A bill on Governor Kim Reynolds’s desk would change the definition of bullying in Iowa Code.

Representative for District 23 Ray Sorensen says that House File 865 is about clarity, and making it easier to define the act of bullying. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio what would change.

“So right now the definition of bullying in our code is, it’s been all over the place. This bill tightens that up by defining bullying as repeated and targeted behavior that creates a hostile environment. So it doesn’t matter why a student is being bullied. What matters is that they’re being bullied and the school needs to step in.”

Sorensen mentions that this takes the guesswork out of identifying bullying, and makes it so that every student can feel safe and supported. Opponents to the bill say that by changing the definition and moving from what they call a “no-tolerance” approach, it almost allows for individuals to get away with bullying if it’s the first offense.