Last year, Rep. Ilana Rubel, R-Boise, spoke to an Eastern Idaho mother whose son committed suicide after repeated bullying incidents. Rubel promised she would do more to try to prevent similar things happening to other students, reports Clark Corbin of Idaho EdNews; since then, hundreds of parents have contacted Rubel and supported her efforts. “This is definitely something that resonates with parents everywhere and is very real,” Rubel told the House Education Committee today. “There is a problem with bullying in Idaho schools and it is something that impacts education.”

The committee agreed unanimously to introduce Rubel’s anti-bullying bill, though several members had questions about its wording and how it would work. Corbin has a full report online here.