A plain-English guide to Georgia’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: Georgia 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.
Georgia's bullying law includes 11 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates strong. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Georgia law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (HB 1009, May 5, 2026). Georgia also has 3 online-safety laws for minors, including Protecting Georgia’s Children on Social Media Act, SB 351, Section 3-1, GA Code Sections 39-6-1 et seq..
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed April 28, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated October 16, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Strong state protections · 11 of 14 key elements
- Covers cyberbullying Yes
- Reaches off-campus behavior Yes
- District policy required Yes
- Reporting & investigation rules Yes
- Staff training No
- Support for students involved No
- 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.
- State law does not require staff training, so counselors can lead that work by offering short trainings on cyberbullying for colleagues.
- 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 Georgia’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: 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: not 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 Georgia anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Georgia anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of bullying and cyberbullying:
The term "bullying" means an act that is:
- Any willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another person, when accompanied by an apparent present ability to do so;
- Any intentional display of force such as would give the victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm; or
- Any intentional written, verbal, or physical act which a reasonable person would perceive as being intended to threaten, harass, or intimidate, that:Causes another person substantial physical harm within the meaning of Code Section 16-5-23.1 or visible bodily harm as such term is defined in Code Section 16-5-23.1;Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's education;Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; orHas the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
The term applies to acts which occur on school property, on school vehicles, at designated school bus stops, or at school related functions or activities or by use of data or software that is accessed through a computer, computer system, computer network, or other electronic technology of a local school system. The term also applies to acts of cyberbullying which occur through the use of electronic communication, whether or not such electronic act originated on school property or with school equipment, if the electronic communication (1) is directed specifically at students or school personnel, (2) is maliciously intended for the purpose of threatening the safety of those specified or substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school, and (3) creates a reasonable fear of harm to the students' or school personnel's person or property or has a high likelihood of succeeding in that purpose.
Electronic communication includes but is not limited to any transfer of signs, signals, writings, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic or photo optical system.
O.C.G.A. § 20-2-751.4 (2016)
Do Georgia anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Georgia anti-bullying laws cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus if the electronic communication (1) is directed specifically at students or school personnel, (2) is maliciously intended for the purpose of threatening the safety of those specified or substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school, and (3) creates a reasonable fear of harm to the students' or school personnel's person or property or has a high likelihood of succeeding in that purpose.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Georgia school districts must adopt a policy that prohibits bullying of a student by another student. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Requirements that the district bullying policy be included in the student code of conduct;
- Requirements that a student in grades 6 through 12 who has committed the offense of bullying for the third time in a school year be assigned to an alternative school;
- Statements of how the policy will be publicized within the district; and
- Requirements to notify the parent or guardian upon finding that a student has committed an offense of bullying or is a victim of bullying.
Georgia school districts may additionally adopt components of the state model bullying policy, including statements prohibiting bullying and retaliation following a bullying report, reporting and investigation procedures, and consequences for bullying, including disciplinary actions or counseling, as appropriate. Georgia school districts that are not in compliance with the required components of the bullying policy are ineligible for state funding.
Do Georgia anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under Georgia anti-bullying laws or regulations.
Georgia 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 Georgia anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Georgia school districts must implement comprehensive character education programs for all grade levels that address methods of discouraging bullying.
Do Georgia anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to prevent or respond to bullying incidents?
No. Georgia anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide training to teachers or other school staff on how to prevent or respond to bullying incidents. Georgia anti-bullying laws do require the Department of Education to develop and post on its website information regarding anti-bullying training programs and materials that have been deemed appropriate for use in local school systems.
Do Georgia anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. Georgia anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying.
Do Georgia anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Georgia school districts must establish a method for notifying parents or legal guardians when a student has committed an offense of bullying or is a victim of bullying.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 28, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: HB 1009, May 5, 2026.
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 Georgia’s Children on Social Media Act, SB 351, Section 3-1, GA Code Sections 39-6-1 et seq.
In effect: July 1, 2025 · Status: blocked in court (in part or whole) - Protecting Georgia’s Children on Social Media Act, SB 351, GA Code Section 39-6-1
In effect: July 1, 2025 - SB 540, GA Code Section 39-5-6
In effect: July 1, 2027 Applies to: All users Minors under 18 (known or should have known) Requires a
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated October 16, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (7)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Hazing Law passed by the legislature Georgia Code Annotated Section 16-5-61 Read the text of Georgia Code Annotated Section 16-5-61
- Establishment of school policies on hazing; public disclosure of incidents; confidentiality of student information Law passed by the legislature Georgia Code Annotated Section 20-1-30 Read the text of Georgia Code Annotated Section 20-1-30
- Comprehensive character education program Law passed by the legislature Georgia Code Annotated Section 20-2-145 Read the text of Georgia Code Annotated Section 20-2-145
- Policies prohibiting bullying; assignment to alternative school; notice Law passed by the legislature Georgia Code Annotated Section 20-2-751.4 Read the text of Georgia Code Annotated Section 20-2-751.4
- Student code of conduct; safety rules on school buses; distribution Law passed by the legislature Georgia Code Annotated Section 20-2-751.5 Read the text of Georgia Code Annotated Section 20-2-751.5
- Disrupting operation of public school, school bus, or school bus stop; penalty; progressive discipline Law passed by the legislature Georgia Code Annotated Section 20-2-1181 Read the text of Georgia Code Annotated Section 20-2-1181
- Student Discipline Rule from a state agency Georgia State Board of Education Administrative Rule No. 160-4-8-.15 Read the text of Georgia State Board of Education Administrative Rule No. 160-4-8-.15
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Georgia
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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