Kentucky House raises penalty for promoting human trafficking, passes bill unanimously
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Summary
The Kentucky House passed House Bill 320 to make promoting human trafficking a felony equal to trafficking itself (class B; class A if the victim is under 18). Sponsor Representative Nimas said the change closes a gap without expanding definitions; the vote was unanimous.
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House on third reading passed House Bill 320 on a unanimous roll-call vote after sponsors said the measure treats promotion of human trafficking the same as the trafficking crime itself.
Representative Nimas, sponsor of the bill, told colleagues that "human trafficking is one of the ugliest crimes we confront as a society" and that promoting trafficking — advertising victims, arranging buyers or managing logistics — is the "business engine" of the crime. He said the bill "equalizes the penalty for promoting human trafficking with the penalty for human trafficking itself," making promotion a class B felony and a class A felony when the victim is under 18.
The bill does not add new offenses or expand statutory definitions, Nimas said, and he asked members to "stand with the victims and vote yes." A Representative from Jefferson (District 41) asked whether the bill includes new funding for cyber investigations. Representative (Jefferson 33) answered that HB 320 is not an appropriation and that recent budgets have increased funding for the attorney general's anti‑trafficking efforts; he said this measure changes penalties rather than creating new spending.
The clerk recorded 95 members voting and no nays; the bill was declared passed. Members then adopted a title amendment to change the bill's displayed title to an act "relating to combating human trafficking." Clinchers were applied and the House moved on to the next item of business.
What happens next: With passage by the House, the bill will proceed according to the legislative calendar and any further message or concurrence actions required between the chambers.
