SF 4234
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/10/2026 09:29 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to state government; designating Anti-Bullying, Anti-Harassment, and
Defamation Awareness Day; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 10.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
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[10.54] ANTI-BULLYING, ANTI-HARASSMENT, AND DEFAMATION
AWARENESS DAY.
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(a) February 13 of each year is designated as Minnesota
Anti-Bullying, Anti-Harassment, and Defamation Awareness Day. The state recognizes
that bullying, harassment, and defamation negatively affect the safety, well-being, learning,
productivity, and health of students, employees, and community members.
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(b) Schools, employers, state agencies, and community organizations are encouraged to
observe this day with educational programs, employee training, student assemblies, respectful
behavior campaigns, prevention tools, and supportive services addressing bullying,
harassment, and reputational harm caused by false statements.
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(c) The state declares that in order to educate the public, the governor may promote and
encourage the observance of Anti-Bullying, Anti-Harassment, and Defamation Awareness
Day.
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For purposes of this section and in recognition of this awareness
day, the following terms have the meaning given:
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(1) "bullying" means repeated aggressive behavior or unwanted conduct that involves
an imbalance of power and creates a hostile, intimidating, or abusive environment, including
electronic bullying or cyberbullying;
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(2) "harassment" means unwelcome behavior based on an individual's actual or perceived
traits or characteristics that interferes with a person's ability to participate fully in school or
work environments; and
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(3) "defamation" means false statements of fact communicated to others that cause harm
to an individual's reputation.
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Nothing in this section creates a new cause of action, expands
liability, or alters existing legal standards or definitions related to defamation or free speech.
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