A plain-English guide to Idaho’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: Idaho 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.
Idaho's bullying law includes 11 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates strong. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Idaho law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: encourages districts to limit cellphones in classrooms (Executive order, October 31, 2024). Idaho also has 3 online-safety laws for minors, including Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act, HB 542.
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
Strong state protections · 11 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 State encourages limits
- 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.
- 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.
- State law does not spell out a role for parents, so building partnerships with families is up to 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 Idaho’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: not included
The law involves parents in preventing or responding to bullying.
Questions and answers about the law
How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Idaho anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Idaho anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of harassment, intimidation, and bullying:
"Harassment, intimidation or bullying" means any intentional gesture, or any intentional written, verbal or physical act or threat by a student that:
- A reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of:Harming a student; orDamaging a student's property; orPlacing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person; orPlacing a student in reasonable fear of damage to his or her property; or
- Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student.
An act of harassment, intimidation or bullying may also be committed through the use of a landline, car phone or wireless telephone or through the use of data or computer software that is accessed through a computer, computer system, or computer network.
Idaho Code § 18-917A (2015)
Do Idaho anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. Idaho anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Idaho school districts must adopt policies on harassment, intimidation, and bullying. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Expectations for school personnel to intervene or facilitate intervention on behalf of students facing harassment, intimidation, or bullying;
- Disciplinary consequences that may include, but are not limited to, referral to counseling, diversion, use of juvenile specialty courts, restorative practices, on-site suspension and expulsion for any student who commits an act of bullying, intimidation, harassment, violence, or threats of violence;
- Procedures for reporting, including designation of a person to whom bullying reports are to be made; and
- Requirements regarding how the policy will be publicized within the district.
Idaho state law requires districts to report bullying incidents to the State Department of Education on an annual basis.
Do Idaho anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under Idaho anti-bullying laws or regulations.
Idaho 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 Idaho anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Idaho school staff must receive professional development on school prevention strategies or programs, including the identification of materials to be distributed annually to students and parents.
Do Idaho anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Idaho school districts must provide ongoing professional development to build skills of all school staff members to prevent, identify, and respond to harassment, intimidation, and bullying.
Do Idaho anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. Idaho school district employees are authorized and expected to intervene on behalf of students facing harassment, intimidation, and bullying to protect and provide support for the victim of the act.
Do Idaho anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
No. Idaho anti-bullying laws do not create specific expectations for parent involvement in addressing bullying behavior; however, the content of professional development for school staff must address the school process for responding to bullying, including parent involvement.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 28, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Encourages districts to limit cellphones in classrooms. Most recent statewide action: Executive order, October 31, 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.
- Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act, HB 542
In effect: July 1, 2026 - Online Child Safety Act, House Bill 498, Chapter 38, Title 6, Idaho Code, Section 6-3801
In effect: July 1, 2024 - Conversational AI Safety Act, SB 1297
In effect: January 1, 2027 Applies to: All users Minors under 18 (actual knowledge or reasonable cert
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated August 31, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (8)
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 Idaho Code Section 18-917 Read the text of Idaho Code Section 18-917
- Student harassment — Intimidation — Bullying Law passed by the legislature Idaho Code Section 18-917a Read the text of Idaho Code Section 18-917a
- Denial of school attendance Law passed by the legislature Idaho Code Section 33-205 Read the text of Idaho Code Section 33-205
- Governance of schools Law passed by the legislature Idaho Code Section 33-512 Read the text of Idaho Code Section 33-512
- Requirements for harassment, intimidation and bullying information and professional development Law passed by the legislature Idaho Code Section 33-1631 Read the text of Idaho Code Section 33-1631
- Idaho House Bill 515 Relating to education; amending section 33-1631, Idaho Code, to revise provisions regarding requirements for harassment, intimidation or bullying information and professional development and to make technical corrections; and declaring an emergency and providing an effective date Law passed by the legislature Idaho House Bill 515 Relating to education; amending section 33-1631, Idaho Code, to revise provisions regarding requirements for harassment, intimidation or bullying information and professional development and to make technical corrections; and declaring an emergency and providing an effective date Read the text of Idaho House Bill 515 Relating to education; amending section 33-1631, Idaho Code, to revise provisions regarding requirements for harassment, intimidation or bullying information and professional development and to make technical corrections; and declaring an emergency and providing an effective date
- Bullying, harassment, and intimidation prevention and response Rule from a state agency State Board of Education Administrative Rule Section 08.02.02.111 Read the text of State Board of Education Administrative Rule Section 08.02.02.111
- Safe environment and discipline Rule from a state agency State Board of Education Administrative Rule Section 08.02.03.160 Read the text of State Board of Education Administrative Rule Section 08.02.03.160
Official Idaho resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Idaho
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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