A plain-English guide to Colorado’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: Colorado requires every school district to have a written bullying policy. The law covers cyberbullying, including off-campus behavior that affects school. Agree on reporting steps with your administrator, since state law sets none.
Colorado's bullying law includes 9 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates moderate. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Colorado law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: requires districts to establish cellphone policies (HB 25, May 1, 2025). Colorado also has 5 online-safety laws for minors, including Colorado Privacy Act Amendment, SB 24-041, amending Colorado Revised Statutes Section 6-1-1301 et seq..
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed April 28, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated August 31, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Moderate state protections · 9 of 14 key elements
- Covers cyberbullying Yes
- Reaches off-campus behavior Yes
- District policy required Yes
- Reporting & investigation rules No
- Staff training Yes
- Support for students involved No
- School phone rules Districts must set a phone policy
- Online safety laws for minors 5 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.
- Cyberbullying that happens off campus can be addressed when it affects school. Record how the online behavior reached or disrupted school.
- 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.
- The law names protected groups. Bullying based on these characteristics may also be a civil rights issue for your school.
- Your state has laws on minors' online safety. They mostly regulate tech companies, but they are useful context when you talk with families.
What Colorado’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: not included
The law describes where the rules apply, such as school grounds, buses, events, or online. - Names protected groups: 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: 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 Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations include the following definition of bullying:
"Bullying" means any written or oral expression, or physical or electronic act or gesture, or a pattern thereof, that is intended to coerce, intimidate, or cause any physical, mental, or emotional harm to any student. Bullying is prohibited against any student for any reason, including but not limited to any such behavior that is directed toward a student on the basis of the student’s academic performance or against whom federal and state laws prohibit discrimination upon any of the bases described in section 22-32-109 (1)(II)(I)(A). This definition is not intended to infringe upon any right guaranteed to any person by the first amendment to the United States Constitution or to prevent the expression of any religious, political, or philosophical views.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 22-32-109.1 (2020)
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Colorado anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Colorado school districts must adopt a safe school plan and conduct and discipline code that contains a specific policy addressing bullying prevention and education. At minimum, the policy must:
- Clearly differentiate between a conflict and bullying and between harassment and bullying
- Clarify the role of cyberbullying during online instruction, which may occur on or off school property
Colorado state law requires districts to report annually to the Department of Education the number of conduct and discipline code violations, including the number of incidents of bullying and other behavior that creates a threat of physical harm to the student or to other students. School districts must also report information on the school's policy concerning bullying prevention and education, including information related to the development and implementation of any bullying prevention programs.
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. Colorado anti-bullying laws prohibit bullying against any student for any reason, including but not limited to any such behavior that is directed toward a student on the basis of certain characteristics defined in Colorado state law 22-1-143.
Colorado 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 Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Colorado anti-bullying laws encourage districts to implement evidence-based bullying prevention programs by establishing a state-funded bullying prevention and education grant program. Colorado anti-bullying laws also require the Department of Education to create a page on its public website to make available evidence-based practices and other resources for educators and other professionals engaged in bullying prevention and education.
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Colorado anti-bullying laws requires public schools to provide training to all employees about harassment and discrimination. Training must include, but is not limited, to instruction on: recognizing harassment or discrimination; the appropriate immediate response when harassment or discrimination is reported to or witnessed by an employee; and reporting incidents to the public school or school district. Training of employees who have direct supervision of students must also include instruction on: the public school’s procedure for responding to allegations of harassment or discrimination; the difference between the public school’s policy, obligations required by federal law, and mandatory reporting requirements in the state law; best practices for avoiding victim-blaming; the effects of trauma on victims of harassment and discrimination; communicating appropriately with victims; the impact on students with disabilities; the types of supportive measures available; and the provision of effective academic, mental health, and safety accommodations for students who report harassment or discrimination.
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. Colorado anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide safeguards of mental health supports for students involved with bullying.
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Colorado school districts must adopt a safe school plan following consultation with the school district and school accountability committees, parents, teachers, administrators, students, student councils where available, and, where appropriate, the community at large. School districts must also designate a team of persons at each school to advise the school administration concerning the severity and frequency of bullying incidents that occur in the school. Team members may include, but need not be limited to, law enforcement officials, social workers, prosecutors, health professionals, mental health professionals, school psychologists, counselors, teachers, administrators, parents, and students.
School districts shall utilize a stakeholder process when updating the model bullying prevention policy which must include participation by the parents of students who have been bullied.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 28, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Requires districts to establish cellphone policies. Most recent statewide action: HB 25, May 1, 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.
- Colorado Privacy Act Amendment, SB 24-041, amending Colorado Revised Statutes Section 6-1-1301 et seq.
In effect: October 1, 2025 CPA Regulation Amendments - Protections for Youth Using Social Media, HB 24-1136, Colorado Revised Statutes Section 6-1-1601
In effect: January 1, 2026 (for obligations for Social Media Platforms) · Status: blocked in court (in part or whole) - Age Attestation for Online Users, SB 26-51, Col. Statutes Section 6-30-102 et seq.
In effect: July 1, 2028 - Colorado Privacy Act, Colorado Revised Statutes Section 6-1-1301 et seq. CPA Regulations
In effect: July 1, 2023 - HB 23-1263, Col. Revised Statutes 6-1-1701 et seq., amending the CO AI Act
In effect: August 22, 2026, but obligations begin January 1, 2027 Applies to: all users minors under
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated August 31, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (21)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Hazing – penalties – legislative declaration Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-9-124 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-9-124
- Harassment or discrimination – policy required – training and notification — definitions Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-1-143 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-1-143
- Use of a student’s chosen name – definitions Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-1-145 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-1-145
- Bullying prevention and education policies –short title – study Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-2-144 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-2-144
- Board of education – specific duties – definitions Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-32-109 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-32-109
- Board of education – specific powers and duties – safe school plan – conduct and discipline code – safe school reporting requirements – school response framework – school resource officers – definitions Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-32-109.1 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-32-109.1
- Restorative justice practices – legislative declaration Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-32-144 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-32-144
- Compulsory school attendance Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-33-104 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-33-104
- Addressing disproportionate discipline – task force – report – legislative declaration – definitions – repeal Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statues Section 22-33-112 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statues Section 22-33-112
- Definitions Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-101 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-101
- School bullying prevention and education grant program – created Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-102 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-102
- School bullying prevention and education grant program – grant process – reports by grant recipients Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-103 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-103
- Rules Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-104 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-104
- School bullying prevention and education cash fund – created Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-105 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-105
- School bullying prevention and education – availability of best practices and other resources Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-106 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-93-106
- Behavioral health care professional matching grant program – application – criteria – grant awards Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-96-104 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 22-96-104
- School safety resource center – created – duties Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-33.5-1803 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-33.5-1803
- Definitions Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statues Section 24-72-202 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statues Section 24-72-202
- Suicide prevention commission – created – responsibilities – gifts, grants, donations – repeal Law passed by the legislature Colorado Revised Statutes Section 25-1.5-111 Read the text of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 25-1.5-111
- 1 California Code of Regulations 301-97 Rules for the administration of the school health professional grant program Rule from a state agency 1 California Code of Regulations 301-97 Rules for the administration of the school health professional grant program Read the text of 1 California Code of Regulations 301-97 Rules for the administration of the school health professional grant program
- 1 CRR 301-99 Rules for the administration of the school bullying prevention and education grant program Rule from a state agency 1 CRR 301-99 Rules for the administration of the school bullying prevention and education grant program Read the text of 1 CRR 301-99 Rules for the administration of the school bullying prevention and education grant program
Official Colorado resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Colorado
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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