to include sheriffs and deputy sheriffs who have served at least five years.

Currently, Virginia law provides a rebuttable presumption that specific occupational cancers – including respiratory cancer, cancer of the urinary tract, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and mesothelioma – are work-related for certain public safety personnel such as full-time firefighters, Virginia Department of State Police officers, regional firefighting crews, deputy fire marshals, town sergeants, deputy sheriffs in certain capacities, and municipal park rangers engaged in fire suppression. These professionals qualify if the cancer results in death or disability and they meet the service requirement, with diagnosis occurring within specified time frames post-employment.

HB130 builds on this framework by explicitly adding sheriffs and their deputy sheriffs to the list of protected employees. This change recognizes the parallel risks these elected constitutional officers and their teams face daily. Sheriffs, responsible for law enforcement, court services, and jail operations across Virginia’s 95 counties and 38 independent cities, encounter hazardous materials routinely. Deputy sheriffs patrol communities, respond to emergencies, handle evidence contaminated with toxic substances, and confront illegal drugs and chemicals that pose significant carcinogenic threats.

Introduced early in the session, HB130 advanced through initial hurdles with notable momentum. It was referred to the House Committee on Commerce and Labor, where a panel reported the bill unanimously, signaling broad recognition of its merit. The measure then moved to the House Appropriations Committee, but was ultimately left there on February 18, 2026, preventing further progress before the session adjourned.

Proponents emphasize that the presumption streamlines access to workers’ compensation benefits, eliminating the burdensome need to prove direct causation between job duties and cancer diagnosis – a challenge often insurmountable due to long latency periods in disease onset. For sheriffs and deputies, exposures come from diverse sources: firefighting alongside other responders, processing fentanyl-laced evidence, handling biohazards in jails, and vehicle pursuits involving collisions with chemical spills. This bill addresses a gap in protections, ensuring these dedicated public servants receive fair compensation without protracted legal battles.

Delegate Cornett, a Republican serving in the House of Delegates, spearheaded the effort as chief patron, underscoring a commitment to bolstering support for local law enforcement. The partisan sponsorship highlights Republican priorities in valuing those who uphold public safety in Virginia’s rural and urban areas alike. Sheriffs play a pivotal role as independently elected leaders, tailoring policing to community needs while maintaining constitutional duties.

The bill’s text precisely reenacts the section to insert ‘sheriffs and deputy sheriffs’ into the eligibility clause, mirroring language for peer professions. It maintains safeguards like the five-year service threshold and time-limited diagnosis windows, balancing worker relief with system integrity.

Although HB130 did not reach the House floor for a vote, its unanimous subcommittee passage reflects underlying consensus on the necessity of equitable protections. Stakeholders note that similar expansions have strengthened recruitment and retention in high-risk fields, with presumptions proven effective in states nationwide. In Virginia, where sheriffs oversee vast territories and critical infrastructure, such measures affirm appreciation for their sacrifices.

As the 2026 session concludes, the legislation’s tabling in Appropriations prompts reflection on prioritizing public safety funding. Republicans continue advocating for policies that back the badge, ensuring heroes combating crime and chaos receive commensurate safeguards. Future sessions may revisit this critical reform, vital for sustaining Virginia’s robust sheriff network.

The full implications of HB130 resonate beyond immediate beneficiaries, reinforcing a culture of accountability and gratitude toward those enforcing law and order. By closing this protective gap, the bill embodies principled governance focused on real-world hazards faced by America’s guardians.