Pa. House Tourism Committee to discuss bill to fight human trafficking
Hearing on training hospitality workers will take place Oct. 2 in Essington, online
Rep. Regina Young September 23, 2025 | 3:21 PM
HARRISBURG, Sept. 23 – The state House Tourism, Recreation and Economic Development Committee will hold a hearing on a bill to train Pennsylvania employees of hotels, motels, online lodging and reservation companies, and other establishments to spot signs of human trafficking.
The public hearing is slated for 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 2 at the Holiday Inn Express, 101 Taylor Ave., in Essington. It will also be streamed live at https://youtube.com/live/MoNweqGt3eo.
House Bill 1286 is sponsored by state Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila./Delaware, and would provide for mandatory human trafficking awareness training for Pennsylvania workers in the hospitality industry, including for online lodging and reservation companies.
“Hotels, motels and other temporary lodging are some of the most common venues where human trafficking occurs, often hidden in plain sight – reminding us that vigilance, training and awareness in the hospitality industry are critical to saving lives,” Young said.
“I look forward to hearing the expert testimony on this issue, as it affects every corner of Pennsylvania and so many young and vulnerable people. This bill would be a lifeline for many people,” said Majority Committee Chair Mary Jo Daley.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts in January 2025 revealed 1,235 human trafficking offenses filed across 366 cases in the state between 2020 and 2024.
The media is invited to attend the hearing.