New York lawmakers are calling for urgent reforms to close legal loopholes and expand protections for victims of human trafficking across the state.
Following months of public forums and expert testimony, the Assembly Minority Conference Task Force on Human Trafficking released a new report outlining a multi-pronged strategy to fight the crisis. The plan calls for stronger penalties, expanded law enforcement tools, and improved coordination between state agencies.
“Human trafficking is a complex and troubling problem in New York,” said Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay. “At the heart of that complexity is a lack of information and awareness about how it happens, who it impacts and how to stop it.”
The report’s recommendations include reclassifying all offenses under the state’s sex trafficking statute as class B violent felonies, regardless of whether the act is considered non-violent. Lawmakers also seek to eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecuting sex trafficking and child sex trafficking cases.
Other proposals would make promoting prostitution of minors and patronizing underage victims bail-eligible offenses, revise legal terminology to avoid legitimizing prostitution, and allow hearsay testimony in trafficking cases to support grand jury indictments.
The task force emphasized the need to better educate residents and frontline workers about how to identify signs of trafficking. It also proposed a new registration requirement for migrants to facilitate background checks and ensure community safety.
During a press event unveiling the report, trafficking survivor Katrina Massey shared her story. Now a successful business owner and advocate, Massey’s testimony highlighted both the trauma survivors endure and the power of recovery with the right support.
The task force’s findings stem from eight regional forums held throughout the state, where lawmakers heard from survivors, law enforcement, and advocates. The report reveals systemic gaps, including underfunded services and a lack of transparency from the state’s own Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking. That body, charged with coordinating state efforts, has struggled with staffing shortages and limited public engagement.
Lawmakers say addressing human trafficking will require more than policy tweaks. “Like any problem of this magnitude, communication, collaboration and commitment are essential,” Barclay said.
He and other task force members are urging Governor Kathy Hochul and the full Legislature to take up the recommended bills and enact meaningful reforms this session.
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