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Gov. Bullock Signs Montana Anti-bullying Bill Into Law

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana has finally joined every other state in the nation with the signing of an anti-bullying law.

Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock signed the Bully Free Montana Act into law on Tuesday at Jefferson Elementary in Helena. Bill sponsor Rep. Kim Dudik of Missoula, Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, students and their families joined Bullock for the signing of House Bill 284.

Lawmakers have been trying to pass some form of the measure since 2003 with opponents saying it would infringe on school districts’ ability to enact local rules.

Forty-six of the 49 states that have established bullying laws did so by 2010. Hawaii, Michigan and South Dakota were the last to make changes, leaving Montana as the only state that hadn’t addressed the issue with legislation.