A plain-English guide to New Hampshire’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: New Hampshire 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.
New Hampshire's bullying law includes 13 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. New Hampshire has no crime specific to cyberbullying, but general harassment, threat and stalking laws can apply. School phones: statewide ban (HB 2, June 30, 2025). New Hampshire also has 2 online-safety laws for minors, including New Hampshire Privacy Act, SB 255, as amended by HB 1460.
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 1, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated August 26, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Comprehensive state protections · 13 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 Statewide phone restriction
- 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 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 New Hampshire’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: not 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 New Hampshire anti-bullying laws and regulations?
New Hampshire anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of bullying and cyberbullying:
“Bullying” means a single significant incident or a pattern of incidents involving a written, verbal, or electronic communication, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another pupil which:
(1) Physically harms a pupil or damages the pupil’s property;
(2) Causes emotional distress to a pupil;
(3) Interferes with a pupil’s educational opportunities;
(4) Creates a hostile educational environment; or
(5) Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school.
“Bullying” shall include actions motivated by an imbalance of power based on a pupil’s actual or perceived personal characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs, or motivated by the pupil’s association with another person and based on the other person’s characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs.
“Cyberbullying” means conduct defined in paragraph I of this section undertaken through the use of electronic devices.
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 193-F:3 (2010)
Do New Hampshire anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. New Hampshire anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct if the conduct interferes with a pupil’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operations of the school or school sponsored activity or event.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
New Hampshire school districts are required to adopt a written policy prohibiting bullying and cyberbullying. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Definitions of bullying that conform to definitions in state law;
- Statements prohibiting bullying or cyberbullying of a pupil;
- Statements prohibiting retaliation or false accusations;
- Requirements that all students are protected regardless of their status under the law;
- Disciplinary consequences or interventions for students who commit acts of bullying and cyberbullying or who falsely accuse other students;
- Statements of how the policy will be publicized within the district;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations, including identification of a person to whom a pupil or another person may report bullying or cyberbullying;
- Requirements to develop a response to remediate substantiated incidents and to offer assistance to the victim or perpetrator;
- Procedures for notifying the parents or guardians of victims or perpetrators and communicating regarding the school’s remedies and assistance; and
- Identification of a school official responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented.
New Hampshire school districts must annually report substantiated incidents of bullying or cyberbullying to the department of education.
Do New Hampshire anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. New Hampshire anti-bullying laws define bullying as actions motivated by an imbalance of power based on a pupil’s actual or perceived personal characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs, or motivated by the pupil’s associated with another person and based on the other person’s characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs. The laws states that bullying has historically included actions that are motivated by actual or perceived distinguishing personal characteristics (see RSA 193-F:2).
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. New Hampshire school districts are required to provide educational programs for pupils and parents in preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying or cyberbullying.
Do New Hampshire anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. New Hampshire school districts must provide annual training for school employees, regular school volunteers, or employees under contract with a school or district who have significant contact with pupils for the purpose of preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying or cyberbullying.
Do New Hampshire anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. New Hampshire school district policies must include a requirement that the principal or designee develop a response to remediate any substantiated incident of bullying or cyberbullying, including offering assistance to the victim or perpetrator.
Do New Hampshire anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. New Hampshire school districts are encouraged to develop policies in consultation with pupils, parents, administrators, school staff, school volunteers, community representatives, and local law enforcement agencies. School district policies must also include a procedure for notifying the parent or parents or guardian of the victim and the perpetrator of the bullying or cyberbullying and communicating regarding the school’s remedies and assistance. School districts must also provide education programs for parents in preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying or cyberbullying.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 1, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: HB 2, June 30, 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.
- New Hampshire Privacy Act, SB 255, as amended by HB 1460
In effect: January 1, 2025 - Enforcement Action for Solicitation of Children Through Responsive Generative Ai, HB 143, Revised Statutes Annotated 507:8-k
In effect: January 1, 2026 Applies to: Child under 18
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated August 26, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (14)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Suspension and expulsion of pupils Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-13 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-13
- Title Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:1 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:1
- Purpose and intent Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:2 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:2
- Definitions Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:3 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:3
- Pupil safety and violence prevention Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:4 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:4
- Training and assessment Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:5 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:5
- Reporting Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:6 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:6
- Immunity Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:7 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:7
- School district discrimination or harassment policies Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:8 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:8
- Private right of action not permitted Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:9 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:9
- Public Academies Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:10 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 193-F:10
- Student hazing Law passed by the legislature New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 631:7 Read the text of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 631:7
- Policy development Rule from a state agency New Hampshire Administrative Rules, Ed Section 306.04 Read the text of New Hampshire Administrative Rules, Ed Section 306.04
- In-service instruction Rule from a state agency New Hampshire Administrative Rules, Safe-C Section 1305.03 Read the text of New Hampshire Administrative Rules, Safe-C Section 1305.03
Official New Hampshire resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in New Hampshire
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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