Summary: This bill updates Delaware law to replace terms like “child pornography” with the more accurate term “child sexual abuse material.” It applies this change consistently across various criminal statutes, including those related to trafficking, exploitation, possession, and distribution.

Analysis: HB 166 is an important is a very important step towards aligning legal language with the reality of what these crimes represent. The term “child pornography” minimizes the nature of the crime as it implies consent. It also obscures the fact that these materials are not fictional nor are they consensual in any way. Rather, they are actual pieces of documented evidence for the sexual abuse of real children. By replacing it with “child sexual abuse material,” the law acknowledges the victims and eliminates language that inadvertently normalizes abuse.

This change is also a step towards a cultural shift. It’s not just a matter of semantics—words shape how we understand a problem, how we respond to it, and how seriously we take it. When the law uses precise, clear, and appropriate language, it helps reinforce public awareness and strengthens the foundation for justice. This update ensures that Delaware’s legal code speaks with clarity and compassion, while holding offenders fully accountable for crimes that do lasting harm to the most vulnerable among us.