Sen. Seminara Supports Bipartisan Task Force to Study Hate Speech Impact

Task force to study hate speech impact

BY CHRISTOPHER KEATING
HARTFORD COURANT

Seeking to stem an increasing problem, the state Senate voted Wednesday to study the impact of hate speech and bullying on children.

Lawmakers voted 35-0 to create a task force to examine the issue, which they say has become an increasing problem in schools and beyond.

“We heard during the public hearing how this kind of hate speech and anti-caring for other people has effects on children that last well into their adulthood,” said Sen. Ceci Maher, co-chairwoman of the children’s committee. “The purpose of this bill is to look into what are the effects of hate speech on children and then to look beyond that and see what are the programs around the state that are working to ameliorate the effects. And then to stop hate speech. I believe that children being affected by hate speech is not good for children, not good for their families and for society and has a long-term impact.”

The study will focus on whether children hear hate speech and experience bullying chiefly in the classroom, online or in the community.

The task force will be bipartisan; both Democratic and Republican legislative leaders will make the appointments.

Sen. Lisa Seminara, an Avon Republican, said the task force will be more balanced after a successful amendment Wednesday changed the selection of the members, including additional picks by Republican legislators.

The state education department reported that incidents of bullying increased last year by more than 30% from the prior year.

After the task force finishes its work in about 18 months, the group will send the recommendations to the legislature in January 2026, which would then craft legislation to address the issue.