A plain-English guide to Utah’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: Utah 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.
Utah's bullying law includes 13 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Utah law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (SB 69, March 18, 2026). Utah also has 4 online-safety laws for minors, including Social Media Regulation Amendments, SB 194, UT Code Section 13-71-101 to -401.
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 12, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated April 21, 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 4 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.
- 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 Utah’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: included
The law involves parents in preventing or responding to bullying.
Questions and answers about the law
How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Utah anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Utah anti-bullying laws and regulations include the following definitions of bullying, cyber-bullying, and harassment:
“Bullying” means a school employee or student intentionally committing a written, verbal, or physical act against a school employee or student that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know or reasonably foresee will have the effect of:
- causing physical or emotional harm to the school employee or student;
- causing damage to the school employee’s or student’s property;
- placing the school employee or student in reasonable fear of:harm to the school employee’s or student’s physical or emotional well-being; ordamage to the school employee’s or student’s property;
- creating a hostile, threatening, humiliating, or abusive educational environment due to:the pervasiveness, persistence, or severity of the actions; ora power differential between the bully and the target; or
- substantially interfering with a student having a safe school environment that is necessary to facilitate educational performance, opportunities, or benefits.
- the conduct described above constitutes bullying, regardless of whether the person against whom the conduct is committed directed, consented to, or acquiesced in, the conduct.
- bullying” includes relational aggression or indirect, covert, or social aggression, including rumor spreading, intimidation, enlisting a friend to assault a child, and social isolation.
“Cyber-bullying” means using the Internet, a cell phone, or another device to send or post text, video, or an image with the intent or knowledge, or with reckless disregard, that the text, video, or image will hurt, embarrass, or threaten an individual, regardless of whether the individual directed, consented to, or acquiesced in the conduct, or voluntarily accessed the electronic communication.
“Abusive conduct” means verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a parent or student directed toward a school employee that, based on its severity, nature, and frequency of occurrence, a reasonable person would determine is intended to cause intimidation, humiliation, or unwarranted distress.
A single act does not constitute abusive conduct.
Utah Code Ann. § 53G-9-601 (2019)
Do Utah anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Utah anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct by prohibiting cyberbullying at any time or at any location.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Utah school districts must adopt a policy addressing bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Definitions of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, and abusive conduct that are consistent with definitions in state law;
- Prohibitions against bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, retaliation, and false reporting;
- Requirements for parent notification of incidents of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation, or of a student’s threats of suicide;
- Grievance processes for school employees;
- Reporting and investigation procedures, including interview processes and reviews of disciplinary reports and physical evidence, and circumstances in which the district would report incidents to law enforcement;
- Action plans to address a reported incident of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, or retaliation; and
- Requirements for how the policy will be publicized within the district.
Utah school boards must also adopt electronic device policies that prohibit the use of electronic devices in ways that bully, humiliate, harass, or intimidate school-related individuals. Utah anti-bullying laws require districts to report annually to the State Board of Education on the school board’s policy, training of school employees, and other related information.
Do Utah anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under Utah anti-bullying laws or regulations. However, Utah state regulation does prohibit bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, or hazing that is targeted at a student based upon the students’ or employees’ identification as part of any group protected from discrimination under federal law.
Utah 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 Utah anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Utah anti-bullying laws require school boards to adopt standards and procedures that require regular annual discussion and training designed to prevent bullying, cyberbullying, hazing, and retaliation among school employees and students.
Do Utah anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Utah anti-bullying laws require districts to include training regarding bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation in school employee training. School boards may also offer voluntary training to parents and students regarding abusive conduct. School boards are also encouraged to implement programs or initiatives, in addition to standard school employee training, to provide training and education regarding the prevention of bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation. Programs or initiatives may involve the establishment of a bullying task force or the involvement of school employees, students, or law enforcement.
Do Utah anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. Utah anti-bullying laws encourage districts to take positive restorative justice practice action if an alleged victim chooses to participate and to support involved students through trauma-informed practices.
Do Utah anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Utah school district policies must be developed with input from students, parents, teachers, school administrators, school staff, or local law enforcement agencies and must include provisions to notify the parents of each student involved in an incident of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, or retaliation. Utah school districts are also encouraged to implement seminars for parents that address bullying and other behavioral health issues.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 12, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: SB 69, March 18, 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.
- Social Media Regulation Amendments, SB 194, UT Code Section 13-71-101 to -401
In effect: October 1, 2024 · Status: blocked in court (in part or whole) - Social Media Amendments, HB 464, UT Code Section 78B-3-1101 to 1106
In effect: October 1, 2024 Note: Repealed and replaced the Social Media Regulation Act, UT Code 13-63 · Status: repealed - Utah Consumer Privacy Act, Utah Code Annotated Section 13-61-101 et seq.
In effect: December 31, 2023 - Online Pornography Viewing Age Requirements – SB287, Utah Code Annotated Sections 78B-3-1001-1002
In effect: May 3, 2023
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated April 21, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (28)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- School disciplinary and law enforcement action report – Rulemaking authority Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53E-3-516 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53E-3-516
- Grounds for suspension or expulsion from a public school Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-8-205 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-8-205
- Extracurricular activities — Prohibited conduct — Reporting of violations — Limitation of liability Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-8-209 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-8-209
- State Safety and Support Program – State board duties Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-8-802 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-8-802
- Definitions Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-601 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-601
- Bullying, hazing, and cyber-bullying prohibited Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-602 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-602
- Retaliation and making a false allegation prohibited Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-603 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-603
- Parental notification of certain incidents and threats required Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-604 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-604
- Bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation policy Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-605 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-605
- Model policy and state board duties Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-606 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-606
- Training, education, and prevention — Standards Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-607 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-607
- Other forms of legal redress Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-608 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-608
- Youth suicide prevention programs required in secondary schools — State board to develop model programs Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-702 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-702
- Parent education — Mental health — Bullying — Safety Law passed by the legislature Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-703 Read the text of Utah Code Annotated Section 53G-9-703
- Required conduct for an educator Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-217-3 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-217-3
- Association professional standard setting, training, and monitoring Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-316-5 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-316-5
- Membership restrictions Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-409-3 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-409-3
- LEA Electronic device policy requirements Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-495-4 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-495-4
- Coaches and school activity leaders as supervisors and role models Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-605-4 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-605-4
- Definitions Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-609-2 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-609-2
- LEA responsibility to develop plans Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-609-4 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-609-4
- Authority and Purpose Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-613-1 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-613-1
- Definitions Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-613-2 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-613-2
- Superintendent responsibilities Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-613-3 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-613-3
- LEA responsibility to create or update bullying policies Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-613-4 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-613-4
- Reporting and incident investigations of allegations of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, and retaliation and abusive conduct Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-613-5 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-613-5
- Training by LEAs specific to participants in public school athletic programs and school clubs Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-613-6 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-613-6
- Abusive conduct Rule from a state agency Utah Administrative Code R277-613-7 Read the text of Utah Administrative Code R277-613-7
Official Utah resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Utah
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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