How I Voted: Violence Prevention in Health Care Facilities

Protecting Health Care Workers from Workplace Violence

Bill: H.4237, House Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care Facilities Bill

Date of Vote: November 19, 2025

What Problem Was This Bill Trying to Solve?

Health care workers face increasing levels of workplace violence while providing care to patients across Massachusetts. According to the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, incidents involving physical assaults, verbal abuse, and threats occur regularly in health care settings, particularly in emergency departments, inpatient units, and behavioral health facilities.

Violence against health care workers not only puts employees at risk but can also negatively affect patient care, workforce retention, and the overall functioning of health care facilities. Existing protections were often inconsistent across facilities, and many providers sought stronger standards for prevention, reporting, and employee safety.

This legislation establishes statewide requirements designed to reduce workplace violence, improve reporting and accountability, strengthen protections for health care workers, and support safer working environments.

What Does the Bill Do?

Requires health care facilities to conduct annual workplace violence risk assessments with employee and labor participation.

• Requires facilities to develop written workplace violence prevention plans that include:

  • Hazard mitigation strategies.

  • Employee training programs.

  • Post-incident reviews and debriefings.

  • Crisis response procedures.

• Requires annual reporting of workplace violence incidents to the Department of Public Health and district attorneys while protecting personal privacy.

• Authorizes civil penalties for health care employers that fail to comply with workplace violence prevention requirements.

• Establishes criminal penalties for assaults against health care workers while they are performing their duties:

  • Assault causing bodily injury may result in imprisonment, fines, or both.

  • Assault causing serious bodily injury carries enhanced penalties.

• Provides paid leave for certain health care employees who suffer bodily injury due to workplace violence without requiring them to use accrued sick, vacation, or personal leave.

• Allows victims of workplace violence to use their employer’s or labor organization's address rather than their home address in court filings related to the incident.

• Requires state agencies to study and recommend alternatives for individuals experiencing behavioral or mental health crises in order to reduce unnecessary involvement with the criminal justice system.

• Includes safeguards to protect patient privacy and ensure compliance with federal confidentiality laws.

How I Voted

I voted YES.

Why I Voted This Way

Health care professionals play a vital role in caring for our communities, often working in high-stress environments where they face increasing risks of violence and abuse. No one should have to fear for their safety while providing medical care or supporting patients and families.

This legislation takes a comprehensive approach to workplace safety by requiring prevention plans, improving reporting and accountability, strengthening protections for employees, and providing support for workers who are harmed on the job. It also recognizes the need to address underlying behavioral and mental health challenges while maintaining important privacy protections.

A strong health care system depends on a skilled workforce that feels safe and supported. By improving workplace safety and creating clearer standards for prevention and response, this legislation helps protect both health care workers and the patients they serve.

I supported this legislation because it strengthens workplace safety, supports health care professionals, promotes accountability, and helps ensure that Massachusetts health care facilities remain safe places for both workers and patients.