“We See You, and Help is Available” — Legislation would offer vital support for victims of human trafficking while sending a warning message to traffickers
LANSING, Mich. (April 22, 2026) — Today, the Michigan Senate passed Senate Bill 481, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) to tackle human trafficking by requiring every hotel, motel, and short-term rental in the state to prominently display the hotline number for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.
“One sign. One number. This legislation is simple, straight-forward, and will save lives,” said Sen. McMorrow. “Just as the display of this hotline number is already required at rest areas, airports, and adult entertainment venues, every lodging facility in the state should be sending the same message: we see you; we’re watching; and help is available. That’s the message we’re sending by passing this critical bill with near unanimous support from the Michigan Senate, and I hope our House colleagues will follow our lead and help us get this across the finish line.”
Home to several high-profile events and positioned at the intersection of many highway corridors and international crossing points, Michigan is a unique target for human traffickers. This legislation would help victims connect with critical support while also signaling to traffickers that Michigan isn’t a place that will let them get away with their exploitive criminal enterprise.
“As a member of the Detroit Human Trafficking Task Force and a clinician working directly with survivors, I’ve seen how small points of access can make the difference between continued exploitation and a moment of escape,” said Amy Smith, Director of Healing Services, Avalon Healing Center, who also serves as the Secretary for the Detroit Human Trafficking Task Force. “Requiring hotline signage in lodging facilities is a simple but powerful step—one that increases visibility, creates opportunity, and sends a clear message that Michigan is not a safe place for traffickers. Access saves lives. Something as simple as a posted number can create a moment of opportunity for someone who has none.”
“Human trafficking has been found in every zip code in Michigan, which makes this a statewide responsibility,” said Angela Whitfield-Calloway, Councilwoman for Detroit’s District 2. “Senate Bill 481 builds on the work we started in Detroit through the Human Trafficking Task Force and takes a proven local solution and makes it a statewide standard. This is not just a phone number—it’s a lifeline, and this ensures the door is always open.”
This bill grew out of the work of the Detroit Human Trafficking Task Force, whose leadership was directly responsible for the Detroit City Council’s unanimous adoption of similar legislation in May of 2024. It now heads to the House for consideration.
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