PA House passes Young bill to increase human trafficking awareness training
Philadelphia House Delegation December 17, 2025 | 3:38 PM
HARRISBURG, Dec. 17 – Today, state Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila./Delaware hosted a news conference to celebrate House passage of her bill that would mandate human trafficking awareness training for Pennsylvania workers in the hospitality industry, including online lodging and reservation companies.
House Bill 1286 would amend Act 197 of 2012 to include 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 is borne from the reality that her area 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.
“Front desk and housekeeping staff are some of the most engaged employees with guests, so they should be educated to recognize and report suspected trafficking. This bill 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 pointed out the upcoming world-class events in Philadelphia as reason to act swiftly.
“As we approach 2026, the Philadelphia region will have worldwide attention with America250 events, FIFA World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star game and more, which studies show increase instances of human trafficking. While this issue is larger than 2026, it is crucial that we act now.”
State Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Westmoreland, is a co-prime sponsor of the legislation and said he is excited the bill has passed in the House and is one step closer to becoming law.
“This is an excellent example of how when we work together across the aisle, with industry leaders, and respect, we can change the lives of Pennsylvanians. This is an unprecedented harnessing of resources that even the industry says, yes, this is a good thing for people.”
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.
Philadelphia City Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad spoke about how the bill works in tandem with her efforts in city hall to fight trafficking in the city and support victims.
“Human trafficking hides in plain sight, which is why I invested $500,000 in human trafficking awareness efforts in our community and advanced a bill to protect victims of human trafficking," said Ahmad.
"House Bill 1286 expands that mission statewide by training hospitality workers to spot red flags and report suspected trafficking. I applaud Rep. Regina Young’s leadership and urge the Senate to take swift and decisive action and pass this bill without delay."
Zakary Pyzik, senior director of public affairs, Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, added that the lodging industry supports the legislation and recognizes the benefits of training for employees.
“The Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association and the hotel industry nationwide is doing all we can to combat human trafficking. The data has always been clear – training saves lives. It’s powerful, proactive prevention in action. The issue touches every corner of the industry, which is why parity in training and accountability embodied in H.B. 1286 is so important. We’re deeply thankful to Reps. Young, Khan, Nelson and Leadbeter for championing this issue and making it a priority in this session. It sends a clear message that Pennsylvania is not a place where traffickers will operate unchecked. It’s critical that we act now.”
“We can end human trafficking through education and encouraging people to speak up when they see something wrong. It takes all of us to stand up for victims and be vigilant in prevention,” said Young in closing.
The bill passed the House unanimously and now heads to the state Senate for consideration.