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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 53: Student bullying; adjusts definition, characteristics of victim.

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 53 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on December 29, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Student bullying; adjusts definition, characteristics of victim. Primary sponsor: Josh Cole (Democratic). It lists 4 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 11, 2026): Incorporated by Education (HB894-Sullivan) (Voice Vote).

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 5

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Josh ColePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse65
Kelly FowlerCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse96
Liz GuzmánCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse22
J.R. HensonCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse19
Alfonso LopezCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Incorporated by Education (HB894-Sullivan) (Voice Vote)
  2. Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)
  3. Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB53)
  5. Referred to Committee on Education
  6. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101904D

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source