Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateDelawareEnacted
HB 326: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THEFT BY IMPERSONATION OF A FAMILY MEMBER.
Eric Morrison
HB 326 status: Enacted — Signed by Governor (updated Sep 14, 2026).
Source
LegiScan
Confidence
High
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
68OUT OF 100
Score:68/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 60/100
Constitutionality95%
Bipartisan90%
Public opinion95%
Bill summary
What changes
HB 326 creates a specific criminal offense, 'Theft by impersonation of a family member,' in Title 11 of the Delaware Code.
Who is affected
Offenders committing theft by impersonating immediate family members; elderly, disabled, or impaired victims receive higher levels of legal protection.
Requirements and enforcement
The state must prove the defendant used communication (oral, written, electronic) to impersonate a family member to facilitate theft.
Costs and funding
Increased state costs for prosecution and incarceration; potential restitution costs for offenders.
When it takes effect
Effective upon enactment (Signed Sept 14, 2026).
Potential benefits
Provides enhanced sentencing for scams targeting the elderly and vulnerable; deters organized financial fraud.
Risks and tradeoffs
Adds to the state's felony count; potential for misinterpretation in non-fraudulent family financial disputes.
What is still unknown
The effectiveness of these specific sentencing tiers in deterring sophisticated international scam operations.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Positive outlook
60%
Benefits
- Establishes a deterrent for financial fraud
- Increases legal clarity for prosecuting impersonation scams
- Potentially reduces recovery losses for victimized individuals
Risks
- Increases state correctional expenditures for felony sentencing
- Imposes additional burdens on the judicial system for prosecutions
- Requires new investigative resources for complex impersonation cases
Society
Positive outlook
75%
Benefits
- Provides enhanced legal protections for seniors
- Specifically protects adults with cognitive impairments
- Targets predatory behaviors affecting vulnerable populations
Risks
- Adds to the state's prison population via new felony charges
- Focuses on punitive measures over restorative alternatives
- May lead to disproportionate impact on marginalized offenders
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
70%
Benefits
- Protects the financial stability of elderly citizens
- Mitigates the psychological trauma associated with family-member scams
- Strengthens safety standards for vulnerable adult protection
Risks
- Criminalization does not address root socioeconomic causes of fraud
- Does not provide direct support services for victims
- No preventative education or awareness requirements included
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
LegiScan
Official bill text or data from LegiScan.
Confidence
High
Information is complete and verified.
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Creates new felony classes which increases long-term state carceral costs
Analysis scope
Does not address preventative public awareness campaigns
04
Where it stands
Official recordSigned by Governor
- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorComplete
- EnactedComplete
05
How it affects your district
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06
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