House File 149 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 149 BY BODEN A BILL FOR An Act modifying provisions related to the harassment or 1 bullying of students enrolled in school districts or 2 accredited nonpublic schools. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1429YH (4) 91 jda/jh
H.F. 149 Section 1. Section 279.10, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code 1 2025, is amended to read as follows: 2 b. An attendance center or school authorized to maintain 3 a year-round calendar must serve all students attending the 4 school and shall not be limited based on student achievement or 5 based on the trait or characteristic of the student as defined 6 in section 280.28 , Code 2024 . 7 Sec. 2. Section 280.28, subsection 2, paragraph b, 8 unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as 9 follows: 10 Harassment and bullying shall be construed to mean any 11 electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward 12 a student which is based on any actual or perceived trait 13 or characteristic of the student and which that creates an 14 objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more 15 of the following conditions: 16 Sec. 3. Section 280.28, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code 17 2025, is amended by striking the paragraph. 18 EXPLANATION 19 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 20 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 21 This bill modifies provisions related to the harassment or 22 bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited 23 nonpublic schools. 24 Current Code section 280.28 requires school districts and 25 accredited nonpublic schools to adopt a policy declaring 26 harassment and bullying in schools, on school property, 27 and at any school function, or school-sponsored activity, 28 regardless of its location, as against state and school 29 policy. Current Code section 280.28 defines harassment 30 and bullying to mean any electronic, written, verbal, or 31 physical act or conduct toward a student which is based on any 32 actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student 33 and which creates an objectively hostile school environment 34 that meets one or more of certain specified conditions. The 35 -1- LSB 1429YH (4) 91 jda/jh 1/ 2
H.F. 149 bill modifies the definition of harassment and bullying to 1 strike the language related to any actual or perceived trait or 2 characteristic of the student. 3 The definitions of harassment and bullying used in 4 Code section 280.28 are referenced in Code sections 279.82 5 (intra-district enrollment), 279.83 (notice to parents 6 or guardians related to physical injuries, harassment, or 7 bullying), and 282.18 (open enrollment). 8 The bill strikes the definition of trait or characteristic 9 of the student from Code section 280.28. Code section 10 279.10(2)(b) (school year beginning date exemption) 11 references the definition of trait or characteristic of the 12 student contained in Code section 280.28. The bill makes 13 a conforming change to Code section 279.10(2)(b) to cite to 14 the definition of trait or characteristic of the student 15 contained in Code section 280.28, Code 2024. 16 -2- LSB 1429YH (4) 91 jda/jh 2/ 2