The proposed bill, General Assembly Committee Bill No. 980, aims to enhance safety on the campuses of institutions of higher education by addressing hate incidents and discrimination. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill defines "hate incident" and mandates that each institution appoint a Title VI coordinator by September 1, 2025. This coordinator will be responsible for handling complaints related to hate incidents, providing training for staff, and collecting data on campus climate regarding discrimination based on race, religious identity, or ethnicity. Additionally, by January 1, 2026, institutions must adopt policies that include training for staff on responding to hate incidents, procedures for investigating complaints, and the establishment of a campus task force to combat various forms of hatred.

The bill also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between campus safety personnel and local law enforcement to ensure security for vulnerable student groups. The proposed legal language includes new sections that outline these responsibilities and procedures, while there are no deletions from current law noted in the text. The overall purpose of the bill is to require higher education institutions to implement effective training and procedures to prevent and respond to incidents of hate, harassment, and bias.