HARRISBURG – Kicking off the fall legislative session, members of the PA Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus (AHT) today applauded two monumental legislative victories for victims, law enforcement and survivors.

Requested and fully supported by the Office of Attorney General, Act 41 of 2026 (Senate Bill 45) increases criminal penalties for those who prey upon vulnerable individuals who have been groomed, manipulated and forced into “The Life.” This new law relocates most prostitution offenses to the human trafficking section of the state Crimes Code and places these offenses them under the jurisdiction of the Office of Attorney General.

“The signing of this landmark legislation proves once again that ending human trafficking takes all of us: law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, community leaders, employers, lawmakers, and especially, survivors,” said AHT Caucus Chairman Sen. Cris Dush (R-25). “Specifically pertaining to Act 41, which I prime sponsored, the fundamental purpose of this new law remains and has always been giving the AG’s Office full jurisdiction to comprehensively combat prostitution and the scourge of sex trafficking across the commonwealth.”

“Combating human trafficking requires strong laws, dedicated law enforcement and an informed public. Acts 41 and 31 strengthen the work already underway at the Office of Attorney General by giving law enforcement additional tools and helping more Pennsylvanians recognize the signs of trafficking,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday. “I commend Sen. Dush, Rep. Young and the members of the Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus for their leadership and partnership in advancing these important protections for vulnerable Pennsylvanians.”

Sponsored by Rep. Regina G. Young (D-185), Act 31 of 2026 (House Bill 1286) establishes mandatory human trafficking awareness training for Pennsylvania workers in the hospitality industry, including online lodging, reservation companies and operators of short-term rentals who have contact with guests or access to guest rooms.

“It’s crucial that we have all hands on deck in the fight to end human trafficking,” said Young. “Since hotel and other lodging staff are the folks who have the most direct contact and interaction with guests, it’s imperative that they have the training to identify the warning signs and how to report suspicious activity. Act 31 and the determination of this bipartisan, bicameral caucus are huge steps forward in helping victims escape unthinkable circumstances and putting traffickers on notice that Pennsylvania will not allow this heinous crime to continue in our commonwealth.”

Assembled earlier this spring, the mission of the PA AHT Caucus is to accelerate passage of impactful legislation through evaluating and making bipartisan and bicameral recommendations to each of the four sets of leadership in the General Assembly and the governor.

“Human trafficking is not a partisan issue,” said Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28). “I am proud of all the work done by our bipartisan, bicameral caucus, which has been able to put aside political differences to achieve real, tangible results.”

“These bills represent an important step forward in Pennsylvania’s efforts to combat human trafficking,” said Sen. Maria Collett (D-12). “I’m proud to have worked alongside Senator Dush to draft and pass SB 45, now Act 41 of 2026, to strengthen the Attorney General’s ability to investigate and prosecute traffickers and sex buyers, while modernizing a legal framework that has historically placed an unfair burden on people involved in prostitution. And I’m proud to work alongside community stakeholders who have dedicated their time and expertise to advancing these reforms. Together, we are working toward a Pennsylvania where survivors are heard, supported and protected, and where law enforcement has the tools necessary to hold traffickers accountable.”

“Human trafficking does not stop at county lines or party lines, and neither can our response,” said Sen. Marty Flynn (D-22). “These new laws give law enforcement stronger tools while also putting greater emphasis on recognizing the warning signs before another person becomes a victim. I am proud to be part of this bipartisan group that is focused on getting legislation across the finish line and protecting vulnerable Pennsylvanians from exploitation.”

Human trafficking is real-time, organized crime — exploiting and enslaving millions of women and children and illegally generating more than $150 billion worldwide every year. 

“These are important steps to hopefully eliminate human trafficking in Pennsylvania and even beyond our borders,” said Rep. Kate Klunk (R-169). “We also are aware that more hard work must be done as long as even one person is victimized in this way.”

“These new laws represent important steps in the right direction when it comes to combating human trafficking here in our Commonwealth and beyond,” said Rep. Clint Owlett (R-68). “By improving awareness among hospitality workers and helping them better recognize victims of human trafficking, we can stop the crime in its tracks. And ensuring our chief law enforcement officer has the tools necessary to prosecute offenders — and by increasing penalties — we can put a major dent in this vile criminal enterprise.”

“Behind every trafficking statistic is a person whose freedom was stolen. These laws give us new tools to hold traffickers accountable while strengthening our ability to prevent trafficking,” said Rep. Danilo Burgos (D-197). “Ultimately, human trafficking is an issue where partisan lines should never stand in the way of protecting vulnerable people. I’m proud of the work this bipartisan caucus has done for that shared responsibility.”

Through force, fraud and coercion, human traffickers push their victims into demeaning forms of abuse, including domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation.

“Again, these new laws are not designed to prosecute vulnerable human trafficking survivors,” concluded Dush. “Fully recognizing that the Keystone State’s geographical location makes it a prime hot spot for sex trafficking, labor trafficking, prostitution and organized crime, we will continue working together to shepherd more high-priority legislative initiatives across the finish line to prevent further destruction of innocent lives.”

More information on the PA AHT Caucus is available here. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.