State Representative Nicole La Ha has been a vocal advocate in the fight against human trafficking, driven not only through her commitment to justice but to protect the vulnerable. To do that, she filed three bills: HB 1114 removes the statute of limitations for prosecuting crimes such as involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons when the victim was under 18 at the time of the offense; HB 1467 eliminates the affirmative defense of "mistake of age" for individuals accused of patronizing a minor engaged in prostitution; and HB 1469, which amends the Sex Offender Registration Act to include offenses such as trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, requiring offenders to register as sex offenders.
LaHa’s legislation ensures victims have the time they need to come forward, holds offenders accountable, and provides transparency in communities to promote awareness of the severity of human trafficking.
"Today, we took a stand against the horrific reality of human trafficking in Illinois,” said Rep. La Ha. “I’m working to ensure traffickers are held fully accountable and that survivors have the time, resources, and support they need to seek justice. We must take action to make sure those responsible face the consequences of their crimes.”
“I want to thank the advocates and survivors who have shared their stories with me. Your voices matter, and your courage fuels this fight,” continued La Ha. “I will continue pushing this legislation forward and working on new measures to support you and ensure traffickers are brought to justice. Every step we take brings us closer to protecting our vulnerable and ending this heinous crime."
State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro noted that Illinois’ central location and access to world class airports, highways, and other transportation networks has only propelled human trafficking in the state. Resulting in us being a hub for trafficking. Knowing this she said, “We cannot turn a blind eye.”
“I talk with law enforcement officers on a regular basis and I know they are working hard, but their resources are stretched thin,” continued Sanalitro. “As lawmakers, we need stronger laws, more funding, and more community engagement to combat these crimes. Every second we wait, another victim is at risk.”
Rep. Sanalitro introduced the bills she’s backing and called on her colleagues to work together to stop human trafficking and protect the vulnerable. Her bills include: HB 1903, which allows victims to obtain legal protection against their traffickers, and HB 3237, which ensures victims are not punished for crimes they were forced to commit while being trafficked.
State Representative Dennis Tipsword provided insight into the importance of working with law enforcement in the fight to end human trafficking, which for him means holding criminals accountable and protecting some of the state’s youngest and most vulnerable residents.
“These predators are drawn to sexual exploitation, financial gain, and illegal business practices, and we have to do everything in our power to keep them off our streets,” said Rep. Tipsword, who also serves as Chief Deputy at the Woodford County Sheriff's Office. “Human trafficking represents a massive public safety issue, and victims can be lured by violence, manipulation, romance, and false financial promises.”
Tipsword spoke about an incident near his district earlier this year, when the Illinois State Police arrested six men for human trafficking crimes in Bloomington. These crimes included commercial sex acts, solicitation to meet a child, and grooming. It took a very large and coordinated effort to handle these arrests, with the local police, the county sheriff’s office, the Illinois State Police, the Department of Children and Family Services, the State’s Attorney’s Office and others all involved.
“Law enforcement will continue to face challenges going forward, and with the internet and social media, the pathways for predators to lure women, children and other vulnerable populations are numerous,” continued Tipsword.”
Tipsword and House Republican members will continue to back efforts to put a stop to human trafficking and move their bills through the legislative process.