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A new anti-bullying proposal known as Autumn’s Law was introduced in the Virginia Senate on Tuesday, January 20, by Bill Stanley. The legislation honors Autumn Bushman, a 10-year-old Roanoke County girl who died by suicide in 2025.
The bill would create a new criminal offense under Virginia Code § 18.2-56.01, classifying aggravated bullying and aggravated cyberbullying against students as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Under the proposed statute, conduct would qualify as aggravated when it is intended to place a victim in reasonable fear of bodily injury or death, provoke violence or a breach of the peace, or significantly interfere with a student’s ability to attend or benefit from school.
The definition also includes bullying that targets a student based on protected characteristics such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, mental health condition, or physical appearance.
Autumn’s Law would further amend Virginia Code § 22.1-279.3:1, requiring school principals to immediately report incidents of aggravated bullying or aggravated cyberbullying to local law enforcement when they occur on school buses, on school property, or during school-sponsored activities. The change removes administrative discretion and ensures that the most serious cases receive criminal review.
In addition, the legislation would require school boards to update their codes of student conduct to explicitly prohibit aggravated bullying and cyberbullying. Those policies must include clear reporting procedures, escalating disciplinary consequences — including expulsion when warranted — references to applicable criminal penalties, and information about civil rights of action and legal remedies available to victims.
Schools would also be required to provide students and families with access to support resources, including mental health services and victim assistance programs.
The bill preserves First Amendment protections, specifying that it is not intended to restrict religious, political, or philosophical expression unless such expression results in a material disruption of school operations or infringes on student safety.
SOURCE: WSHV3