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HB 197

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STALKING.

153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Introduced by Krista Griffith and 3 co-sponsors

Delaware updates stalking law definitions and penalties to address modern harassment methods including digital surveillance and social media tracking.

Signed by Governor
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 197

Legislative bill overview

HB 197 amends Delaware's stalking laws under Title 11 of the Delaware Code. The bill has progressed through House amendment procedures and received a favorable judiciary committee report in the Senate, indicating legislative momentum for revising stalking statutes.

Why is this important

Stalking is a persistent crime that causes severe psychological harm to victims and often escalates to violence. Updating stalking laws ensures legal definitions and penalties reflect modern harassment methods (digital communication, social media, GPS tracking) and provide clearer protections for victims.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Whether the revised law adequately balances protecting victims from genuine threats while avoiding over-criminalization of ambiguous behavior that could capture protected speech or misunderstandings
  • Digital stalking provisions: How the law addresses online harassment, location tracking, and social media surveillance—areas where privacy advocates and law enforcement may have differing thresholds for what constitutes criminal conduct
  • Penalty structure: Disagreement over whether sentencing enhancements are proportionate, particularly regarding repeat offenders or cases involving technology-facilitated stalking

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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