From State Senator Darby Hills:
Senator Hills Advocates for Survivors and Highlights Local Impact During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
nity leaders to discuss the realities of trafficking, strategies for prevention, and how we can strengthen laws to hold traffickers accountable.
Human trafficking is a hidden crime that affects our communities every day. Survivors deserve our protection, our support, and our action to make sure traffickers cannot hide behind loopholes or weak enforcement.
During the panel, I shared my work on two pieces of legislation I’ve co-sponsored:
- SB0267 – Expands the Sex Offender Registration Act so anyone who commits human trafficking involving commercial sexual activity or sexual exploitation is required to register. This bill closes a loophole that previously allowed some traffickers to avoid registration.
- SB0284 (“Andrew’s Law”) – Limits plea bargaining in sex offenses against minors and keeps convicted child sex offenders from working or volunteering in places serving children. It strengthens protections and accountability so our laws reflect the severity of these crimes.
We also discussed the critical role communities play in prevention. Schools, faith communities, healthcare providers, businesses, and everyday citizens all have a responsibility to recognize warning signs, support survivors, and report suspected trafficking. This issue hits close to home: of the 99 human trafficking victims rescued nationwide in 2025, 45 were in Illinois, and 19 were from my district.
Together, we can protect the most vulnerable and ensure traffickers face justice. Survivors are not alone, and their voices must guide how we prevent and respond to trafficking in our communities.
You can watch the full seminar here.
