Anti-Bullying Bill Passes in State Legislature
The Montana Legislature has passed a bill to join every other state in outlawing bullying.
Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock is expected to sign House Bill 284, which passed out of the House on a final 58-42 vote on Monday.
The measure defines and prohibits bullying public school students in person and online. Montana is the only U.S. state without anti-bullying legislation on the books.
Previous bullying legislation has failed in Montana as far back as 2003. Opponents have said the proposal would infringe on school districts' ability to enact local rules.
After the Board of Public Education enacted a state administrative rule against bullying in 2013, supporters rallied to put the language into statute. Bullying victims and parents have poured into the Capitol to support the proposal throughout the vetting process.