What Happened
Earlier this month, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a workplace violence prevention bill (S.3171). This version of the bill was different from the version filed by the MNA and different from the version that passed unanimously in the House in November 2025 (H.4767).
The bill has now been assigned to a Conference Committee consisting of 3 members from each chamber (Senators Friedman, Lovely and Dooner and Representatives Day, Fluker-Reid and Kane) who are charged with combining the two versions of the bill into a single version to be sent back to each chamber for approval before being sent on to the Governor for signature.
None of this would have been possible without YOUR advocacy. So if you attended our Advocacy Day in May, if you called or emailed your legislator, if you signed a postcard urging action on this legislation- give yourself a round of applause!
But our work- your work– isn’t done yet.
The advocacy of our members, along with our partner organizations, is the reason this legislation finally made it to the floor and was passed unanimously in both chambers. As a reminder, typically only 1-3% of legislation filed in Massachusetts each session actually becomes law. Making it to this step is a huge deal and means that we are on track to have meaningful, measurable and enforceable workplace violence legislation by the end of this session.
Despite some changes in the Senate version, there are still a lot of good things in both versions of these bills that will benefit all healthcare workers.
Take Action: Join this week’s “3-Minute Senate Push.”
None of this would have been possible without YOUR advocacy. So if you attended our Advocacy Day in May, if you called or emailed your legislator, if you signed a postcard urging action on this legislation or if you took part in the weekly “3-Minute Senate Push”- give yourself a round of applause!
What happens now?
The MNA, our partner organizations and other stakeholders will engage with the Conference Committee as they attempt to reconcile the differences between the bills. We also must remain vigilant that unnecessary changes are not made that go against the provisions agreed to by both chambers. The timeline is unclear, but the legislature has until the end of the calendar year to act.
In the coming days and weeks, we will be reaching out to you to have you contact your State Representatives and State Senators to urge them to contact the Conference Committee about what should (and should not) be included in the final version of the legislation. Your advocacy at this stage is just as important as it was getting these bill to the floor for a vote.
Other Ways To Help
In the coming days and weeks, we will be reaching out to you to have you contact your State Representatives and State Senators to urge them to contact the Conference Committee about what should (and should not) be included in the final version of the legislation. Your advocacy at this stage is just as important as it was getting these bill to the floor for a vote.
- Add this logo to any printed materials going to your bargaining unit: (the QR code directs members to this webpage):
- Add this clickable link to your signature in your email this will direct members to this webpage:
- You will have to embed the image and add the link to your email signature yourself.
- The link is: https://action.massnurses.org/safety-first-s-h-4767-workplace-violence-prevention-campaign/
- Download the email image here.
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