HB53 • 2026

Student bullying; adjusts definition, characteristics of victim.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-276.01 of the Code of Virginia, relating to student bullying; definition; characteristics of victim.</p>

Education Technology

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Cole, J.G.
Last action: 2026-02-11
Official status: Incorporated
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes details about cyberbullying and severity of bullying which are either already covered in the official text or not explicitly stated.

Student Bullying; Adjusting Definition

This bill changes how bullying is defined in Virginia's public schools, adding that it includes when someone uses their power over another person based on the victim’s membership in a group protected from discrimination under the Virginia Human Rights Act.

What This Bill Does

Changes the definition of 'bullying' to include situations where a student uses their power over another because of the victim's membership in a group that is protected from discrimination pursuant to the Virginia Human Rights Act.

Who It Names or Affects

Students in public schools in Virginia
School administrators who enforce anti-bullying policies

Terms To Know

Virginia Human Rights Act: A law that protects people from discrimination based on certain characteristics.
Cyberbullying: Bullying that happens through technology such as cell phones and the internet.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how schools should enforce these changes.
It is unclear what specific groups are protected under the Virginia Human Rights Act.

Bill History

2026-02-11 Education
Incorporated by Education (HB894-Sullivan) (Voice Vote)
2026-02-10 K-12 Subcommittee
Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)
2026-02-05 K-12 Subcommittee
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
2026-02-02 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB53)
2025-12-29 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101904D
2025-12-29 Education
Referred to Committee on Education

Official Summary Text

Student bullying; definition; characteristics of victim.
Adjusts the definition of "bullying" in the context of public education to specify that the real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim includes such a power imbalance on the basis of the membership of the victim in a group that is protected from discrimination pursuant to the Virginia Human Rights Act.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
22.1-276.01
of the Code of Virginia, relating to student bullying; definition; characteristics of victim.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
22.1-276.01
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
22.1-276.01
. Definitions.

A. For the purposes of this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Alternative education program" includes night school, adult education, or any other education program designed to offer instruction to students for whom the regular program of instruction may be inappropriate.

"Bullying" means any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim
, including on the basis of the actual or perceived membership of the victim in a group that is protected from discrimination pursuant to the Virginia Human Rights Act (§
2.2-3900
et seq.)
; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. "Bullying" includes cyberbullying. "Bullying" does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.

"Cyberbullying" means bullying that occurs through the use of technology, including through cell phones and other electronic devices or technology capable of accessing the Internet.

"Disruptive behavior" means a violation of school board regulations governing student conduct that interrupts or obstructs the learning environment.

"Dress or grooming code" means any practice, policy, or portion of a code of student conduct adopted by a school board that governs or restricts the attire, appearance, or grooming, including hairstyle, of any enrolled student.

"Exclusion" means a Virginia school board's denial of school admission to a student who has been expelled or has been placed on a long-term suspension of more than 30 calendar days by another school board or a private school, either in Virginia or another state, or for whom admission has been withdrawn by a private school in Virginia or another state.

"Expulsion" means any disciplinary action imposed by a school board or a committee thereof, as provided in school board policy, whereby a student is not permitted to attend school within the school division and is ineligible for readmission for 365 calendar days after the date of the expulsion.

"Long-term suspension" means any disciplinary action whereby a student is not permitted to attend school for 11 to 45 school days.

"Short-term suspension" means any disciplinary action whereby a student is not permitted to attend school for a period not to exceed 10 school days.

B. For the purposes of §§
22.1-277.04
,
22.1-277.05
,
22.1-277.2
, and
22.1-277.2:1
, "superintendent's designee" means a (i) trained hearing officer or (ii) professional employee within the administrative offices of the school division who reports directly to the division superintendent and who is not a school-based instructional or administrative employee.