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Bill

SB 265

Elementary and secondary schools or higher educational institutions; bullying and cyberbullying.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Stanley

Virginia bill establishes statewide bullying and cyberbullying policies for schools with reporting requirements and institutional response protocols.

Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB265)
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Bill Summary · SB 265

Legislative bill overview

SB 265 addresses bullying and cyberbullying policies in Virginia's elementary, secondary, and higher educational institutions. The bill establishes or modifies requirements for how schools must identify, report, and respond to bullying incidents, including conduct occurring both on and off campus.

Why is this important

Bullying and cyberbullying have documented negative effects on student mental health, academic performance, and school safety. Clear statewide standards ensure consistent protections across Virginia's diverse school districts and establish accountability mechanisms for institutional responses to reported incidents.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Disagreement over what constitutes bullying versus normal peer conflict, and whether off-campus cyberbullying should fall under school jurisdiction
  • Reporting burdens: Concerns from schools about administrative costs and resource requirements for mandatory reporting and investigation procedures outlined in the bill
  • Due process considerations: Tension between protecting accused students' rights and ensuring swift protection for bullied students, particularly regarding investigation timelines and evidence standards

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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