A plain-English guide to Oregon’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: Oregon 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.
Oregon's bullying law includes 11 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates strong. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Oregon law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (Executive Order 25-09, July 2, 2025). Oregon also has 2 online-safety laws for minors, including Oregon Consumer Privacy Act, SB 619, Oregon Revised Statutes 646A.570 et seq..
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 18, 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 No
- 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.
- State law does not clearly extend to off-campus cyberbullying. Your district policy may still apply, so check it and talk with your administrator.
- 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 Oregon’s bullying law includes
- Bans bullying outright: not 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: 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: 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 Oregon anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Oregon anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, or bullying:
(1) “Cyberbullying” means the use of any electronic communication device to harass, intimidate or bully.
(2) “Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any act that:
(a) Substantially interferes with a student’s educational benefits, opportunities, or performance;
(b) Takes place on or immediately adjacent to school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided transportation or at any official school bus stop;
(c) Has the effect of:
(A) Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property;
(B) Knowingly placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm to the student or damage to the student’s property; or
(C) Creating a hostile educational environment, including interfering with the psychological well-being of a student; and
(d) May be based on, but not be limited to, the protected class status of a person.
Or. Rev. Stat. § 339.351 (2009)
Do Oregon anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. Oregon anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Oregon school districts must adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and prohibiting cyberbullying. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying and prohibiting cyberbullying;
- Definitions of prohibited behavior that are consistent with definitions in state law;
- Definitions of “protected class” that are consistent with definitions in state law;
- Statements of scope indicating where and when the policy applies;
- Descriptions of the type of behavior expected from each student;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations, including designation of a school official responsible for receiving bullying reports;
- Procedures for requesting a review of school actions in responding to or investigating acts of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying;
- Statements concerning how the district will respond to confirmed acts of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying;
- Disciplinary consequences and remedial actions for confirmed incidents of harassment, intimidation, bullying, and cyberbullying, or for reprisal, retaliation, or false accusation; and
- Statements of how the policy will be publicized within the district.
Oregon anti-bullying laws state that any district that does not comply with the requirements of the law is considered non-standard, which may result in the withholding of state funds.
Do Oregon anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. Oregon anti-bullying laws state that prohibited behavior may be based on, but is not limited to, the protected class status of a person (see ORS 339.351).
Oregon 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 Oregon anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Oregon anti-bullying laws encourage school districts to form task forces and to implement programs and other initiatives that are aimed at the prevention of, and the appropriate response to, acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying and acts of cyberbullying, and that involve school employees, students, administrators, volunteers, parents, guardians, law enforcement, and community representatives. Oregon anti-bullying laws also establish a statewide school safety and prevention system to assist school districts in decreasing acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying and acts of cyberbullying through the implementation of effective prevention programs that incorporate evidence-based, multitiered practices and support resiliency building and trauma-informed care practices.
Do Oregon anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Oregon anti-bullying laws require school district to incorporate into existing training programs for students and school employees information on the district bullying policy and information related to the prevention of, and the appropriate response to, acts of harassment, intimidation, and bullying and acts of cyberbullying.
Do Oregon anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. Oregon anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying.
Do Oregon anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Oregon anti-bullying laws require school districts to develop bullying policies after consultation with parents, guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, administrators, and community representatives. Oregon anti-bullying laws also encourage school districts to form task forces and to implement prevention programs and other initiatives that involve school employees, students, administrators, volunteers, parents, guardians, law enforcement, and community representatives.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 18, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: Executive Order 25-09, July 2, 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.
- Oregon Consumer Privacy Act, SB 619, Oregon Revised Statutes 646A.570 et seq.
In effect: July 1, 2024 As amended by HR 2008, eff. January 1, 2026 - Relating to artificial intelligence companions, SB 1546
In effect: January 1, 2027 Applies to: all users Minors (knows or has reason to believe)
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated August 31, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (12)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Duty of student to comply with rules; policies on discipline, suspension, expulsion, threats of violence or harm, firearms and physical force; student handbook or code of conduct; enforcement of policies Law passed by the legislature Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.250 Read the text of Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.250
- Statewide tip line to report information concerning threats or potential threats to student safety; rules Law passed by the legislature Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.329 Read the text of Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.329
- Statewide School Safety and Prevention System; rules Law passed by the legislature Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.341 Read the text of Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.341
- Definitions for ORS 339.351 to 339.364 Law passed by the legislature Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.351 Read the text of Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.351
- Findings Law passed by the legislature Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.353 Read the text of Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.353
- District policy required Law passed by the legislature Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.356 Read the text of Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.356
- Training programs; prevention task forces, programs and other initiatives Law passed by the legislature Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.359 Read the text of Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.359
- Retaliation against victims and witnesses prohibited; school employee immunity Law passed by the legislature Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.362 Read the text of Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.362
- Victim may seek redress under other laws Law passed by the legislature Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.364 Read the text of Oregon Revised Statute Section 339.364
- Equal education opportunity Rule from a state agency Oregon Administrative Rules 581-022-2310 Read the text of Oregon Administrative Rules 581-022-2310
- Mental and physical health and safety Rule from a state agency Oregon Administrative Rules 581-029-001 Read the text of Oregon Administrative Rules 581-029-001
- Every student belongs Rule from a state agency Oregon Administrative Rules 581-02-2312 Read the text of Oregon Administrative Rules 581-02-2312
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Oregon
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.
← Back to Clear Lines, the national atlas · How this map was built
Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with credit, under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0 licence.