A plain-English guide to Wyoming’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: Wyoming requires every school district to have a written bullying policy. The law covers cyberbullying but does not clearly reach off-campus behavior. Follow your district's reporting and investigation steps and keep careful notes.
Wyoming's bullying law includes 12 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates strong. Wyoming has no crime specific to cyberbullying, but general harassment, threat and stalking laws can apply. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. There is no statewide school phone rule. Wyoming also has an online-safety law for minors: Age Verification for Websites with Obscene Material, HB 43.
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 12, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated June 11, 2025.
Lantern · State profile
Strong state protections · 12 of 14 key elements
- Covers cyberbullying Yes
- Reaches off-campus behavior No
- District policy required Yes
- Reporting & investigation rules Yes
- Staff training Yes
- Support for students involved Yes
- School phone rules No statewide rule
- Online safety laws for minors 1 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.
- State law does not clearly extend to off-campus cyberbullying. Your district policy may still apply, so check it and talk with your administrator.
- 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 has laws on minors' online safety. They mostly regulate tech companies, but they are useful context when you talk with families.
What Wyoming’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 Wyoming anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Wyoming anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of harassment, intimidation or bullying:
“Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any intentional gesture, any intentional electronic communication or any intentional written, verbal or physical act initiated, occurring or received at school that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of:
- Harming a student physically or emotionally, damaging a student's property or placing a student in reasonable fear of personal harm or property damage;
- Insulting or demeaning a student or group of students causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school; or
- Creating an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student or group of students through sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive behavior.
Wyo. Stat. § 21-4-312 (2009)
Do Wyoming anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. Wyoming anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Wyoming 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, or bullying of a student;
- Definitions of prohibited behavior that are no less inclusive than definitions in state law;
- Disciplinary consequences and remedial actions for persons committing acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying or acts of reprisal or retaliation;
- Procedures for prompt reporting, investigations, and documentation, including identification of the appropriate school personnel responsible for receiving a report and investigating a complaint;
- Statements prohibiting reprisal or retaliation against a person who reports harassment, intimidation, or bullying;
- Strategies for protecting a victim following a report;
- Consequences and appropriate remedial action for a person who has made a false accusation, report, or complaint;
- Processes for discussing the district’s harassment, intimidation, or bullying policy with students; and
- Statements regarding how the policy will be publicized within the district.
Wyoming school districts must continuously review and revise district bullying policies as necessary.
Do Wyoming anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under Wyoming anti-bullying laws or regulations.
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 Wyoming anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Wyoming school districts are encouraged to establish bullying prevention programs or other initiatives and may involve school staff, students, administrators, volunteers, parents, law enforcement, and community members.
Do Wyoming anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Wyoming school districts must incorporate information regarding the school district's policy against harassment, intimidation, or bullying into district professional development programs, and must provide training to volunteers and other noncertified employees of the district who have significant contact with students. Wyoming anti-bullying laws require the Department of Education to develop teacher preparation program standards on the identification and prevention of bullying.
Do Wyoming anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. Wyoming anti-bullying laws require district policies to include strategies to protect a victim from additional harassment, intimidation, or bullying and from retaliation following a report.
Do Wyoming anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Wyoming school districts must involve parents and guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, administrators, and community representatives in the process of creating the district bullying policy. Wyoming school districts are also encouraged to involve parents in establishing bullying prevention programs or other initiatives.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 12, 2026.
School phone and device rules
No statewide law or policy on student phone use is listed for Wyoming. Districts may still set their own rules.
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 Verification for Websites with Obscene Material, HB 43
In effect: July 1, 2025
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated June 11, 2025.
Legal citations, explained (7)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Duties of the state superintendent Law passed by the legislature Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-2-202 Read the text of Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-2-202
- Safe school climate act; short title Law passed by the legislature Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-4-311 Read the text of Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-4-311
- Definitions Law passed by the legislature Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-4-312 Read the text of Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-4-312
- Prohibition against harassment, intimidation or bullying; reporting to school officials Law passed by the legislature Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-4-313 Read the text of Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-4-313
- School district implementation; state policies, training and technical assistance Law passed by the legislature Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-4-314 Read the text of Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-4-314
- Applicability; no civil liability created; immunity Law passed by the legislature Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-4-315 Read the text of Wyoming Statutes Annotated Section 21-4-315
- District and School Accreditation Rule from a state agency Code of Wyoming Rules 206-0002-6 Read the text of Code of Wyoming Rules 206-0002-6
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Wyoming
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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