May 16, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com — Heart Presumption Expansion: A key California legislative committee has advanced a bill that would extend the heart trouble presumption to state hospital workers, while holding back several other workers’ compensation-related bills by placing them on the suspense file.
Heart Presumption Expansion Bill Moves Forward
The Assembly Insurance Committee voted to advance AB 1831, authored by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor. The bill seeks to provide state hospital employees, including psychiatric technicians and nurses, with the same legal presumption of industrial causation for heart conditions currently afforded to peace officers and firefighters.
Supporters argue the bill is necessary to recognize the high-stress nature of working in state hospitals and the increased cardiovascular risks associated with that environment.
“This is about fairness,” said McKinnor during the hearing. “These workers face physical and emotional stress daily. They deserve equal protection under the law.”
If passed, the bill would presume that heart conditions developed by covered employees arose out of and in the course of their employment, unless the employer can rebut the claim with substantial evidence.
Other Workers’ Comp Bills Sent to Suspense File
While AB 1831 advanced, the committee moved several other bills to the suspense file, delaying further action until the fiscal impact is analyzed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. These bills include:
- AB 2042, which proposes updates to the Medical-Legal Fee Schedule (MLFS).
- AB 2222, a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) bill that would impact permanent disability benefits.
- AB 1911, which addresses interpreter services in the workers’ compensation system.
Sending these bills to the suspense file doesn’t kill them outright. However, it places them in a holding pattern until the committee conducts a more detailed budget review.
Fiscal Implications Ahead
The suspense file process serves as a gatekeeper for legislation with significant financial implications. While some bills will emerge later in the session, others may stall indefinitely due to cost concerns.
For now, AB 1831 remains in contention and will move on to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers will weigh its potential budgetary impact before advancing it to the full Assembly.
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