YourVoice.Now Summary
Criminal Justice & Due ProcessWorkers & JobsAssaulting a hospital worker on the job would become a federal crime — up to 10 years, or 20 with a weapon or injury.
Criminal Justice & Due Process
Knowingly assaulting someone who works for a hospital, or for a company hired by a hospital or medical site, would be a federal crime if it gets in the way of their work. It could bring a fine, prison, or both.
If the attacker uses a deadly or dangerous weapon or causes a bodily injury, the top prison term doubles from 10 to 20 years.
The top term also rises to 20 years when the attack happens in an area under a federal public health emergency or a presidential disaster or emergency declaration.
A person charged could avoid conviction by proving they have a physical, mental, or intellectual disability and that the conduct clearly and directly came from it.
Workers & Jobs
The Attorney General could give grants to hospitals for de-escalation training, mental-health crisis training, panic buttons, cameras, metal detectors, and safe rooms. Congress would allow $25 million a year from 2025 through 2034.
More about this bill
If you work at a hospital, an attack on you at work could become a federal crime. Anyone who knowingly attacks a hospital worker and gets in the way of their job could get up to 10 years in prison. The limit would rise to 20 years if the attacker uses a weapon or causes an injury. It would also rise to 20 years during a declared health emergency or disaster. The rule would cover staff at many kinds of hospitals. That includes children's, cancer, rehab, and small rural hospitals. It would also cover workers from firms hired by a hospital or other medical site. A person could fight the charge by showing their disability directly caused what they did. Hospitals could also apply for Justice Department grants to stop violence. Congress would allow $25 million a year for 2025 through 2034. The money could pay for training to calm tense moments, panic buttons, cameras, and metal detectors. The bill was introduced in May 2025 and sent to the House Judiciary Committee, with no action since.
Congressional Summary
Save Healthcare Workers Act This bill establishes a new criminal offense for knowingly assaulting hospital personnel during the performance of their official duties in a manner that interferes with their performance of the duties or limits their ability to perform the duties. Violations are subject to a fine, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both. Violations that involve dangerous weapons, result in bodily injury, or are committed during a declared public emergency are subject to an enhanced penalty of a fine, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both. Additionally, the bill authorizes grants to reduce the incidence of violence at hospitals, including violence or intimidation against hospital personnel in the performance of their duties.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-05-05
- Date Added
- 2026-10-02
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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