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Senate passes bill to fund hospital incentives addressing workplace violence
Summary
Senate Bill 166 creates a quality-incentive approach for hospitals to reduce workplace violence against health-care workers. Sponsors framed the bill as an incentives-based, flexible approach that can be adapted across facility types; the Senate adopted the measure after debate.
DENVER — The Colorado Senate on March 31 passed Senate Bill 166, which establishes a program of quality incentive payments tied to incidents of workplace violence in hospital settings and a stakeholder-driven process to develop implementation details.
Senator Mullica, sponsor of SB 166, told the Senate the bill addresses rising workplace violence in health care by using incentives rather than criminal penalties. "What we're doing here in SB 166 is unique — it's a way to truly address workplace violence through incentives," Mullica said. He described the bill as aimed at reducing violence, protecting staff and improving patient outcomes by encouraging hospitals to adopt procedures and investments that prevent assaults and support staff safety.
Supporters on the floor described first-person testimony they heard in committee from nurses and other health-care workers about assaults and burnout. Senator Veil, who spoke in favor of the measure in the chamber, recounted personal family experience and said the bill was a necessary start to protect providers. Senator Carson, who also spoke in support, cited the risk to nurses and aides in long-term care and emergency settings and urged action.
The bill passed the Senate; the clerk recorded the adoption on the floor (adopted as of March 31, 2025). Sponsors and supporters emphasized the need for ongoing evaluation and possible expansion of the approach to other workplaces over time.
Senators who spoke on SB 166 included Senator Mullica (sponsor), Senator Veil, Senator Carson and others. The measure passed the Senate the same day it was debated; implementing rulemaking and stakeholder engagement were described as follow-up steps.
The bill creates a stakeholder board structure and allows state agencies to identify federal funding draws and incentive structures to support hospital safety improvements. The floor record shows committee amendments to limit undue administrative burden and to shape the stakeholder board; the Health and Human Services Committee reported the bill to the floor with those changes.
