A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools.
HF 865 modifies how Minnesota school districts and accredited nonpublic schools address student harassment or bullying. It updates existing policies to clarify procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to incidents. The bill directly affects students and school staff by changing the framework for handling these cases within schools. As signed into law on May 27, 2025, it establishes concrete requirements for school districts to follow regarding harassment and bullying prevention and response.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Mar 7, 2025
Signed May 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Enrolled
→
Enrolled with Governor's Action
·
3 edits
·
May 27, 2025
MINOR
This bill modifies Iowa's anti-harassment and anti-bullying laws to clarify how attendance centers with year-round calendars must serve students and to update the definition of harassment and bullying. The changes ensure that attendance centers cannot limit student participation based on achievement or student characteristics, and the definition of harassment/bullying now explicitly includes creating an objectively hostile school environment.
Scope change
The bill applies to attendance centers and schools authorized to maintain year-round calendars, as well as school districts and accredited nonpublic schools covered by the harassment and bullying provisions.
REQUIREMENT
Attendance centers with year-round calendars must serve all students attending the school and cannot limit participation based on student achievement or student traits/characteristics.
DEFINITION
The definition of harassment and bullying now explicitly requires that the conduct creates an objectively hostile school environment and meets specific conditions.
A previous paragraph defining harassment and bullying in section 280.28, subsection 2, paragraph c has been struck from the code.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2025 · House Mar 18, 2025
How they voted
31–16
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 49
Apr 29, 2025
D
Democratic16
100% Nay
R
Republican33
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
16
Key actions
7
Committee
4
May 27, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 32, nays 16.
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report, recommending passage.
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passage.
legislature
Mar 26, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/27/2025 12:00PM Room 217 Conference Room.
legislature
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Salmon, Shipley, and Trone Garriott.
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 64, nays 33.
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HF 865
Scope: IA
Hi! I can help you understand HF 865. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline