Human trafficking is a serious and growing issue that affects people in every state and across many industries. To combat this crime, federal and state governments have implemented laws that require certain businesses to display human trafficking awareness posters. These posters are designed to provide victims with critical information and a lifeline to help. But which businesses need to comply?
In this article, we’ll break down what human trafficking is, discuss the requirements at both the federal and state level, and help employers understand whether they’re responsible for posting human trafficking notices in the workplace.
What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which individuals are exploited through force, fraud, or coercion for labor or commercial sex. It is a hidden crime that can affect people of all ages, genders, and nationalities—and it often goes undetected, even in plain sight.
There are two main forms of human trafficking:
- Sex trafficking: When a person is induced to engage in commercial sex through force, fraud, or coercion. If the individual is under 18, any commercial sex act is considered trafficking—even without force or coercion.
- Labor trafficking: When individuals are compelled to work or provide services through threats, manipulation, debt bondage, or other forms of coercion.
Victims can be found in many industries, including agriculture, hospitality, domestic work, construction, restaurants, and illicit massage businesses. They may not always be held physically against their will—many are trapped by psychological, financial, or emotional control.
Raising awareness through public notices is one way that governments try to reach victims and bystanders who may not know help is available. Posting human trafficking notices in high-risk or high-traffic areas ensures critical information is visible where it’s most needed.
Federal human trafficking poster requirements
Under the Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022, federal law requires specific notices to be displayed in a visible place in all federal buildings; in the restrooms of each U.S. aircraft, airport, over-the-road bus, bus station, passenger train, and passenger railroad station; and at each port of entry.
These posters provide information about services available to trafficking victims and include contact details for the toll-free National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733)).
While federal law does not mandate posting for all private employers, many businesses are still subject to state-specific requirements that often go further.
State human trafficking poster requirements
Numerous states have passed their own laws mandating the posting of human trafficking notices in conspicuous areas, such as restrooms, break rooms, and near entrances, depending on the business type. These laws vary widely in terms of which businesses are covered, what the posters must say, and where they must be displayed.
While the exact wording varies by jurisdiction, human trafficking awareness posters typically include the following elements:
- The definition of human trafficking
- Hotline numbers for help or to report suspected trafficking
- Instructions for victims on how to get help
- Text in multiple languages (if required)
Here’s an overview of common business types that are frequently required to post these notices by state law.
- Hotels, motels, and lodging facilities: Many states require lodging establishments to post human trafficking awareness notices in visible locations, such as near guest check-in desks, lobbies, or employee break rooms.
- Transit stations, port authorities and other transportation-related businesses: State transportation agencies, airports, train stations, bus stations, truck stops, and taxi, limousine, and rideshare services may be required to display posters in stations, restrooms, and ticket areas.
- Bars, clubs, and adult entertainment venues: Establishments that sell alcohol for consumption on the premises, including bars, strip clubs, and adult theaters, are often required to post notices in bathrooms or employee-only areas.
- Healthcare facilities: Some states require hospitals, urgent care centers, and clinics—particularly those near border areas or with emergency services—to display human trafficking information for patients.
- Personal services and beauty industry: Businesses such as massage parlors, nail salons, and tattoo parlors are often included due to the risk of trafficking in certain unregulated sectors.
- Agricultural and labor-intensive workplaces: Industries with high numbers of seasonal, migrant, or low-wage workers—such as agriculture, construction, and manufacturing—may be required to display posters in employee areas or job recruitment offices.
Below is a list of states that have implemented human trafficking poster requirements, along with examples of the types of businesses affected.
States that require human trafficking posters
|
State |
Industries and locations required to post |
|
Alabama |
· Establishments that require a liquor license or alcoholic beverage license and that do not also have a food or beverage permit · Any hotel deemed a nuisance under a portion of the state code · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Adult entertainment establishments |
|
Arkansas |
· Hotels, motels, and other establishments cited as a public nuisance for prostitution · Strip clubs and other sex-oriented businesses · Private clubs with a liquor permit for on-premises consumption that are not food service establishments · Airports, bus stations, and passenger train stations · Abortion facilities · Private facilities that provide food, fuel, shower or other sanitary facilities, and overnight parking |
|
California |
· Bars and other businesses licensed to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption · Adult and sex-oriented businesses · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers · Farm labor contractors · Private job recruitment centers · Roadside rest areas and truck stops · Massage parlors and bodywork service providers · Hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast inns |
|
Connecticut |
· Massage parlors · Highway service plazas · Hotels, motels and inns · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Hospital emergency rooms and urgent care facilities · Businesses that cater to an adult-only crowd · Employment agencies · Nail salons · Bars |
|
Florida |
Businesses licensed by the following health boards: · Acupuncture · Chiropractic medicine · Dentistry · Dietetics and nutrition · Massage therapy · Medicine · Nursing home administration · Occupational therapy · Optometry · Osteopathic medicine · Pharmacy · Physical therapy · Podiatric medicine · Respiratory care |
|
Georgia |
· Adult entertainment establishments · Bars · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Truck stops and rest areas on highways · Hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers · Farm labor contractors and day haulers · Job recruitment centers · Hotels · Massage parlors and bodywork services not offered by massage therapists · Government buildings |
|
Hawaii |
· Businesses with a class 5 or class 11 liquor license · Massage therapy businesses with five or more employees · Businesses that employ one or more erotic or nude massagers or dancers |
|
Illinois |
· Bars and other businesses licensed to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption · Adult entertainment facilities · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Truck stops · Hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers · Farm labor contractors · Job recruitment centers · Hotels and motels |
|
Indiana |
· Adult entertainment venues |
|
Kansas |
· Sex-oriented businesses · Massage parlors · Healthcare facilities · Convenience stores · Truck stops · Rest areas and visitors’ centers under state supervision or control |
|
Louisiana |
· Hotels · Massage parlors, spas, and hotels deemed a public nuisance for prostitution · Strip clubs · Sex-oriented businesses · Gas stations near interstate highways or highway rest stops · Outpatient abortion clinics |
|
Maine |
· Department of Labor career centers · Offices that provide services under the Jobs Initiative Program · Hospital emergency rooms · Restaurants · Hotels and motels · Adult entertainment establishments and sex-oriented businesses · Money transmitters · Check cashing businesses · Currency exchange businesses |
|
Maryland |
· Adult entertainment establishments · Rest stops and truck stops · Bus stations |
|
Michigan |
· Rest areas and welcome centers · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Adult entertainment establishments · Properties deemed a public nuisance due to acts of prostitution or human trafficking |
|
Missouri |
· Hotels, motels, and other establishments cited as a public nuisance for prostitution · Strip clubs and sex-oriented businesses · Private clubs with a liquor permit for on-premises consumption · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers · Truck stops · Job recruitment centers · Massage parlors and bodywork service providers · Women’s health centers · Abortion facilities, family planning clinics, and pregnancy resource centers · Maternity homes |
|
Montana |
· Highway rest areas |
|
Nebraska |
· Rest stops · Casinos · Racetrack operators · Strip clubs |
|
New Jersey |
· Strip clubs and sex-oriented businesses (in all dressing rooms, restrooms, and restroom stalls) · Massage or bodywork therapists (in all dressing rooms, restrooms, and restroom stalls) · Bars · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · All public transportation and railroad passenger cars · Welcome centers · Truck stops and weigh stations · Hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers · Farm labor contractors and day haulers · Job recruitment centers · Rest areas and service areas · Hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns, and similar places of public accommodation · Campsites |
|
New Mexico |
|
|
North Carolina |
· Businesses that have been declared a nuisance (e.g., prostitution and illegal possession of drugs or alcohol) · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Rest areas and welcome centers · Any agency or business that offers employment or training services to the public · Hospitals · ABC permit holders, including bars · Adult establishments |
|
Pennsylvania |
· Bars · Personal service establishments · Adult entertainment businesses with live entertainment · Hotels or motels deemed to be a nuisance for prostitution, drugs, and the like · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Welcome centers and rest areas · Truck stops |
|
Rhode Island |
· Hotels and motels |
|
South Carolina |
· Adult businesses · Any establishment declared a nuisance for prostitution · Hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers · Hotels, motels, and similar establishments · Agricultural labor contractors and transporters · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Rest areas and truck stops |
|
Texas |
· Most places that sell alcohol · Cosmetology facilities · Hospitals · Massage establishments, including schools · Sex-oriented businesses · Tattoo parlors · Airports, train stations, bus stations, and other transportation hubs · State parks and other recreational sites · Hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments |
|
Virginia |
· Adult entertainment establishments · Truck stops |
|
West Virginia |
· Most places that sell alcohol · Adult entertainment facilities · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Gas stations · Hospital emergency departments and urgent care centers · Physical locations where farm labor contractors and day haulers work · Job recruitment centers · Rest areas · Hotels and motels · Any other business that would be an effective location to provide notice to victims of human trafficking |
Note that some states require posters to be displayed in multiple languages, depending on the population. Additionally, a few states—North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin—suggest that displaying human trafficking posters is optional. However, given the prevalence of this problem, it is likely a best practice to post if you work in any of the industries mentioned above.
Additionally, the following localities require posting a human trafficking poster.
|
Locality |
Industries and locations required to post |
|
Anchorage, Alaska |
· Assisted living facilities · Restaurants · Hotels and motels · Bars · Adult-oriented establishments and premises · Massage parlors with at least four individuals who perform those services (excluding barbershops, beauty salons, and other establishments that offer massage only to the scalp, face, neck, shoulders, hands, and/or feet) · Nail salons · Commercial marijuana establishments |
|
Jacksonville, Florida |
· Public lodging establishments · Gas stations · Convenience stores · Adult entertainment and dancing entertainment establishments · Any business that offers massage or bodywork services |
|
Los Angeles, California |
· Establishments selling alcohol for on-premises consumption · Adult and sex-oriented businesses · Airports, train stations, and bus stations · Truck stops and rest areas · Hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers · Farm labor contractors · Job recruitment centers · Businesses offering massage or bodywork services for compensation · Hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast inns |
How to comply with federal and state human trafficking laws
Businesses can stay compliant with federal and state human trafficking laws by following three basic steps:
- Staying up to date on federal, state, and local anti-trafficking laws
- Displaying up-to-date labor law posters in all required locations
- Training staff to recognize signs of human trafficking)
At Poster Compliance Center, we offer human trafficking posters that meet the latest legal requirements. We help businesses ensure full compliance—so you can focus on keeping your employees and communities safe.
If you’re unsure whether your business is required to display a human trafficking poster, our compliance experts can help. Contact us today to find out what laws apply to your business
