A plain-English guide to Nebraska’s bullying and cyberbullying law, written for school counselors and other school staff. Start with the summary, then open any section below for the legal details.
Bottom line for counselors: Nebraska requires every school district to have a written bullying policy. The law covers cyberbullying but does not clearly reach off-campus behavior. Agree on reporting steps with your administrator, since state law sets none.
Nebraska's bullying law includes 5 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates limited. Nebraska has no crime specific to cyberbullying, but general harassment, threat and stalking laws can apply. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (LB 140, May 20, 2025). Nebraska also has 6 online-safety laws for minors, including Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act, LB 504, as amended by LB 838, Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 87-1301 et seq..
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 1, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated August 31, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Limited state protections · 5 of 14 key elements
- Covers cyberbullying Yes
- Reaches off-campus behavior No
- District policy required Yes
- Reporting & investigation rules No
- Staff training No
- Support for students involved No
- School phone rules Statewide phone restriction
- Online safety laws for minors 6 on the books
What this means for counselors
- Your district is required to have a written bullying policy. Find it, and learn who in your building receives reports.
- State law does not clearly extend to off-campus cyberbullying. Your district policy may still apply, so check it and talk with your administrator.
- State law does not require staff training, so counselors can lead that work by offering short trainings on cyberbullying for colleagues.
- State law does not spell out a role for parents, so building partnerships with families is up to your school.
- Your state limits student phone use at school. Know your school's phone rules so responses to online incidents are consistent.
- Your state has laws on minors' online safety. They mostly regulate tech companies, but they are useful context when you talk with families.
What Nebraska’s bullying law includes
- Bans bullying outright: not included
The law clearly states that bullying is not allowed. - Defines bullying: included
The law spells out what counts as bullying. - Says where the rules apply: included
The law describes where the rules apply, such as school grounds, buses, events, or online. - Names protected groups: not included
The law lists characteristics, such as race or disability, that bullying often targets. - Districts must have a policy: included
Every school district has to adopt a written bullying policy. - Reporting and investigation rules: not included
The law sets out how bullying is reported and investigated. - Consequences for bullying: included
The law describes consequences for students who bully. - Policy shared with families: not included
Districts have to tell students, staff, and families about the policy. - Support for students involved: not included
The law calls for protection or support, such as counseling, for students who are involved. - Policies reviewed and updated: included
District policies have to be reviewed and kept up to date. - Prevention education: not included
The law requires or encourages bullying prevention lessons or programs. - Staff training: not included
The law requires or encourages training for teachers and other staff. - Parent involvement: not included
The law involves parents in preventing or responding to bullying.
Questions and answers about the law
How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Nebraska anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Nebraska anti-bullying laws include the following definition of bullying:
“Bullying” means any ongoing pattern of physical, verbal, or electronic abuse on school grounds, in a vehicle owned, leased, or contracted by a school being used for a school purpose by a school employee or his or her designee, or at school-sponsored activities or school-sponsored athletic events.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-2,137 (2008)
Do Nebraska anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. Nebraska anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Nebraska school districts must develop and adopt a policy concerning bullying prevention and education for all students. Nebraska anti-bullying laws do not prescribe specific content for school district bullying policies.
Nebraska anti-bullying laws require districts to review policies annually.
Do Nebraska anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under Nebraska anti-bullying laws or regulations.
Nebraska schools that receive federal funding are required by federal law to address discrimination based on certain personal characteristics. Find out when bullying may be a civil rights violation.
Do Nebraska anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
No. Nebraska anti-bullying laws do not require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies.
Do Nebraska anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to prevent and respond to bullying incidents?
No. Nebraska anti-bullying laws do not require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents.
Do Nebraska anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. Nebraska anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying.
Do Nebraska anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
No. Nebraska anti-bullying laws do not create expectations for parent involvement in addressing bullying.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 1, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: LB 140, May 20, 2025.
Source: Ballotpedia, checked November 11, 2026.
Online safety and social media laws for minors
These laws mostly place duties on apps, platforms, and websites, such as age checks, parental consent, or limits on addictive feeds. Several have been challenged in court.
- Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act, LB 504, as amended by LB 838, Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 87-1301 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2026 July 17, 2026 - Parental Rights in Social Media Act, LB 383, Nevada Revised Statutes Sections 86-1701 to 86-1705
In effect: July 1, 2026 · Status: blocked in court (in part or whole) - Nebraska Data Privacy Act, LB 1074
In effect: January 1, 2025 - Online Age Verification Liability Act, LB 1092
In effect: July 19, 2024 - Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Prevention Act, LB 383
- Conversational Artificial Intelligence Safety Act, LB 525
In effect: July 1, 2027 Applies to: all users minors under 18 (knows or has reason to believe)
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated August 31, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (4)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Student conduct constituting grounds for long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment; enumerated; alternatives for truant or tardy students Law passed by the legislature Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 79-267 Read the text of Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 79-267
- School district; development and adoption of bullying prevention and education policy; review Law passed by the legislature Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 79-2,137 Read the text of Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 79-2,137
- State school security director; duties Law passed by the legislature Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 79-2,144 Read the text of Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 79-2,144
- Regulations and Procedures for the Accreditation of Schools Rule from a state agency Nebraska Administrative Code. Title 92, Chapter 10 Read the text of Nebraska Administrative Code. Title 92, Chapter 10
Official Nebraska resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Nebraska
Search by ZIP code, select a district on the map, or look one up by name. Each district links to a search for its own bullying policy, since district rules can go further than state law.
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