Stuart Supports Bipartisan Legislation to Post Human Trafficking Resources at Rest Stops Across Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, co-sponsored a bipartisan bill requiring the Illinois Department of Transportation to post human trafficking resources in rest area bathrooms. 

“Working to end exploitation and crime is something both sides of the aisle can agree on,” said Stuart. “We have to do everything in our legislative power to prevent human trafficking and provide help and support to victims of such a heinous crime.”

House Bill 4654 expands existing legislation requiring human trafficking resources to be posted. In many cases of human trafficking, victims are often closely watched and may only find themselves alone in a bathroom in or around a roadside stop for a few short minutes. This legislation hopes to ensure these victims of human trafficking can access help and resources without risking jeopardizing their safety. 

Currently in Illinois, human trafficking notices in rest stops are posted with all other required notices, often on a public bulletin board. House Bill 4654 seeks to make these notices more private and accessible to possible victims by requiring human trafficking resources to explicitly be posted in bathrooms.

“Human trafficking is a disgusting crime and perpetrators must be held accountable for the safety of our communities,” said Stuart. “By providing more resources on reporting human trafficking, we can ensure that human traffickers face a fair trial in a court of law.”

House Bill 4654 passed unanimously in the House and heads to the Senate.

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