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S 1187

An Act to prevent human trafficking through increased public awareness

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jamie Eldridge and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts bill requires widespread anti-trafficking signs, transit employee training, and materials to help identify and report trafficking, plus license disqualification for t

Hearing scheduled for 09/23/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
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Bill Summary · S 1187

Summary — S.1187: "An Act to prevent human trafficking through increased public awareness"

Note on source materials
- The provided packet includes two distinct bills both labeled S 1187: (1) an Idaho technical trailer bill amending agricultural protection area procedures (which, per the legislative actions included, was enacted into law April 4, 2025), and (2) a Massachusetts bill titled “An Act to prevent human trafficking through increased public awareness” (pending). This summary focuses on the Massachusetts human‑trafficking awareness bill (the bill titled above), which is the subject identified in your request and for which a hearing is scheduled 09/23/2025.

Purpose and intent
- Increase public awareness of human trafficking and provide front‑line public employees and private transportation workers with the information and training needed to identify and report suspected trafficking, thereby improving victim identification and reporting.

Key provisions
1. Public signage (Chapter 6C additions)
- The state Department shall require/display public awareness signs containing the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) hotline (or successor) and basic indicators of trafficking in:
- Every transportation station, rest area, and welcome center open to the public.
- MBTA stations, buses, trains, subway cars, streetcars, and passenger vehicles.
- Regional Transit Authority (RTA) stations, buses and passenger vehicles.
- MassPort airports and ferry terminals.

  1. Transit employee education and training (rulemaking)

    • The Department will promulgate regulations (in collaboration with MBTA, RTAs, MassPort) requiring anti‑trafficking education and training for all new and existing transit employees who frequently interact with the public (drivers, operators, ticket agents, custodial staff, mechanics, vendors, etc.).
    • Minimum training components:
      • Definitions (commercial exploitation, human/sex/labor trafficking).
      • Common physical and emotional signs in victims.
      • Reporting and emergency response protocols, including NHTRC hotline (1‑888‑373‑7888; text 233733), state/local/federal law enforcement.
      • Identification of vulnerable populations at higher risk.
    • Training may be incorporated into existing programs; the Department may collaborate with public entities and nonprofits and must review/update regulations at least biannually.

  2. Hospitals

    • Hospitals licensed under Chapter 111 must display conspicuous public awareness signs that include the NHTRC hotline and basic signs of trafficking.

  3. Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) and vehicle decals

    • The Division (in consultation with the Registry of Motor Vehicles) will provide removable decals for vehicles that contain the NHTRC hotline and trafficking signs.
    • The Department will require TNCs to provide anti‑trafficking educational materials to all new and existing drivers, containing the core training elements above. The Department may collaborate with nonprofits or other agencies to create/distribute materials.

  4. Commercial motor vehicle license disqualification (amendment to Chapter 90F, §8)

    • Persons convicted of trafficking offenses (state sections cited and relevant federal statutes: 18 U.S.C. §§ 1581, 1583, 1584, 1589, 1590, 1591) would be disqualified from obtaining a commercial motor vehicle license.
    • Reinstatement only on judicial relief establishing innocence (as specified).

Affected parties
- Public transit agencies: MBTA, regional transit authorities.
- MassPort (airports and ferry terminals).
- State Department/divisions responsible for rulemaking and RMV.
- Transit workers (drivers, operators, custodial, ticket staff, mechanics, vendors).
- Transportation Network Companies (ride‑share) and their drivers.
- Hospitals licensed in Massachusetts.
- Vehicle owners/operators (removable decals).
- Individuals convicted of trafficking offenses (commercial license eligibility).

Implementation and procedure
- The bill requires the Department to promulgate regulations and collaborate with agencies and nonprofits to produce training and signage; training programs must be reviewed at least every two years.
- Several provisions call for rulemaking and agency coordination; some sections of the bill text provided were truncated, so final regulatory details and any additional enforcement or funding provisions would depend on completed text and subsequent rulemaking.

Status (from provided materials)
- Filed in the Massachusetts Senate (docket/No. 506), presented by Senator Mark C. Montigny; hearing scheduled for 09/23/2025 (01:00 PM–05:00 PM in A‑2). Additional legislative actions and cosponsor listings in the packet are inconsistent across documents; verify current status in official Massachusetts legislative tracking for updates.

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

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