Bills · S 986
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 986State and local government operationsRacial and ethnic relations
Safe Schools Improvement Act
INTRO MAR 12· LAST ACTION MAR 12
READING
7MIN
COSPONSORS
40
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because bullying and harassment significantly harm students' ability to learn and thrive in school, leading to issues like higher dropout rates, more absences, and lower grades. It addresses a widespread problem that affects students' physical and mental health. If this bill becomes law, schools would have more specific, federally-backed requirements to protect students, particularly those often targeted due to their race, gender identity, disability, or other characteristics.
Currently, anti-bullying policies can vary widely between schools and states. This bill would create a more consistent and robust framework nationwide, ensuring clear complaint procedures and public reporting of incidents. Without this bill, the effectiveness and scope of anti-bullying efforts would remain at the discretion of individual states and local districts, potentially leaving many students vulnerable to unaddressed harassment. It aims to create a uniform standard for addressing and preventing bullying.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires states receiving federal education grants to make local schools establish policies that prohibit bullying and harassment that interferes with a student's education or creates a hostile environment.
This ensures a baseline standard for anti-bullying measures in schools that receive federal funding, making policies more consistent.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that anti-bullying policies specifically cover conduct based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex traits), disability, or religion.
This provides explicit protection for groups often targeted by bullying, ensuring these specific categories are addressed in school policies.
PROVISION 03
Requires schools to provide annual notice of their anti-bullying rules and establish clear grievance procedures with named officials and resolution timelines for complaints.
This makes anti-bullying policies transparent and creates a formal, accessible process for students and parents to report incidents and seek resolution.
PROVISION 04
Requires local schools to collect and publicly report annual data on bullying and harassment incidents at the school level, without identifying individuals.
This provides transparency and allows for tracking the effectiveness of anti-bullying efforts and identifying problem areas.
PROVISION 05
Directs the Secretary of Education to conduct biennial evaluations of anti-bullying programs and policies and report findings to Congress.
This ensures ongoing federal oversight and assessment of how well these policies are working across the country.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 40
D· Virginia
YRS IN OFFICE
13
BILLS LED
109
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 39 REP 0 IND 1
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAR 12
Introduced in Senate
MAR 12
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 986
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMar 12, 2025
Last actionMar 12, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 12, 2025
Senate BillS 986State and local government operationsRacial and ethnic relations
Safe Schools Improvement Act
INTRODUCED MAR 12, 2025· LAST ACTION MAR 12, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
7 min
COSPONSORS
40
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
