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1/23/2026
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Rep. Ackerman introduces legislation to combat bullying
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STATE HOUSE — House Deputy Majority Whip Mia A. Ackerman has introduced legislation to address bullying in schools by creating a restorative justice program in which the student found to have engaged in bullying based on religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity would perform community service designed to educate them and deter future bullying.
“Bullying in all forms is awful, but it is even more heinous when it’s based on personal identity. Attacking someone because of their race, religion or sexual orientation is hateful, plain and simple,” said Representative Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln). “We need to do more than just tell students this behavior is unacceptable: we need to show them why discrimination is so harmful and provide an opportunity for them to learn.”
The bill (2026-H 7114) would create a program in which students found to have engaged in bullying that was targeted along the religious, racial or sexual orientation of the victim could be directed to perform up to 10 hours of community service designed to deter future bullying while educating the student about the specific harm they have committed. For example, a student found to have bullied a student based on the victim’s Jewish identity could be directed to perform their community service at a Holocaust museum. Or, if a student bullied someone because of their sexual orientation, they could perform community service at an organization like Youth Pride.
This community service requirement would be imposed by school administration or a juvenile hearing board. This directed community service would not be considered a criminal penalty and would need to be completed within three months.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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