For decades, a Washington law has empowered prosecutors to pursue felony charges against those who assault healthcare workers. Which, on a base level, makes sense. Healthcare workers don’t want to be harmed while doing their jobs.

But some are worried that a potential felony charge – which would apply to both physical attacks, and typically minor offenses like spitting on someone – doesn’t prevent those attacks from happening and moves those with severe mental health challenges into a criminal justice system that worsens their condition. 

That’s led state lawmakers to propose an adjustment to the law broadening the penalties for those who assault healthcare workers – which would exempt people experiencing mental health crisis.

The bill – HB 1220 – passed out of committee last week and is now headed to the full House. 

Seattle Times’ investigative reporter Sydney Brownstone has been following the story. 

Guests:
Sydney Brownstone, investigative reporter for the Seattle Times

Related Links: 
Health care worker assault law could see reform this year | The Seattle Times
A law to protect WA health care workers keeps patients in crisis | The Seattle Times
Find HB 1220 here

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

For decades, a Washington law has empowered prosecutors to pursue felony charges against those who assault healthcare workers. Which, on a base level, makes sense. Healthcare workers don&rsquo;t want to be harmed while doing their jobs.
But some are worried that a potential felony charge &ndash; which would apply to both physical attacks, and typically minor offenses like spitting on someone &ndash; doesn&rsquo;t prevent those attacks from happening and moves those with severe mental health challenges into a criminal justice system that worsens their condition.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s led state lawmakers to propose an adjustment to the law broadening the penalties for those who assault healthcare workers &ndash; which would exempt people experiencing mental health crisis.
The bill &ndash; <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1220&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">HB 1220</a> &ndash; passed out of committee last week and is now headed to the full House.&nbsp;
Seattle Times&rsquo; investigative reporter Sydney Brownstone has been following the story.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Sydney Brownstone, investigative reporter for the Seattle Times</li>
</ul>
Related Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mental-health/wa-health-care-worker-assault-law-could-see-reform-this-year/">Health care worker assault law could see reform this year | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mental-health/a-law-to-protect-wa-health-care-workers-keeps-patients-in-crisis/">A law to protect WA health care workers keeps patients in crisis | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1220&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">Find HB 1220 here</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

State lawmakers are proposing an adjustment to a decades-old law that would broaden the penalties for those who assault healthcare workers and would exempt people experiencing mental health crisis.

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