Rhode Island Now Requires Human Trafficking Training and Recordkeeping in the Hospitality Sector

What happened?

On June 24, 2025, Governor Dan McKee signed House Bill H5563 into law, expanding protections under the state’s Human Trafficking Prevention Notice Act to include mandatory training and record-keeping requirements for hotels and short-term rental operators.

Overview:

Requirements for Hotels and Short-Term Rentals:

• Complete human trafficking awareness training within 180 days of starting employment or listing a property.

• Repeat the training annually by December 31. The training must include:

• What human trafficking is and how to recognize it.
  • How to identify individuals at risk.
  • The difference between labor and sex trafficking.
  • How to respond and report concerns.

• Implement procedures for reporting suspected trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or local law enforcement.

• Maintain training records for the duration of employment or property listing, plus one year after it ends.

• Provide records to the Department of Business Regulation within 10 business days of a written request.

This law strengthens Rhode Island’s efforts to prevent human trafficking by equipping frontline workers and property operators with the knowledge and tools to identify and report it.

Source References

• Rhode Island HB 5563 – Requires hotel employees and short-term rental property operators to annually receive human trafficking awareness training
• Rhode Island SB 549 – Companion Bill

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