Gov. Shapiro signs Young’s anti-human trafficking bill into law
New law will help combat human trafficking in PA by requiring training for hospitality workers
Rep. Regina Young July 20, 2026
HARRISBURG, July 20 – A state House bill designed to help combat human trafficking in Pennsylvania was signed into law today by Gov. Josh Shapiro. Authored by state Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila./Delaware, the law, Act 31 of 2026, mandates human trafficking awareness training for Pennsylvania workers in the hospitality industry, including online lodging and reservation companies.
Among other provisions, the law includes training requirements approved through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for employees of public lodging establishments who have contact with guests or access to guest rooms, and for operators of short-term rentals.
Young said this legislation, the first of its kind in Pennsylvania pertaining to human trafficking, is borne from the reality that her region is a prime location for traffickers.
“With our proximity to major interstate highways and international transportation hubs, South Philadelphia and Delaware County are unfortunate hotbeds for this evil practice, though the problem continues to be pervasive across the state,” said Young.
“This law will give front desk and housekeeping staff training to identify signs of human trafficking and what they can do to report it. These staff are some of the most engaged employees with guests, so they should be educated to recognize and report suspected trafficking. It also encompasses online reservation services to account for their specific set of warning signs as a popular and easy option to bypass face-to-face interaction,” added Young. “It’s not just hotels and motels – it’s also inclusive of short-term rental operators.”
Young said given the number of national and international events happening in Pennsylvania, it was important to bring this issue into the light and continue to take steps to address it.
In October, the House Tourism, Recreation & Economic Development Committee held a public hearing on the legislation in Delaware County which outlined the critical need for this reform as sexual exploitation is a pervasive and ongoing problem. Expert testimony laid out the case for Pennsylvania to do more in its fight against human trafficking.
“I want to thank all of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle and in the Senate, for heeding the experts who sounded the alarm on this issue, and for their support of my bill,” Young said. “We have much more work to do on this issue, but this is a great step to providing people with the tools they need to help others who may be trapped in horrible circumstances.”
