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HB 4532

Crimes: assaultive; crime of assaulting a person performing job-related duties; expand to include health professionals. Amends secs. 81, 81a & 81d of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.81 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4534'25, HB 4535'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Alexander and 24 co-sponsors

Michigan bill expands assault laws to classify attacks on health professionals as aggravated offenses with enhanced criminal penalties similar to protections for police.

bill electronically reproduced 06/03/2025
#crimes:assaultive #crimes:penalties #healthoccupations:healthprofessionals
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Bill Summary · HB 4532

Legislative bill overview

HB 4532 expands Michigan's assault law to explicitly include health professionals as protected workers under job-related assault statutes. The bill amends existing assault provisions (MCL 750.81, 81a, and 81d) to categorize assaults against doctors, nurses, and other health professionals as aggravated offenses with enhanced penalties, similar to protections already provided to law enforcement and other designated workers.

Why is this important

Healthcare workers face increasing workplace violence, including physical assaults from patients and visitors. This bill seeks to deter such violence by creating specific criminal charges and potentially harsher penalties for assaulting medical professionals. Enhanced legal protections may improve workplace safety in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings while signaling institutional commitment to worker protection.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Unclear which health professionals qualify (physicians only, or also nurses, EMTs, administrative staff, mental health workers?) and whether the expansion adequately covers all at-risk workers
  • Penalty structure: Enhanced penalties for assaulting health workers versus other occupations may raise fairness questions about why certain workers receive greater legal protection
  • Practical enforcement: Difficulty distinguishing job-related assaults from general assault, and concerns about whether criminal penalties effectively reduce workplace violence compared to facility security improvements or de-escalation training

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

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