SPRINGFIELD – With human trafficking on the rise around the country and across the state, State Senator Mike Halpin’s effort to address the growing blight was signed into law Friday.

“By empowering local governments to ensure local businesses are giving the right training, our state can better combat human trafficking,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “This method of enforcement creates a targeted approach that will allow law enforcement and the Department of Human Services to enforce this necessary training.”

This law will give municipalities the legal authority to act if a business is not complying the training laws. In addition, the new law will allow local governments to issue fines of up to $1,500 per offense. Previous law required human trafficking recognition training at hotels, restaurants and truck stops, but does not have enforcement measures at the local level.

The Human Trafficking Hotline received over 760 signals from Illinois in 2023. These signals can range from labor trafficking to sex trafficking though some are unknown or unspecified. Even with Illinois combatting the human trafficking epidemic, the issue remains one of the most under-reported and under-identified crimes. In addition, the sinister dynamics of human trafficking mean that most victims do not reach out for help according to the Illinois State Police. Trafficking hotspots like hotels, restaurants and truck stop employees need the proper training to identify this crime.

“Human Trafficking is a crisis hiding in plain sight,” said State Representative Gregg Johnson (D-East Moline).  “By giving local governments the tools to enforce existing training laws, this legislation ensures more workers on the front lines are equipped to recognize the warning signs and take action. I am proud to support this common sense step to protect some of our most vulnerable neighbors."

Senate Bill 1422 was signed into law Aug. 1, 2025 and will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.