Oppose HF 865 – This Bill Protects Bullies, Not Students

I’m writing to urge you to firmly and publicly oppose House File 865. This bill strips essential protections from Iowa’s anti-bullying law by removing references to specific traits like race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and religion. Though it claims to promote “neutrality,” the real effect is dangerous: it erases the very categories of students most often targeted for harassment. Here’s what this bill will do: • It silences victims of identity-based hate. A Black student called racial slurs or a trans student being deadnamed won’t have the state’s recognition that their abuse is rooted in identity. This bill tells them their experience doesn’t matter. • It protects bullies, not the bullied. Without reference to race, gender, or other traits, harassers can claim their abuse isn’t discriminatory—just “personal.” That opens the door for administrators to ignore patterns of hate and bias. • It increases trauma and dropout risk. National data shows that girls, students of color, and LGBTQ+ youth face higher risks of depression, anxiety, and academic failure due to bullying. Removing these protections makes those outcomes more likely. • It makes patterns of discrimination invisible. Schools will no longer be able to track identity-based bullying or respond to systemic problems. It hides the truth instead of solving the problem. HF 865 is not about fairness. It is about indifference. It’s a legislative green light for bullies and a betrayal of every student who needs the law to protect them—not ignore them. Please do not allow this bill to become law. Reject HF 865 and stand with students—especially those most vulnerable to hate and violence.