A plain-English guide to Maryland’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: Maryland 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.
Maryland's bullying law includes 14 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Maryland law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. There is no statewide school phone rule. Maryland also has 2 online-safety laws for minors, including the Maryland Age Appropriate Design Code Act (“The Kids Code”), HB 603/SB 571, Maryland Code Annotated Section 14-4801 to 14-4813.
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed April 29, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated May 16, 2024.
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 No statewide rule
- Online safety laws for minors 2 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 Maryland’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
Do Maryland anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Maryland anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct by imposing criminal sanctions for cyberbullying.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Maryland county boards of education must adopt a policy prohibiting bullying, harassment, and intimidation that conforms to the state model policy. Local policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting bullying, harassment, and intimidation in schools;
- Statements prohibiting reprisal or retaliation against individuals who report acts of bullying, harassment, or intimidation;
- Definitions of prohibited behavior that conform to definitions in state law;
- Consequences and remedial actions for violations of policy;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations, including designation of a contact person who is familiar with reporting and investigation procedures;
- Procedures for providing notice of an act of bullying, harassment, or intimidation to a parent or guardian of an alleged victim or alleged perpetrator;
- Information about the types of support services available to a student bully, victim, or any bystanders;
- Information regarding the availability and use of the bullying, harassment, and intimidation reporting form;
- Information regarding the availability and use of an anonymous two-way electronic tip program; and
- Requirements regarding how the policy will be publicized within the district.
Maryland anti-bullying laws require county boards to submit local policies to the State Superintendent and to update policies every five years based on updates to the state model policy. Maryland county boards must also report incidents of bullying, harassment, or intimidation against students using a standard reporting form and submit confidential summaries of report forms to the State Board.
Do Maryland anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. Maryland anti-bullying laws prohibit bullying, harassment, or intimidation that is motivated by an actual or a perceived personal characteristic (see Maryland Statute §7–424).
Maryland 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 Maryland anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Maryland anti-bullying laws require county boards of education to develop educational programs to prevent bullying, harassment, and intimidation in schools including an educational bullying, harassment, and intimidation prevention program for students, staff, volunteers, and parents.
Do Maryland anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Maryland anti-bullying laws require county boards of education to develop educational programs to prevent bullying, harassment, and intimidation in schools including a teacher and administrator development program that trains teachers and administrators to implement the policy.
Do Maryland anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. Maryland school district policies must include information about the types of support services available to a student bully, victim, or any bystanders.
Do Maryland anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Maryland anti-bullying laws require county boards of education to develop local policies in consultation with parents or guardians of students, school employees and administrators, school volunteers, students, and other members of the community. District policies must also include procedures for notice of an act of bullying, harassment, or intimidation to a parent or guardian of the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 29, 2026.
School phone and device rules
No statewide law or policy on student phone use is listed for Maryland. 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.
- The Maryland Age Appropriate Design Code Act (“The Kids Code”), HB 603/SB 571, Maryland Code Annotated Section 14-4801 to 14-4813
In effect: October 1, 2024 - Maryland Online Data Privacy Act, SB 541, Maryland Code Annotated Com. Law Section 14-4701 et seq.
In effect: October 1, 2025
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated May 16, 2024.
Legal citations, explained (4)
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 Maryland Code Annotated, Criminal Law Section 3-607 Read the text of Maryland Code Annotated, Criminal Law Section 3-607
- Reporting incidents of harassment or intimidation against students Law passed by the legislature Maryland Code Annotated, Education Section 7-424 Read the text of Maryland Code Annotated, Education Section 7-424
- Model policy prohibiting bullying, harassment, and intimidation Law passed by the legislature Maryland Code Annotated, Education Section 7-424.1 Read the text of Maryland Code Annotated, Education Section 7-424.1
- School safety Rule from a state agency Code of Maryland State Board of Education Regulation Section 13A.01.04.03 Read the text of Code of Maryland State Board of Education Regulation Section 13A.01.04.03
Official Maryland resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Maryland
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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