Daley lauds bill to educate hospitality workers on human trafficking
Rep. Mary Jo Daley December 18, 2025 | 3:48 PM
HARRISBURG, Dec. 18 – On Wednesday, the state House of Representatives passed legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s efforts to combat human trafficking.
House Bill 1286, sponsored by state Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila., would equip hospitality workers with the training and tools to recognize and respond to trafficking activity.
House Tourism, Recreation and Economic Development Committee Chair Mary Jo Daley said that it was an honor to see the bill pass unanimously and head to the Senate, where she hopes it’s met with fast approval.
“Hospitality workers are often on the front lines, interacting regularly with guests and observing day-to-day activity in lodging environments,” Daley said. “By ensuring these workers are properly trained, the legislation seeks to improve early identification and reporting of suspected trafficking, helping prevent exploitation and protect victims, guests and staff.
“Thank you to Representative Young for her tireless efforts on the bill, and to all of my House colleagues who took a stand for trafficking victims across the state.”
House Bill 1286 would require lodging establishments, third-party listing platforms, and operators of short-term rentals across the commonwealth to provide human trafficking awareness training to their workers. The training would educate employees on what human trafficking is, how to identify common warning signs, and the appropriate steps to take when trafficking is suspected. Employers would also be required to document the training provided to ensure accountability and consistency.
“Human trafficking often hides in plain sight,” Daley said. “By empowering hospitality workers with knowledge and clear guidance, we can strengthen our ability to identify trafficking as it happens and connect victims with help.”