The Shadow
RICHMOND Va. (VR) – A Virginia lawmaker is pushing new penalties and mandatory reporting requirements for severe bullying after the suicide of a 10-year-old Roanoke County student, a death her grieving family says must lead to change that protects other children.
The bill, known as Autumn’s Law, is named for Autumn Brooke Bushman, a fourth grader remembered by her parents as empathetic, softhearted, and quick to defend classmates who were targeted. Autumn died by suicide after months of bullying that her family said intensified in the weeks before her death. The measure, introduced by state Sen. Bill Stanley, would create criminal penalties for aggravated bullying and aggravated cyberbullying and require school leaders to immediately alert law enforcement when serious incidents occur on school property, buses, or at school activities.
Supporters say the proposal is a direct response to a tragedy that laid bare how relentless harassment, including online, can follow children home and overwhelm even the most resilient students.
“Autumn Bushman’s death was a tragic event that highlighted the severe impact of bullying on children,” according to Sen Stanley. Her parents, Summer and Mark Bushman, have become advocates for stronger anti-bullying laws, urging a communitywide effort to stop abuse and to monitor kids’ digital lives more closely.
Under the bill, aggravated bullying against a student would be classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Conduct would be considered “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 covers bullying that targets a student based on protected characteristics, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, medical or mental health conditions, or physical appearance. Aggravated cyberbullying would carry the same classification, reflecting the reality that harassment now often occurs on phones and tablets, well beyond the school day.
The measure would also remove serious cases of administrative discretion. Principals would be required to report incidents of aggravated bullying and aggravated cyberbullying immediately to local law enforcement when they occur on school grounds, buses, or during school-sponsored events. School boards would need to update their codes of student conduct to explicitly prohibit aggravated bullying, establish clear reporting procedures, detail escalating disciplinary consequences, including expulsion when warranted, and include references to criminal penalties and civil remedies available to victims. The proposal further mandates that schools provide students and families with access to support resources such as mental health services and victim assistance programs. The bill preserves First Amendment protections, specifying it does not restrict religious, political, or philosophical expression unless it causes a material disruption or threatens student safety.
Roanoke County Public Schools described Autumn’s death as a “tragic loss,” saying it conducted a review and offered counseling services to students. The district did not confirm the details in her case, citing privacy laws, but said it takes reports seriously and works with families when concerns are raised. Autumn’s parents said they had reported the bullying to the district earlier in the school year, despite assurances that the situation was being handled, but they said the harassment persisted.
“This is an age where they have tablets, and they have phones, so it’s happening around the clock,” Autumn’s father said, noting the difficulty of escaping online abuse once it takes root in a peer group.
In the weeks before her death, Autumn’s family noticed troubling changes; she wore darker clothes, laughed less, and slept more, a drastic shift from a child known for her infectious laugh and love of cheer, track, dance, and archery. The Bushmans have urged parents to check their children’s devices, both to ensure their kids are being kind and to protect them from harassment.
“Putting an end to bullying is not something achieved by individuals operating alone. It is done by a community banding together,” Autumn’s father wrote in a public message calling for accountability, resources, and a cultural shift in how schools and families address bullying.
Advocates argue that the law’s combination of criminal accountability and school-based supports balances enforcement with care. By defining aggravated conduct and routing the most serious cases to police, they say, the bill could deter egregious behavior and ensure swift intervention. At the same time, requirements for updated codes of conduct, clear reporting pathways, and access to counseling aim to prevent escalation and support students in crisis. The legislation’s carveout for protected speech, sponsors add, is designed to safeguard expression while addressing harassment that endangers safety or disrupts learning.
For the Bushman family, this measure is an attempt to channel grief into protection for others. They remember Autumn as a child who stood up for classmates, a quality they fear made her a target. They hope that no other family will have to map the same terrain of sorrow, and that schools, parents, and students will join together to make classrooms and online spaces safer. “Let’s give these kids a life worth living,” Autumn’s father wrote, urging communities to “focus our energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new” with accountability at home and at school, and resources for those who need help.
If passed, Autumn’s Law would mark a significant shift in how Virginia responds to serious bullying, treating the most dangerous behavior as a criminal matter while strengthening the safety net in schools. Born of tragedy, supporters say, the bill seeks to ensure that some good can come from profound loss, clearer rules, faster responses, and a united front to protect children before it is too late.
