House broadens enhanced assault penalties for health‑care workers to more facility settings, approves five‑year sunset

Representative Spendlove introduced the first substitute to House Bill 32, saying healthcare workers have faced increased threats and physical assaults since the pandemic. The sponsor said the substitute extends existing emergency‑room protections to the whole health facility and raises certain covered class B misdemeanors to class A misdemeanors for the defined conduct; the measure includes a five‑year sunset.

Lawmakers questioned whether the bill would change treatment of aggravated assaults (which remain felonies) and how the measure would affect people with mental illness or patients under the influence of medication. Representative Abbott and others asked about psych‑unit scenarios; the sponsor and other supporters said mens rea and existing protections for the mentally ill remain part of statutory analysis. Supporters, including prosecutors and police chiefs, argued the narrower class‑A enhancement would help prosecutors pursue cases that previously were declined because of a narrow emergency‑room definition.

After extended floor debate addressing scope and mental‑health concerns, the House approved the substitute and the bill passed on a recorded vote (56 yes, 16 no) and will be transmitted to the Senate.