Bullying Laws

www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org

Bullying Laws Across America

Sanction

Criminal (44)
School (45)
School Policy (49)
Off-Campus (20)

State

United States

Alabama
Y
N
Y
N

Alaska
Y
Y
Y
N

Arizona
Y
Y
Y
N

Arkansas
Y
Y
Y
Y

California
Y
Y
Y
Y

Colorado
Y
Y
Y
N

Connecticut
Y
Y
Y
Y

Delaware
Y
Y
Y
N

DC
?
?
?
?

Florida
Y
Y
Y
Y

Georgia
Y
Y
Y
Proposed

Hawaii
Y
Y
Y
N

Idaho
Y
Y
Y
N

Illinois
Y
Y
Y
Y

Indiana
Y
Y
Y
N

Iowa
Y
Y
Y
N

Kansas
Y
Y
Y
N

Kentucky
Y
Y
Y
N

Louisiana
Y
Y
Y
Y

Maine
N
Y
Y
N

Maryland
Y
Y
Y
N

Massachusetts
Y
Y
Y
Y

Michigan
Y
N
Y
Y

Minnesota
N
Y
Y
Y

Mississippi
Y
Y
Y
N

Missouri
Y
Y
Y
N

Montana
Y
N
Y
N

Nebraska
N
Y
Y
Proposed

Nevada
Y
N
Y
N

New Hampshire
N
N
Y
Y

New Jersey
Y
Y
Y
Y

New Mexico
N
Y
Y
N

New York
Y
Y
Y
Y

North Carolina
Y
Y
Y
N

North Dakota
Y
Y
Y
N

Ohio
Y
Y
Y
N

Oklahoma
Y
Y
Y
N

Oregon
Y
Y
Y
N

Pennsylvania
Y
Y
Y
Y

Rhode Island
Y
Y
Y
N

South Carolina
Y
Y
Y
N

South Dakota
Y
Y
Y
Y

Tennessee
Y
Y
Y
Y

Texas
Y
Y
Y
Y

Utah
Y
Y
Y
N

Vermont
Y
Y
Y
Y

Virginia
Y
Y
Y
N

Washington
Y
Y
Y
N

West Virginia
Y
Y
Y
N

Wisconsin
Y
Y
Y
N

Wyoming
N
Y
N
Y

Source: https://cyberbullying.org/bullying-laws
Book: Bullying Beyond the School Yard: Preventing and responding to Cyberbullying
©2007-2023, www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org/chart-states.html

Criminal Sanction

All states have various criminal laws that might apply to bullying behaviors, depending on the nature of the act. For example, if someone is physically hurting another, assault statutes might apply. All states also have criminal harassment and/or stalking statutes, and most include explicit reference to electronic forms. States with a “YES” in this column are the ones that expressly include electronic forms of harassment.

School Sanction

In certain states, the bullying law specifies provisions allowing the school to discipline students in appropriate and measured ways.

School Policy

In every state except Montana, the bullying law mandates schools to have a formal policy to help with identification of the behavior and discuss the possible formal and/or informal disciplinary responses that can follow. Some laws require certain elements to be included in the policy (such as a specific definition of bullying), while others simply require a policy without specification.

Off-campus

Federal case law allows schools to discipline students for off-campus behavior that results in a substantial disruption of the learning environment at school. States with a “YES” in this column have simply codified that standard in state statute.