Relative to National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Addis and 69 co-sponsors

Recognizes January 2025 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and pledges survivor-centered, public‑health approaches to prevention, identification, and support.

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 5, Statutes of 2025.

#nationalhumantraffickingawarenessmonth

Purpose

ACR 9 is a concurrent resolution recognizing January 2025 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Its intent is to raise public awareness about human trafficking in its various forms, highlight populations at elevated risk, and affirm the State of California’s commitment to survivor-centered, public‑health and rights‑based approaches to prevention, identification, and support.

Key provisions and content

Formally recognizes January 2025 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Contains numerous “whereas” findings summarizing national and international data and research about trafficking trends, vulnerabilities, and service gaps.

Emphasizes topics including:

Definitions of human trafficking (force, fraud, coercion for labor or commercial sexual exploitation).
Geographic scope (cases reported in all 50 states and U.S. territories).
Labor trafficking, including labor trafficking by forced criminality (LTFC) and challenges identifying LTFC victims.
Disproportionate impacts on immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities, Native American communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, homeless youth, and survivors involved with the child welfare system.
Growing identification of boys as trafficking victims and lack of shelters/beds for survivors (2015 shelter assessment cited: ~1,800 beds; only two reserved for men).
Links between economic/food insecurity, climate displacement, and trafficking vulnerability.
The value of survivor leadership and inclusion, and support for public‑health and rights‑based approaches to prevention and response.

The resolution affirms California’s dedication to protecting victims and continuing collaborations with local, state, and national partners on investigations, training, outreach, and direct assistance.

Who is affected / targeted

Primarily symbolic: victims and survivors, advocacy organizations, service providers, local governments, and the public. The resolution highlights specific vulnerable groups (immigrants, Black and Hispanic communities, Native American people, 2SLGBTQIA+ and transgender people, homeless youth, boys/men, and those involved in the child welfare system).

Because it is a concurrent resolution, it does not create legal rights, regulatory changes, or funding.

Procedural and timeline facts

Introduced: December 16, 2024 (Author: Assemblymember Pellerin).

Senate concurrence: adopted January 21, 2025.

Assembly adoption: adopted February 6, 2025 (Ayes 37, Noes 0).

Enrolled and filed with the Secretary of State: February 13, 2025.

Chaptered by Secretary of State: Res. Chapter 5, Statutes of 2025.

Fiscal committee: not applicable / no fiscal effect.

Legal effect and likely impact

ACR 9 is a non‑binding, ceremonial/concurrent resolution expressing the Legislature’s position and raising awareness. Its practical impacts are informational and symbolic — intended to promote awareness activities, encourage collaboration, and support survivor‑centered practices among policymakers, service providers, and the public. It does not appropriate funds or change statutory law.

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