Bill > HB1405

This bill modifies Indiana's existing laws regarding student bullying by expanding the definition of bullying and establishing comprehensive tracking, monitoring, and intervention requirements for public and charter schools. The bill removes the requirement that bullying be "repeated" and broadens the definition to include any overt, unwanted acts or gestures intended to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm a targeted student, with specific criteria for what constitutes a hostile school environment. Schools will now be required to systematically track bullying incidents involving both victims and alleged perpetrators, including various forms of abuse such as written, verbal, physical, sexual, and cyberbullying. Each school must develop intervention plans, provide support for victims, and analyze bullying data to create targeted prevention strategies. Starting July 1, 2026, schools must compile annual reports summarizing bullying incidents without revealing personal identifying information, which will be submitted to the state department of education, state board, and legislative council. The state board will then review these reports, identify schools with the most frequent bullying incidents, and provide tailored recommendations for reducing such behaviors. The bill also allows parents or emancipated students to submit grievances to schools for violations of these requirements, and schools must establish procedures for resolving such grievances.

Education

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/house/1405/details