House committee hears bill to require anti‑trafficking training for lodging workers, including short‑term rentals

Representative Regina Young, sponsor of House Bill 1286, told the House Tourism, Recreation and Economic Development Committee that the bill is aimed at reducing human trafficking by increasing training and awareness across the lodging industry.

"This legislation is really speaking to the heart of humanity," Representative Regina Young said, opening a hearing that drew testimony from hotel‑industry groups, law‑enforcement officials, victim‑service advocates and anti‑trafficking nonprofits.

House Bill 1286 would require employees at hotels, motels and other public lodging — and, as discussed repeatedly at the hearing, workers connected to short‑term rentals — to complete anti‑trafficking training every two years. Supporters told the committee the training uses survivor‑informed content and existing national courses that are available online and free of charge.

Joe Massaro, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, said the industry supports the bill and that the proposed training matches materials already used by many hotels. "There’s no room for human trafficking in Pennsylvania," Massaro said, citing PRLA and AHLA efforts to expand training to the short‑term rental sector.

Sarah Bracco, vice president and policy counsel at the American Hotel and Lodging Association, described AHLA’s longstanding No Room for Trafficking campaign and its training, which the association reports has produced more than 2.2 million course completions nationally. "The lodging industry is uniquely…