Pa. House Tourism Committee advances bill to fight human trafficking
Bill would provide training on spotting cases for hospitality workers
Rep. Regina Young October 28, 2025 | 11:01 AM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 28 – The state House Tourism, Recreation and Economic Development Committee today advanced a bill to train Pennsylvania employees of hotels, motels, online lodging and reservation companies, and other establishments to identify and report signs of human trafficking.
House Bill 1286, sponsored by state Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila./Delaware, would provide for mandatory human trafficking awareness training for Pennsylvania workers in the hospitality industry, including online lodging and reservation companies.
“We’ve heard loud and clear for years now that one of the best ways to combat human trafficking is to increase training and awareness with the people who are most likely to notice it,” Young said. “I’m glad that for the first time we’re including online reservation sites for short- and long-term lodging in this legislation, as that has become an identified way of avoiding visual contact. I’m thankful for this committee taking the time to hold a public hearing about this in my district and that powerful testimony moving us to a positive vote today. Human trafficking is an evil across Pennsylvania that we can defeat by shining a light on the warning signs and indications of danger.”
A hearing was held on the bill earlier this month in Essington. Testimony can be watched at https://youtube.com/live/MoNweqGt3eo.
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. During the hearing, expert testimony laid out the case for Pennsylvania to do more in its fight against human trafficking.
Human trafficking cases in Pennsylvania and across the country increasingly focus on treating those coerced into providing sex or labor as victims rather than criminals. Prosecutors and courts work with service providers to connect survivors with counseling, housing, medical care and legal support, recognizing that traffickers often use threats, violence, debt or manipulation to trap people in exploitative situations.
"When more people understand what trafficking looks like, more lives can be saved," said House Tourism Committee Chair Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery. "This crime strips people of their freedom and dignity. It’s exploitation in its worst form, and it has absolutely no place in our communities."
Testimony over the bill showed that many victims are initially reluctant to come forward because of fear, trauma or mistrust of authorities, so victim-centered approaches – such as trauma-informed interviews and confidential advocacy – are essential to building cases and helping survivors rebuild their lives. The goal is not only to hold traffickers accountable, but also to give victims a path to recovery.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline identified over 4,800 trafficking victims in Pennsylvania since 2007. Pennsylvania also ranked 11th among U.S. territories for its percentage of reported cases and tips, with more than 600 calls, texts and online contacts made to the hotline in 2023.
"From my first day in office, I’ve made it a priority to fight human trafficking. Sadly, our region’s proximity to major highways and international travel routes makes it a hotspot for this terrible crime,” Young said. “This bill underscores just how critical it is to train hotel and lodging staff to recognize and report the warning signs. Awareness and education are key to protecting victims and putting an end to trafficking."
According to reports, sex trafficking accounted for 142 cases primarily in the residence-based commercial sex venue, followed by massage businesses.