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HD 1856

An Act requiring human service employers to develop and implement programs that prevent workplace violence

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Brady and 1 co-sponsor

HD 1856: An Act Requiring Human Service Employers to Prevent Workplace Violence OverviewBill Number: HD 1856 Title: An Act requiring human service employers to develop and impleme

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Bill Summary · HD 1856

HD 1856: An Act Requiring Human Service Employers to Prevent Workplace Violence

Overview

Bill Number: HD 1856
Title: An Act requiring human service employers to develop and implement programs that prevent workplace violence
Status: Proposed bill
Introduced: November 29, 2025

Purpose and Intent

This proposed legislation aims to address the growing issue of workplace violence in the human services sector. The bill's primary goal is to mandate that all human service employers, including healthcare, social work, and community-based organizations, develop and implement comprehensive programs to prevent violence against their employees. The rationale is to improve worker safety, reduce the physical and psychological toll of workplace attacks, and ensure a secure environment for the provision of critical public services.

Key Provisions

  • Requires all human service employers to establish a workplace violence prevention program within 6 months of the bill's enactment
  • Mandates that prevention programs include the following elements:
    • Hazard identification and risk assessment procedures
    • Employee training on recognizing and responding to violent situations
    • Protocols for reporting, investigating, and documenting violent incidents
    • Strategies for securing facilities and protecting workers
    • Provision of counseling and support services for affected employees
  • Empowers the state Department of Labor to oversee compliance and issue citations for non-compliance
  • Establishes a grant program to provide funding assistance to smaller human service organizations for implementing prevention programs

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Employees in the human services sector, including healthcare workers, social workers, counselors, and community outreach staff, would benefit from improved safety and reduced risk of workplace violence
  • Human service employers, ranging from large healthcare systems to small non-profit organizations, would be required to dedicate resources to developing and maintaining violence prevention programs
  • Clients and service recipients in the human services sector may experience more secure and stable service delivery as a result of the enhanced safety measures

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

HD 1856 was introduced in the state legislature on November 29, 2025 and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development for initial review and public hearings. If passed by the committee, the bill would then proceed to a full vote in both the state House and Senate. Given the bipartisan support for addressing workplace violence, the legislation is expected to move through the legislative process over the next several months, with the goal of enactment by mid-2026.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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