Senate committee hears bill to add trafficking awareness to initial CDL training

Sen. Carolyn Bosin (District 25) asked the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee to advance LB1073, a bill that would require at least 30 minutes of human‑trafficking awareness training for anyone seeking a commercial driver's license for the first time. "Professional drivers are the eyes and ears of our transportation network," Bosin said, arguing that a short mandatory training could help drivers spot victims at rest areas, truck stops and bus terminals.

Supporters told the committee the training already exists and would cost neither students nor taxpayers. Kent Grisham, president and CEO of the Nebraska Trucking Association, said Nebraska issued roughly 3,800 new CDLs last year and that training providers include community colleges, private schools and industry programs. "Under the provisions of LB1073, those training programs will pay nothing for the curriculum…The students will pay nothing and the taxpayers will pay nothing extra to enforce it," Grisham said.

Kyla Lanier, cofounder and deputy director of Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), described TAT's materials — short 20–30 minute videos, wallet cards and a free app — and recounted a rescue in which a truck driver alerted authorities. "We are very pleased to stand in support of legislative bill 1073 that would ensure that this information and training be given out for free to all of the CDL training schools within the state," Lanier said. George Welch, an assistant attorney general who coordinates the Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force, told senators his office would prescribe curriculum and review it every three years and said the change would apply only to new trainees, not existing CDL holders.

Committee members asked practical questions about implementation, including whether the 30 minutes is a one‑time requirement (Bosin: yes) and who would supply the curriculum (TAT and oversight from the Attorney General's office and Department of Motor Vehicles). Bosin said a cleanup amendment will standardize wording to refer consistently to "human trafficking." Several senators thanked witnesses for the testimony; no opponents appeared in the hearing record.

The hearing closed with Bosin saying she would share the minor amendment language, and the committee recorded nine proponents online and no opponents or neutral testifiers. There was no vote on the bill at the hearing; next steps would be committee consideration of the amendment and a possible advancement to general file.