Sunlight Is a Shield: Why Maryland Must Pass HB 14 Now to Protect Students from Hate

Hate thrives in the shadows. Safety begins with transparency — and accountability follows.

That is why the Maryland General Assembly and Governor Wes Moore should move swiftly to pass HB 14 County Boards of Education – Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation – Information Collection and Reporting Requirements sponsored by Delegate Linda Foley, a commonsense and urgently needed bill to strengthen how our public schools report bullying, harassment, and intimidation motivated by bias. At a time when students of many backgrounds are being targeted — because of race, religion, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, or other characteristics — HB 14 gives communities the information they need to respond effectively and protect children.

This bill is about clarity, prevention, and partnership.

Transparency Helps Everyone Do Better

HB 14 improves an existing system by requiring school districts to publicly post disaggregated, non-identifying data on bias-motivated incidents — showing the actual number of incidents by targeted group. No student names. No school-by-school breakdowns. Just clear, usable data.

That transparency helps:

* Schools identify patterns early, allocate resources wisely, and tailor staff training to the forms of bias actually occurring in their communities.

* Students feel seen and protected when their experiences are acknowledged rather than minimized or hidden.

* Parents and caregivers understand what is happening in their school systems and partner constructively with educators.

* Allies and community organizations collaborate with schools on culturally competent interventions, restorative practices, and prevention strategies.

When everyone is working from the same facts, solutions become smarter — and trust grows.

The Reality We Can No Longer Ignore

Where data is available, the findings are deeply troubling.

In Montgomery County, there were 291 school-related hate incidents in 2024 — nearly two per school day. Sixty involved swastikas. Sixteen referenced Hitler or the Nazi salute. Forty-three percent targeted Black students. Ten percent targeted LGBTQ+ students.

In Anne Arundel County, the school system tracked 1182 incidents of bullying, and 229 biased motivated events. Many of those were aimed at students of color and LGBTQ students. We also know of incidents where swastikas and other antisemitic hate happened. However, since all the data is lumped together, we don’t know exactly what is happening.

Students of color, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ youth, Jewish, Muslim, immigrant students, and girls facing misogynistic harassment are all impacted — often in ways that vary significantly from one district to another.

That is precisely why HB 14 matters. As the Baltimore Jewish Council correctly noted in its testimony, every school system is different. We cannot assume the same biases dominate everywhere — and we cannot address what we refuse to measure.

Broad, Diverse Support Across Communities

HB 14 is supported by a wide and diverse coalition committed to student safety and civil rights.

In addition to Jewish communal organizations, stakeholders who helped shape and support this bill include the Office of the Attorney General, the Maryland Civil Rights Commission, the Maryland Center for School Safety, the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, the State Police, MSEA, and former Montgomery County Board of Education President Julie Yang.

The bill is proudly endorsed by both the Latino Caucus and the Jewish Caucus — a powerful reflection of shared concern for students across racial, ethnic, and religious lines.

At the hearing, Deborah Miller, Director of Maryland Government & Community Relations for the JCRC of Greater Washington, delivered compelling oral testimony on the importance of addressing antisemitism and other bias-based harassment before it escalates.

Abby Snyder, Director of Government Relations for the Baltimore Jewish Council, emphasized that enhanced reporting aligns with longstanding civil rights principles and equips educators to respond to bias on a case-by-case basis.

The Jewish Federation of Annapolis & the Chesapeake, in its written testimony, underscored how accurate reporting strengthens prevention, intervention, and community trust — especially as antisemitic incidents and other forms of hate continue to rise statewide.

Notably, stakeholder discussions revealed no opposition to HB 14 — only agreement that this information is useful, necessary, and overdue.

Leadership — and the Team Behind It

Delegate Linda Foley brings a lifetime of advocacy to this effort. A former journalist, national union president, and longtime Democratic leader, she has consistently fought to protect children, defend civil rights, and ensure Maryland’s policies reflect our shared values.

Foley also is quick to credit Dan Alpert, her Chief of Staff, for playing a vital role in shaping HB 14 and engaging stakeholders across communities. Strong legislative staff are often unknown to the public — but their work is essential to building thoughtful, inclusive policy like this.

A Clear Call to Act — Now

HB 14 is modest in scope, seamless in implementation, and powerful in impact. It strengthens transparency without burdening schools. It protects privacy while promoting accountability. And it gives educators, families, and communities the tools they need to work together against hate.

To the Maryland General Assembly: Pass HB 14 without delay.

To Governor Wes Moore: Sign it swiftly.

Every child — Jewish, Muslim, Black, Latino, LGBTQ+, disabled, immigrant, or otherwise marginalized — deserves to learn in a school where their safety matters and their experiences are not erased.

Sunlight is a shield.

HB 14 lets it in.