Bill drafted by wife of heart attack survivor unanimously passed by General Assembly

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Sally Mullikin's husband survived a massive heart attack in Hanover County in 2024 because of an automated external defibrillators (AED). The House of Delegates and Senate unanimously passed a bill she drafted to make them more accessible.

AEDs are used during cardiac arrest, delivering an electric shock to maintain a heartbeat. 

It was the summer of 2024 when now 75-year-old Jack Mullikin had a heart attack in Pole Green Park during a softball game. His teammates sprung into action using an AED just a few yards from the field, Jack's heart stopping five times.

“He wouldn’t be with us," Sally said. "The doctor confirmed that. He had to have the AED.” 

Sally began working with state senator Bill Stanley, a Republican who represents District 7, to make AEDs more accessible, bringing what they’re calling “Jack’s Law” to life. They drafted the bill together over the summer.

“I called everyone on every committee and wrote letters and emails, called legislative assistants," Sally said.

It's been over a year and a half since Jack's heart attack put him in the hospital for six days.

“I truly learned how they make the sausage," she said. "Every single committee, it just flew right through.” 

She got ahold of Senator Stanley in September of 2024 and told him Jack’s story. Stanley, a recreational baseball and softball player and owner of a motor race team, resonated with it.

“We’ve had incidents on the track where someone has suffered and could use something like that," he said. "We have them here in the Capitol. We have them stuck on the walls. We need to have them where these things occur and where they can occur. Especially at our ball fields and our public baseball fields, football fields, soccer fields.” 

Sally said she wasn't sure if Stanley was going to submit the bill this year, but got a call on New Years’ Eve that it was a go.

Jack's Law, technically Senate Bill 87, states AEDs will be in local government indoor and outdoor sporting facilities. The size of the facility will determine how many AEDs are installed. For example, facilities under 10,000 square feet will have one AED, 10,000 to 30,000 square feet will have two AEDs, and so on.

Each AED must be in a clearly marked and publicly accessible location, properly maintained and tested and registered with the local emergency medical services.

"To be able to do something like this really important thing that’s gonna save lives and have it unanimously agreed to by Democrats and Republicans- it's critical," Stanley said.  

Darcy Mays, president of the Hanover Senior Softball League, was there the day of Jack’s heart attack. 

"We could’ve done compressions for who knows how long, but I don’t think he would’ve survived," he said.

Mays became president in 2022 and has played 12 seasons with the league. He said the board, who are all CPR certified, decided getting an AED near the field was a good idea.

The East Hanover Volunteer Fire Department paid for it and the county agreed to install it in the spring of 2024, just a few months before Jack's heart attack. 

"Seeing the impact that it’s had on this family that we have a survivor, I think it’s just awesome to know that the politics was set aside and what was the right thing to do has actually happened," Mays said.  

While the House and Senate voted “yes” on Jack’s Law, Governor Abigail Spanberger still has to give her stamp of approval. Although he hasn't talked to her about it, Senator Stanley is confident she will. 

“Of all the bills she’s gonna be looking at, this may be and hopefully is an easy one for her to sign," he said.  

It will go into effect on July 1, 2028. Stanley said this gives localities time to budget for the AEDs and make sure they’re buying the best equipment. 

"If we leave this earth today, we know that we’ve got something out there that’s going to help someone somewhere along the way," Sally said. “Each day really is a gift and to treat each other with a little more respect and caring and see each other differently.”