Last week, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted legislation to strengthen protections for public transit workers by expanding laws on assault and battery against public employees. This legislation was signed by Gov. Maura Healey on Dec. 3.
The bill, H.4645, An Act relative to assault and battery upon a transit worker, ensures that all transit employees receive the same heightened legal protections as other public employees while performing their jobs, whether employed directly by public transit agencies or employed by private contractors such as commuter rail operators.
“Whether working on a bus, train, or ferry, public transit workers are essential to our transportation systems and they should not be subjected to violence or hostility,” said State Sen. Brendan Crighton. “I’m proud to have joined with my colleagues in quickly passing these enhanced protections and increased penalties to make sure that every transportation worker feels safeguarded by these measures. Thank you to the transit workers and advocates who bravely shared their stories of facing assault on the job and thank you to the Senate President for her leadership on this issue.”
House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. said, “No one should ever be subject to physical abuse and violence when doing their jobs. The unfortunate reality is that the MBTA reported over 600 assaults on its employees in 2024 alone, 33 of which included a weapon and 38 of which involved the use of a bodily fluid in the attack. That is unacceptable. As a co-sponsor of an earlier version of this bill, I am pleased to see the House and Senate implement these enhanced penalties to help protect our hard-working public transit workers.”
State Rep. Dan Cahill said, “No one should face violence for doing their job. Transit employees make our communities possible, and yet too many have been put at risk simply for showing up to work. With this bill, we are taking decisive action to hold offenders accountable and ensure safer conditions for both workers and passengers.”
State Rep. Jenny Armini said, “Our transit workers deserve dignity and safety on the job, and assaulting them is an attack on the people who keep Massachusetts running — which is why this legislation makes clear that such violence will not be tolerated.”
State Rep. Sean Reid said, “Our transit workers are on the front lines, showing up for us everyday. This is an important step in the right direction, as we must continue to address the alarming rise in attacks to ensure workers’ safety and well being.”
State Rep. Jessica Giannino said, “Protecting our public transit workers means safeguarding the people who keep Massachusetts moving every single day. The Carmen’s Union has been tireless in advocating for those on the front lines, standing up for the safety, respect, and dignity of their members and all transit employees. I’m grateful to Speaker Mariano for his steadfast leadership, and I’m proud of the strong collaboration between the House and Senate to advance this critical legislation and ensure our public transit workers receive the protections they deserve.”
Jim Evers, president of the Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589, responded in support of the bill, saying, “This is a significant victory for everyone who rides or operates public transit. Our MBTA bus and train operators deserve to be safe on the job and commuters deserve to know that public transportation is safe. This bill will ensure that those who assault public transit workers will be held accountable and that our valued transportation employees are protected. Our transit workers keep Massachusetts moving every day and deserve our utmost respect. This legislation adds transportation personnel to the list of public employees who need extra protections so they can do their job safely and efficiently and improve our communities for all.”
This bill adds public transit workers to the list of public employees — including police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel — who are protected from assault and battery, with heightened penalties for any individual who commits such a crime.
Additionally, it applies the law to assaults on privately employed contractors who provide public transit services, such as the Keolis operators and ticket collectors who operate the commuter rail. The bill also clarifies the definition of assault by specifically recognizing that projecting bodily fluids, such as spitting or throwing substances like urine, constitutes assault against a public worker. Offenders would face a sentence ranging from a minimum of 90 days to two-and-a-half years in a house of correction, a fine between $500 and $5,000, or both.
