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HB 1150

Impersonating any local, town, city, or county elected official; penalty.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Keith Hodges

Virginia bill creating criminal penalties for falsely impersonating local elected officials to prevent fraud and protect public trust in government.

Senate amendments agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1150

Legislative bill overview

HB 1150 creates criminal penalties for impersonating local elected officials in Virginia. The bill establishes a new offense that would apply to anyone falsely representing themselves as a town, city, or county elected official, with the substitute version approved by the subcommittee containing the specific penalty structure.

Why is this important

Impersonation of elected officials can undermine public trust, facilitate fraud, and create confusion about official government actions or statements. This legislation addresses a gap in existing Virginia law by making such impersonation explicitly illegal at the local level, protecting residents from potential scams and identity-related offenses targeting government legitimacy.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition clarity: The bill may need precise language distinguishing between deliberate impersonation for fraudulent purposes versus casual misrepresentation or satire, which could implicate free speech considerations
  • Penalty proportionality: Disagreement may arise over whether the criminal penalties are appropriately scaled or if they should vary based on intent (fraud vs. misidentification)
  • Enforcement scope: Questions about how law enforcement determines impersonation intent and whether the statute adequately protects against over-prosecution in ambiguous situations

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

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