Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:

A 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.)

Subcommittee members: Hayes-CH, Levin, Stone

Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Time: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

Location: RM 103

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

02-10-2025

Courtney Collier

Please vote yes on HF 149Bullying between students should not be qualified or disqualified based upon the demographics of the student.Sadly we have a bullying problem in our Iowa schools. We must make it possible for them to be addressed and rectified no matter the demographics of the students involved.

02-10-2025

Anita Fischer

ONE out of every FIVE middle and high school students report being bullied each year. My friends 14yearold daughter is one of them. She was stabbed in her shoulder with a mechanical pencil by the bully and had the marks to prove it. The teacher did nothing. Another notable time was when the bully slapped her in the face. This time, the teen slapped the bully back. Once again, the teacher who clearly saw it, did nothing. Anxiety, depression, and suicide because of bullying has become an epidemic in our schools. Thank you for addressing this. Please pass this bill.

02-11-2025

Liz L

As a parent who has seen the public school system drop the ball on bullying way too many times this change will help those who bully be held accountable. It will also give those who are being bullied a chance to have a safe and healthy school experience. My brother was bullied extensively throughout middle and high school with little to no consequences for those who were hurting him. He eventually dropped out and got his GED. Those in charge did nothing to help him for years. His mental and physical health both suffered during this time. No child should be stuck going through this sort of abuse because the demographics don't check a box so everyone's hands are tied.

02-11-2025

Amy Dea

I am in favor of HF 149. Students that are bullied should have the right to be protected no matter what their demographics are. Bullying is a huge problem in all of our schools. Lets make the teaching environment comfort for all students.

02-11-2025

Geralyn Jones

Vote YES on the passage of this bill. I believe it is racial discrimination to consider the race of each student when determining whether a situation is considered one of bullying or a conflict instead of looking directly at the acts that raise this into question. Thank you prioritizing this and I look forward to supporting this through.