A plain-English guide to Minnesota’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: Minnesota 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.
Minnesota's bullying law includes 14 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. Minnesota 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: requires districts to establish cellphone policies (SF 3567, May 17, 2024). Minnesota also has 3 online-safety laws for minors, including Prohibiting Social Media Manipulation Act, MSA Section 325M.30 et seq..
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed April 29, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated June 18, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Comprehensive state protections · 14 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 Districts must set a phone policy
- 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.
- 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 Minnesota’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: 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 Minnesota anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Minnesota anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of bullying and cyberbullying:
“Bullying” means intimidating, threatening, abusive, or harming conduct that is objectively offensive and:
(1) there is an actual or perceived imbalance of power between the student engaging in prohibited conduct and the target of the behavior and the conduct is repeated or forms a pattern; or
(2) materially and substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or performance or ability to participate in school functions or activities or receive school benefits, services, or privileges.
“Cyberbullying” means bullying using technology or other electronic communication, including, but not limited to, a transfer of a sign, signal, writing, image, sound, or data, including a post on a social network Internet Web site or forum, transmitted through a computer, cell phone, or other electronic device.
Minn. Stat. § 121A.031 (2014)
Do Minnesota anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Minnesota anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct involving the use of electronic technology and communications to the extent that such use substantially and materially disrupts student learning or the school environment.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Minnesota school districts are required to adopt, implement, review, and revise written policies to prevent and prohibit bullying. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Definitions of the role and responsibilities of students, school personnel, and volunteers under the policy;
- Lists of characteristics that may be the basis for bullying;
- Requirements for how the policy must by publicized within the district;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations, including designation of a staff member who will serve as the primary contact to receive reports of prohibited conduct;
- Procedures for how schools will respond to incidents of prohibited conduct, including intervening to protect the target of the prohibited conduct and providing other remedial responses to the prohibited conduct;
- Prohibitions against reprisals or retaliation; and
- Information about available community resources to the target, actor, and other affected individuals.
Minnesota state law requires districts to review and revise policies on a cycle consistent with other district policies and must submit an electronic copy of the prohibited conduct policy to the commissioner.
Do Minnesota anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. Minnesota anti-bullying laws prohibit any intimidating, threatening, abusive or harming conduct that is directed at any student or students, including those based on particular characteristics (see Minnesota Education Code Section 121.A.031.2(g)).
Minnesota 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 Minnesota anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Minnesota school districts and schools are encouraged to provide developmentally appropriate programmatic instruction to help students identify, prevent, and reduce prohibited conduct; value diversity in school and society; and develop and improve students’ knowledge and skills for solving problems, managing conflict, engaging in civil discourse, and recognizing, responding to, and reporting prohibited conduct. School districts and schools must establish strategies for creating a positive school climate and use evidence-based social-emotional learning to prevent and reduce discrimination and improper conduct.
Do Minnesota anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Minnesota school districts must provide appropriate training for all school personnel to prevent, identity, and respond to prohibited conduct. School districts must establish a training cycle, not to exceed a period of three years. Newly employed school personnel must receive training within the first year of their employment with the district.
Do Minnesota anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. Minnesota school district policies must provide information about available community resources to the target, actor, or other affected individuals.
Do Minnesota anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Minnesota school districts are encouraged to develop policies in consultation with students, parents, and community organizations. School district policies must also include requirements to notify the parent of the reported target and the parent of the actor engaged in the prohibited conduct.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 29, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Requires districts to establish cellphone policies. Most recent statewide action: SF 3567, May 17, 2024.
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.
- Prohibiting Social Media Manipulation Act, MSA Section 325M.30 et seq.
In effect: July 1, 2025 Enforcement stayed voluntarily pending ruling on preliminary injunction (est. · Status: blocked in court (in part or whole) - Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act, HB 4138m, Chapt. 111
In effect: July 1, 2027 - Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act, HF 4757, Article 5
In effect: July 31, 2025
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated June 18, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (10)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Violence prevention education Law passed by the legislature Minnesota Statutes Section 120B.22 Read the text of Minnesota Statutes Section 120B.22
- Model policy Law passed by the legislature Minnesota Statutes Section 121A.03 Read the text of Minnesota Statutes Section 121A.03
- School student bullying policy Law passed by the legislature Minnesota Statutes Section 121A.031 Read the text of Minnesota Statutes Section 121A.031
- Notice of the rights and responsibilities of students and parents under the Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act Law passed by the legislature Minnesota Statutes Section 121A.0311 Read the text of Minnesota Statutes Section 121A.0311
- Malicious and sadistic conduct Law passed by the legislature Minnesota Statutes Section 121A.0312 Read the text of Minnesota Statutes Section 121A.0312
- Hazing policy Law passed by the legislature Minnesota Statutes Section 121A.69 Read the text of Minnesota Statutes Section 121A.69
- Staff development program Law passed by the legislature Minnesota Statutes Section 122A.60 Read the text of Minnesota Statutes Section 122A.60
- Full-service community schools Law passed by the legislature Minnesota Statutes Section 124D.231 Read the text of Minnesota Statutes Section 124D.231
- Internet access for students Law passed by the legislature Minnesota Statutes Section 125B.15 Read the text of Minnesota Statutes Section 125B.15
- School Safety Technical Assistance Council Law passed by the legislature Minnesota Statutes Section 127A.051 Read the text of Minnesota Statutes Section 127A.051
Official Minnesota resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Minnesota
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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