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HB 5563

AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION NOTICE ACT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jennifer Boylan and 4 co-sponsors

Hospitals? Wait. The bill requires all hotel staff and short-term rental operators in RI to complete annual human trafficking awareness training and establish reporting procedures.

06/24/2025 Signed by Governor
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 5563

Summary — HB 5563: The Human Trafficking Prevention and Training Act

Status: Signed by Governor (June 24, 2025). Effective date: January 1, 2026.
Introduced: February 26 / March 14, 2025. Companion: SB 2385.

Purpose

HB 5563 expands and strengthens Rhode Island’s existing human-trafficking notice law by (1) renaming the chapter to the Human Trafficking Prevention and Training Act and (2) requiring mandatory human-trafficking awareness training and written reporting procedures for hospitality-sector workers and short-term rental operators. The goal is to improve identification and reporting of suspected human trafficking in hotels and short-term rental properties.

Key provisions

  • Chapter title change: from “The Human Trafficking Prevention Notice Act” to “The Human Trafficking Prevention and Training Act.”
  • Definitions:
    • “Department” means the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.
    • “Hotel” and “short-term rental property” reference existing statutory definitions; short-term rental is defined by § 42-63.1-2.
    • “Human trafficking” is defined consistent with federal and state criminal statutes.
    • “Human trafficking awareness training” is defined and must include specified components (see below).
  • Mandatory training:
    • Who: every employee of a hotel and every operator of a short-term rental property in Rhode Island.
    • When: within 180 days of hire or the first listing of a short-term rental; thereafter annual training each year (completed not later than December 31).
    • Training content must include:
    • Definition of human trafficking and commercial exploitation of children;
    • How to identify at-risk individuals and signs of trafficking;
    • Differences between labor and sex trafficking, specific to the hotel sector;
    • Role of hospitality employees in reporting/responding;
    • Contact information for the national human trafficking hotline (toll-free and text) or local law enforcement.
    • Training must be established or approved by the Department of Business Regulation.
  • Policies and procedures:
    • Hotel operators and short-term rental operators must adopt procedures and policies for reporting suspected trafficking to the national hotline or local law enforcement.
  • Recordkeeping and access:
    • Operators must maintain records of employee/operator training for the duration of employment/operation and for one year after.
    • Operators must provide training records to the Department within a reasonable time, and no later than 10 business days after a written request.

Who is affected

  • Hotel employers and their employees in Rhode Island.
  • Operators of short-term rental properties (hosts/managers) listed on hosting platforms.
  • Department of Business Regulation (oversight and approval role).
  • Law enforcement and the national human trafficking hotline as reporting recipients.

Enforcement / penalties

  • The statute requires training, policies, and recordkeeping and gives the Department authority to request records (10 business days). The text included does not specify civil or criminal penalties or fines for noncompliance.

Legislative process and timing

  • Public hearings and committee consideration occurred in spring 2025. The House passed the bill (May 22, 2025); the Senate passed it in concurrence (June 18, 2025); signed by the Governor June 24, 2025. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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