SENATE BILL NO. 207

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations

on February 25, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Pekarsky)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 32.1-283.9, relating to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy; protocol.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 32.1-283.9 as follows:

§ 32.1-283.9. Investigation of deaths involving Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy; protocol.

A. For the purposes of this section, "Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy" or "SUDEP" means the sudden, unexplained death of a healthy individual with epilepsy occurring under circumstances that are benign and excluding causes such as trauma, drowning, or status epilepticus.

B. In any case involving a cause of death determined to be SUDEP pursuant to a death investigation as required by § 32.1-283, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall release to the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia the decedent's name, date of death, and, if known, next of kin contact information. The Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia shall provide to the decedent's next of kin, if known, information regarding the benefits of and process for submitting the deceased's medical information, including information about the deceased's history of epilepsy and seizures, to the North American SUDEP Registry.