A plain-English guide to Tennessee’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: Tennessee requires every school district to have a written bullying policy. The law covers cyberbullying, including off-campus behavior that affects school. Follow your district's reporting and investigation steps and keep careful notes.
Tennessee's bullying law includes 13 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Tennessee law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (SB 0897, March 28, 2025). Tennessee also has 3 online-safety laws for minors, including Protecting Children from Social Media Act, HB 1891, TN Code Sections 47-18-5701 to 5706.
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed June 4, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated August 28, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Comprehensive state protections · 13 of 14 key elements
- Covers cyberbullying Yes
- Reaches off-campus behavior Yes
- District policy required Yes
- Reporting & investigation rules Yes
- Staff training Yes
- Support for students involved Yes
- School phone rules Statewide phone restriction
- Online safety laws for minors 3 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 sets expectations for reporting and investigating bullying. Follow your district's steps and timelines, and keep careful notes.
- Cyberbullying that happens off campus can be addressed when it affects school. Record how the online behavior reached or disrupted school.
- The law calls for support for students who are involved. That is core counseling work, for the student targeted and for the student who bullied.
- Staff training is part of state law. Ask when training happens and make sure it covers cyberbullying and social media.
- Prevention education is expected. Classroom lessons on digital citizenship and online empathy fit here.
- 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 Tennessee’s bullying law includes
- Bans bullying outright: 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: 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: included
Districts have to tell students, staff, and families about the policy. - Support for students involved: 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: included
The law requires or encourages bullying prevention lessons or programs. - Staff training: included
The law requires or encourages training for teachers and other staff. - Parent involvement: included
The law involves parents in preventing or responding to bullying.
Questions and answers about the law
How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Tennessee anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Tennessee anti-bullying laws and regulations include the following definitions of harassment, intimidation or bullying and cyberbullying:
“Harassment, intimidation or bullying" means any act that substantially interferes with a student's educational benefits, opportunities or performance; and:
- If the act takes place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided equipment or transportation or at any official school bus stop, the act has the effect of:Physically harming a student or damaging a student's property;Knowingly placing a student or students in reasonable fear of physical harm to the student or damage to the student's property;Causing emotional distress to a student or students; orCreating a hostile educational environment; or
- If the act takes place off school property or outside of a school-sponsored activity, it is directed specifically at a student or students and has the effect of creating a hostile educational environment or otherwise creating a substantial disruption to the education environment or learning process.
“Cyber-bullying" means bullying undertaken through the use of electronic devices.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-4502 (2011)
Do Tennessee anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Tennessee anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct if the behavior is directed specifically at a student or students and has the effect of creating a hostile educational environment or otherwise creating a substantial disruption to the education environment or learning process.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Tennessee school districts are required to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, bullying or cyber-bullying. District policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying;
- Definitions of prohibited behavior and statements of scope indicating where and when the policy applies;
- Descriptions of the types of behaviors expected from each student;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations;
- Disciplinary consequences for violation of the policy;
- Statements regarding the manner in which a school district will respond to confirmed incidents of bullying;
- Statements prohibiting reprisal and retaliation;
- Statements of how the policy will be publicized within the district;
- Procedures for discouraging and reporting conduct aimed at defining a student in a sexual manner; and
- Procedures for referring students to counseling and support services.
Tennessee state law encourages districts to review the policy at least once every three years and to transmit a copy to the Commissioner of Education. Districts must also complete and submit an annual report to the Department of Education with information on the number of alleged and substantiated bullying incidents and the number and type of investigations completed.
Do Tennessee anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under Tennessee anti-bullying laws or regulations.
Tennessee 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 Tennessee anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Tennessee school districts are encouraged to form bullying prevention task forces, programs, and other initiatives involving school employees, students, administrators, volunteers, parents, guardians, law enforcement, and community representatives. Tennessee school districts must make information on bullying prevention programs available to students and parents to promote awareness of the harmful effects of bullying and to permit discussion with respect to prevention policies and strategies.
Do Tennessee anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Tennessee school districts are required to provide training to teachers and counselors regarding the policy and appropriate procedures relative to policy implementation.
Do Tennessee anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. Tennessee school district policies must include a procedure for referral to appropriate counseling and support services when deemed necessary. Counseling and support services may be conducted by school counseling personnel who are appropriately trained.
Do Tennessee anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Tennessee school districts are encouraged to develop policies in consultation with parents, school employees, students, and other members of the school community. School principals must also immediately inform parents or legal guardian when a student is involved in an act of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyber-bullying, and must inform parents about the availability of counseling and support services.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed June 4, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: SB 0897, March 28, 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.
- Protecting Children from Social Media Act, HB 1891, TN Code Sections 47-18-5701 to 5706
In effect: January 1, 2025 6th Circuit vacated District Court’s denial of · Status: blocked in court (in part or whole) - Tennessee Information Protection Act, Tennessee Code Annotated 47-18-3301 et seq.
In effect: July 1, 2025 - Protect Tennessee Minors Act, SB1792, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-912, as amended by SB488 (May 5, 2025)
In effect: January 1, 2025 · Status: blocked in court (in part or whole)
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated August 28, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (9)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Prohibition against hazing Law passed by the legislature Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-2-120 Read the text of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-2-120
- Consistency with harassment and bullying policies Law passed by the legislature Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-812 Read the text of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-812
- Discipline policy – code of conduct Law passed by the legislature Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4002 Read the text of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4002
- Legislative findings — Safety and civility Law passed by the legislature Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4501 Read the text of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4501
- Part definitions Law passed by the legislature Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4502 Read the text of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4502
- Adoption of policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, bullying or cyber-bullying by the school district Law passed by the legislature Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4503 Read the text of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4503
- Adoption of policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, bullying or cyber-bullying by LEA Law passed by the legislature Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4504 Read the text of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4504
- Reprisal or retaliation prohibited – Reporting harassment, intimidation, bullying or cyberbullying – Immunity from damages Law passed by the legislature Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4505 Read the text of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4505
- Task forces, programs or other initiatives Law passed by the legislature Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4506 Read the text of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-4506
Official Tennessee resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Tennessee
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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