New laws will make it harder for people who assault emergency services workers to avoid jail by claiming they were impaired by drugs and alcohol at the time of the offence.

A law already applies a minimum six-month prison sentence for anyone who assaults and injures an emergency services worker.

But the changes will narrow the range of excuses offenders can use in court, such as mental impairment from self-induced drug and alcohol use, Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy says.

Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy. Credit:Joe Armao

Cases of assaults on emergency workers will also be heard in the County Court, rather than the Magistrates Court, which deals with lower-level crimes.