Maryland2026Enacted
HB0014
New Rules for Reporting Bullying and Harassment in Maryland Schools
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:24 AM
In one sentence
This law changes how schools collect data on bullying by requiring forms to note if personal characteristics motivated the act, asking county boards to report specific trends about student groups, and setting rules for sharing summary information.
What it does
- Requires school reporting forms to list any actual or perceived personal characteristic believed to have motivated a bullying incident in whole or substantial part.
- Mandates county boards of education to submit annual summaries of bullying reports to the State Board by January 31 each year.
- Orders schools to report data on specific student groups if there is a substantial increase, decrease, or disproportionate rate of incidents for those groups after an investigation confirms personal characteristics were motivating factors.
- Requires the State Department of Education to set standards defining these reporting conditions by July 1, 2027.
- Allows county boards to create anonymous two-way electronic tip programs and receive state grants if included in the budget.
Who it affects
- County Boards of Education
- Public schools under the jurisdiction of these county boards
- The State Department of Education
- Students, parents, guardians, close adult relatives, and school staff who report incidents
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not specify the exact definition of a 'substantial increase,' decrease, or disproportionate rate until standards are set by July 1, 2027.
- Schools must remove all information that could identify an individual student before sharing data publicly.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Bullying, harassment, or intimidation
- Intentional conduct that creates a hostile educational environment by substantially interfering with a student's education or well-being.
- Personal characteristics
- Traits including race, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ancestry, physical attributes, socioeconomic status, familial status, or ability/disability.
- Anonymous two-way electronic tip program
- A system allowing students and others to report bullying without revealing their names while still permitting follow-up communication.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Altering the contents of a certain bullying, harassment, or intimidation form to require, if the incident is believed to have been motivated in whole or in substantial part by certain actual or perceived personal characteristics, identification of those personal characteristics, if known; requiring each county board of education to report information about groups with certain characteristics under certain circumstances; requiring the State Department of Education to establish certain standards by July 1, 2027; etc.
Official activity
Bill history
- Approved by the Governor - Chapter 775