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VermontH.2592025-2026 SessionHouseWALLET

An act relating to preventing workplace violence in hospitals

Sponsored By: Rep. Mari Cordes

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Mandatory training, reporting, and no retaliation

Beginning July 1, 2025, hospitals set training for staff on safety culture, weapons response, defensive tactics, de‑escalation, safe restraint, crisis intervention, trauma‑informed support, clinician well‑being, and how to work with law enforcement. Hospitals must run a system to document, track, analyze, and evaluate workplace violence, and must teach all employees how to report incidents to the hospital or law enforcement. The system tracks the number of reported incidents and how many go to law enforcement. Hospitals must ban retaliation against anyone who reports, asks for help, or joins or refuses to join an investigation. Each year, hospitals review the plan using the data and share updates with employees, volunteers, the board, and local law enforcement.

Stronger hospital security plans and staffing

Beginning July 1, 2025, hospitals must have a written workplace violence security plan based on a risk check of the emergency department and all patient care areas, with input from medical and nursing leaders. Hospitals must form a planning team that includes direct‑care employees, the regional designated agency, and law enforcement. At least one de‑escalation‑trained employee is present at all times in the emergency department and in all other patient care areas. Hospitals must name a trauma‑informed staff liaison to work with police and support victims. Plans must also set joint rules with police on when an officer stays with a violent patient.

Funding and reporting rules for security costs

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Agency of Human Services works with hospitals to find incentives and funding for workplace violence prevention programs. Hospital budgets and the Board’s reviews consider the costs to run required security plans, and hospitals show support for equal access to mental health care as part of an integrated system. Hospitals file security plan costs with the Board, including capital, program, and staffing costs, as and when the Board requires. Spending needed to carry out a security plan is excluded from this subchapter, and the law does not require hospitals to make capital investments to implement a plan.

Safer ID badges and public warnings

Beginning July 1, 2025, direct‑care staff can request an ID badge that shows only a first name or a first name plus last initial. Hospitals must post clear notices, online and on site, saying threats and assaults are not tolerated and have legal consequences.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rep. Mari Cordes

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on April 29, 2025

    4/30/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor on April 29, 2025

    4/29/2025House

  3. Delivered to the Governor on April 23, 2025

    4/23/2025House

  4. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence

    4/16/2025House

  5. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence

    4/15/2025Senate

  6. New Business/Third Reading

    4/15/2025Senate

  7. 3rd reading ordered

    4/11/2025Senate

  8. Report of Committee of Health and Welfare withdrawn

    4/11/2025Senate

  9. Reported favorably by Senator Cummings for Committee on Health and Welfare with proposal of amendment

    4/11/2025Senate

  10. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

    4/11/2025Senate

  11. New Business/Second Reading

    4/11/2025Senate

  12. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

    4/10/2025Senate

  13. Second Reading

    4/10/2025Senate

  14. Entered on Notice Calendar

    4/10/2025Senate

  15. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Health and Welfare

    3/21/2025Senate

  16. Read third time and passed

    3/19/2025House

  17. Rep. Cordes of Bristol moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to

    3/19/2025House

  18. Action Calendar: Third Reading

    3/19/2025House

  19. Third Reading ordered

    3/18/2025House

  20. Report of Committee on Health Care agreed to

    3/18/2025House

  21. Rep. Cordes of Bristol reported for the Committee on Health Care

    3/18/2025House

  22. Read second time

    3/18/2025House

  23. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

    3/18/2025House

  24. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

    3/14/2025House

  25. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care

    2/19/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 9)

    5/6/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    3/20/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    3/20/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    2/18/2025

    PDF

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