Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

July 23, 2026

New Law Fights Against Human Trafficking

The International Labour Organization (ILO) refers to it as “modern slavery.” The organization’s researchers have shown that as many as 28 million people were forced or coerced to work against their will.

For years, many believed this was not an issue here in the United States and that only in countries with more antiquated laws can human trafficking be a concern.

Nothing could be further from the truth. This is why I voted in favor of Act 41 of 2026. The new law aims to help the Pennsylvania attorney general and law enforcement more effectively target and prosecute human trafficking. 

Recognizing the proliferation of sex trafficking, the new law moves most of the state’s prostitution offenses to the human trafficking section of the state Crimes Code. It also enhances the penalties for several of those offenses and places them under the jurisdiction of the Office of Attorney General, giving it the ability to better combat prostitution and human trafficking across the Commonwealth. 

One of the most persistent myths about human trafficking is the assumption that it exclusively involves abduction or kidnapping. In reality, fewer than 10% of trafficking cases nationwide involve kidnapping. Instead, traffickers often groom their victims over time, exploiting vulnerabilities like age, poverty, substance abuse or unstable housing. Many victims know their trafficker, whether it’s a family member, romantic partner or someone embedded in the local community. These relationships of trust make trafficking more difficult to detect. 

Children and adults of all ages and demographics can become victims. Through force, fraud and coercion, traffickers push their victims into demeaning forms of abuse, including domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation.

According to World Population Review, in 2024, there were 287 human trafficking cases in the Commonwealth, involving 676 victims and ranking Pennsylvania 12th in the U.S. overall.

Pennsylvania’s transportation corridors and diverse landscapes contribute to it being such a hotbed for human trafficking.

Heavily used interstates, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-95, make it easier for offenders to relocate their victims quickly. While the Commonwealth is often used a pass through for legal goods being imported and exported, unfortunately, the same is true for victims of human trafficking.

Enforcement agencies also point to how easily traffickers can work in both urban and rural environments across the Commonwealth. While cities allow victims to be hidden in plain sight, rural areas offer isolation. Often, human trafficking networks conduct their business in both settings.

This is why I am a member of the bipartisan, bicameral PA Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus, which works to advance legislation to combat crime and support victims, as well as educate elected officials and others about the signs of trafficking.

In addition to working on Act 41 of 2026, the caucus also worked on the passage of Act 39 of 2023, which was unanimously advanced. It ensures sexually exploited child human trafficking victims always have full access to necessary services and support.

If you or someone you know is being trafficked, or you suspect an instance of human trafficking is ongoing, call 911 as well as the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. 

Here are some additional news topics I would like to share.

Avoid Fraud by Attending my $CAM JAM! - Every day, those who aim to steal our identity or access our financial information are finding new ways to target us. What can we do? Stay one step ahead of them. Join my office, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, the New Kensington Police Department, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Westmoreland Area Agency on Aging and AARP Pennsylvania for a $cam Jam! This free event, which promises to be fun and informative, will take place Tuesday, Aug. 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the New Kensington Senior Center, 1039 Third Ave., New Kensington. Registration is not required but recommended. Call 724-472-4102 or email rsavage@pahousegop.com to register.

Looking for a Career in Law Enforcement? - The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is accepting applications from people interested in a rewarding career in public service as a state trooper.
 
Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate and a valid driver’s license from any state. They must be at least 20 years old at the time of application, and they must be at least 21 years old and cannot have reached age 40 upon entry into the PSP academy. 

Applications for the current cadet hiring cycle should be submitted via the Commonwealth’s employment website, GovernmentJobs.com, by July 31. A new cadet hiring cycle will open on Aug. 1. For more information on becoming a state trooper, including applicant requirements and job benefits, visit PATrooper.com. 

Antlerless License Round 2 Begins July 27 - Hunters looking to purchase a second antlerless license for the 2026-27 hunting season will soon have the opportunity to do so when the second round of licensing begins on Monday, July 27. 

As of that date, unsold licenses will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to both residents and nonresidents. 

One antlerless deer license per hunter can be purchased per round in the first three rounds. Licenses are available for purchase online at huntfish.pa.gov or in-person at license issuing agents. 



Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com