Pennsylvania Signed New Anti-Trafficking Legislation
Governor Josh Shapiro enacted two bills in summer 2026 to increase penalties and mandate staff training.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Sex Crimes
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During the summer of 2026, Governor Josh Shapiro signed two anti-trafficking bills into law in Pennsylvania. These measures aim to curb human trafficking by mandating hospitality training and increasing penalties for those who traffic children.
Why it matters
Lawmakers seek to diminish the demand for sex services while updating state legal codes to better support victims of exploitation. The move aims to broaden the prosecutorial reach of the Attorney General's office.
Official reports indicate that 79 defendants faced human trafficking charges across 26 Pennsylvania counties in 2025. The Attorney General's office now possesses expanded authority to investigate and prosecute the crime of buying sex.
The players
Josh Shapiro
He is the Governor of Pennsylvania who signed the new anti-trafficking bills into law.
Anti-Human Trafficking caucus
This legislative body launched in March 2026 to advocate for expanded legal action against exploitation.
Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation
This organization tracks and reports data regarding the prevalence of human trafficking and exploitation cases.
The details
The new laws reclassify buying sex into the human trafficking section of the state crime code, effectively expanding the investigative jurisdiction of the Attorney General. Additionally, the legislation requires hospitality staff to receive formal training to recognize the indicators of human trafficking.
Timeline
In 2025, 26 counties filed human trafficking charges.
The Anti-Human Trafficking caucus launched in March 2026.
Governor Josh Shapiro signed two anti-trafficking bills in summer 2026.
Legislators plan to pursue additional anti-trafficking bills during the fall of 2026.
Legal Context
The new legislation represents a shift in Pennsylvania's state crime code by reclassifying the purchase of sex into the human trafficking category. This adjustment aligns with a broader trend of states centralizing anti-trafficking efforts to improve prosecutorial consistency.
The mandate for hospitality staff training means workers in hotels and motels across the state will soon adopt new protocols for reporting suspicious activity. Residents may see increased enforcement of sex-buying laws as the Attorney General's office exercises its expanded investigative authority.
The takeaway
These legal changes reflect a concentrated effort to curb sexual exploitation by targeting demand and improving detection protocols. Citizens can support these efforts by staying informed on local legislative updates as new bills move through the statehouse this fall.
What happens next
Legislators intend to introduce and vote on additional anti-trafficking bills throughout the fall of 2026.
Further reading
For more on the state response to exploitation, visit the Sex Crimes section.
Live Poll
Do you support increasing criminal penalties to deter human trafficking in your state?
