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Bill > HF149
IA HF149
IA HF149A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools.(See HF 865.)
summary
Introduced
01/30/2025
01/30/2025
In Committee
01/30/2025
01/30/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/03/2026
05/03/2026
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill modifies provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools. Current Code section 280.28 requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to adopt a policy declaring harassment and bullying in schools, on school property, and at any school function, or school-sponsored activity, regardless of its location, as against state and school policy. Current Code section 280.28 defines “harassment” and “bullying” to mean any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward a student which is based on any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student and which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of certain specified conditions. The bill modifies the definition of “harassment” and “bullying” to strike the language related to any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student. The definitions of “harassment” and “bullying” used in Code section 280.28 are referenced in Code sections 279.82 (intra-district enrollment), 279.83 (notice to parents or guardians related to physical injuries, harassment, or bullying), and 282.18 (open enrollment). The bill strikes the definition of “trait or characteristic of the student” from Code section 280.28. Code section 279.10(2)(b) (school year —— beginning date —— exemption) references the definition of “trait or characteristic of the student” contained in Code section 280.28. The bill makes a conforming change to Code section 279.10(2)(b) to cite to the definition of “trait or characteristic of the student” contained in Code section 280.28, Code 2024.
AI Summary
This bill modifies existing Iowa education law regarding harassment and bullying in schools by removing language that specifically ties such behaviors to a student's actual or perceived traits or characteristics. Currently, the law defines harassment and bullying as actions based on a student's specific traits that create a hostile school environment. The bill changes this definition to simply focus on actions that create an objectively hostile school environment, without referencing the student's personal characteristics. Specifically, the bill amends two sections of the Iowa Code: Section 279.10, which relates to school attendance, and Section 280.28, which addresses harassment and bullying policies. The modification means that schools will now evaluate harassment and bullying based on the nature of the conduct and its impact, rather than linking it to specific personal traits of the student. This change could potentially broaden the scope of what is considered harassment or bullying in educational settings, making the definition more behavior-focused and less dependent on the specific attributes of the students involved.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Withdrawn. H.J. 772. (on 03/21/2025)
Bill Topics
Civil Rights, Minority Issues, and Civil Liberties
- ‐ General Civil Rights
Education
- ‐ Elementary and Secondary Education
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF149 | 01/30/2025 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF149.html | 01/30/2025 |
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