Marion County proclaims January 2026 National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Speaker 1 opened the court meeting by presenting a proclamation declaring January 2026 as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and described human trafficking as both a crime and a public health issue affecting individuals, families and communities.

The proclamation cited federal law and national estimates and said victims can be found in many settings, from domestic work to restaurants and agriculture. Speaker 1 referenced the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act and cited estimated global and Texas victim counts as described in the proclamation. Speaker 2 moved to take action on the proclamation; the motion was seconded and the court carried the item.

Speaker 1 recounted seeing informational flyers and a QR code at a Louisiana rest stop and described using that example to explain the issue to a child. "It's very simple. It's two clicks," Speaker 1 said when describing how someone can report suspected trafficking using a posted QR code. Coalition partners and county officials thanked local service groups and the women's center for their work on prevention and survivor services.

The proclamation directs county leadership to recognize trafficking as a community and public-health concern and to support local awareness and services. The court did not adopt a separate funding action at the meeting; the proclamation is a formal recognition and a statement of the county's intent to promote awareness and coordination with service partners.