The bill H.441, introduced by Representative Christie of Hartford, seeks to amend existing laws regarding harassment in schools by removing the requirement that harassment must be "severe or pervasive" to be considered unlawful discrimination. The bill redefines harassment to include any incident of verbal, written, visual, or physical conduct based on a student's or their family member's actual or perceived characteristics, such as race, gender identity, or disability, that undermines their education or creates a hostile environment. Notably, the bill stipulates that a single incident may constitute harassment and that incidents should be evaluated in totality rather than in isolation.

Additionally, the bill modifies the legal standards for proving unlawful harassment in court. It eliminates the requirement for plaintiffs to demonstrate that the conduct was either pervasive or severe, instead focusing on whether the student experienced unwelcome conduct based on protected characteristics. The bill also repeals certain provisions that previously exempted actions brought under specific sections of the law. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 16-11, 16-570f, 9-4501