A 7977 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Enacts the End Bullying and Discrimination in Schools Everywhere (BEACON) Act

Summary

Strengthens protections against discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on actual or perceived immigration status, and to improve implementation and oversight under the Dignity for All Students Act.

Issues: ✓ Immigration

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Apr 16, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

A7977 → A7977A · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add four new sponsors and update its procedural status. The text of the law itself was modified to clarify that harassment protections apply to students from mixed-status families and to require schools to designate a specific Dignity Act coordinator distinct from the principal to handle complaints.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly extends protections to students from mixed-status families, ensuring coverage for those with family members who have different immigration statuses.

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit language clarifying that protections extend to students from mixed-status families.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for every school to designate a specific Dignity Act coordinator who cannot be the principal or a staff member primarily responsible for student discipline.

Updated training guidelines to explicitly include immigration status as a protected category for staff training.

TECHNICAL

Added four new sponsors (Taylor, McDonald, Shimsky) and updated the bill's procedural history to reflect committee discharge and amendment.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO EDUCATION

lower

Jun 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 7977A

lower

Jun 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO EDUCATION

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors