The General Assembly passed a bill making it easier for a physician to serve ringside at certain sporting events, and extending the period a promoter has to declare any earnings.

Before the bill passed, physicians who examine boxers, martial artists or wrestlers before they enter the ring must have held a medical license in Virginia for at least five years.

A physician will now be required to have held a U.S. license for only three years, in addition to holding a Virginia license, according to the bill. The physician must also be approved by the director of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, or DPOR. The executive branch department regulates certain professions and occupations and provides licenses.

Del. Jay Leftwich, R-Chesapeake, introduced House Bill 2573 due to the limited number of available physicians, he told a legislative panel. The number of U.S. physicians has declined, and there will be an estimated shortage of 86,000 physicians by 2036, according to a report by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

DPOR deputy director Steve Kirschner supported the bill.

“Historically, we’ve had probably anywhere between three to five doctors in the state that work these events,” Kirschner said. “And it’s very challenging to cover the whole state and all the events that happen with that low number of doctors.”

Virginia ranked 27th in availability of active physicians as of March 2024, according to a report by the public policy organization Cicero Institute.

“Frequently, we’ll have doctors who are licensed in other states that are willing to come into Virginia and get licensed in Virginia and do it,” Kirschner said.

But the law impeded qualified and experienced doctors from helping if they wanted to, he added.

“We would have to say, ‘well, you have to be licensed in Virginia for five years’ and they basically walk away,” Kirschner said.

Boxing and mixed martial arts need physicians present where they are doing weigh-ins and during the events.

“They’re monitoring them for the actual physical health of the fighters, but also they’re doing some wound care there on site as well,” Kirschner said.

The bill also extends the period from 24 hours to two weeks after the event ends that a promoter has to report gross receipts, ticket sales and profits to DPOR.

This allows the promoter to collect and process the fees, and turn them in a timely fashion, “which they’re really unable to do now,” Leftwich told lawmakers.

Betting or wagering at an event or exhibition bout at any point in the building where the event is held remains illegal and punishable.

Lawmakers unanimously supported the bill on its way through both chambers, with one dissenting vote in the Senate.

The bill heads to the governor, who has until March 24 to sign, amend or veto legislation. The bill was brought to lawmakers by the executive agency, which means it had the administration’s prior approval to move forward, according to Kirschner.