Criminal Justice

This bill (H 4645, now Chapter 79 of the Acts of 2025) increases penalties for assaulting public transit workers while they are on duty. It makes it a crime to commit assault and battery - including using bodily substances like blood or saliva - against a transit worker performing their job, punishable by 90 days to 2.5 years in jail or fines of $500 to $5,000. The law specifically defines "bodily substance" to include human secretions such as saliva, urine, or feces. It directly affects transit workers by strengthening legal protections during their work. The bill was enacted in late 2025 after passing both legislative chambers and receiving the Governor’s signature.

H 4360 requires licensed hotels, motels, and similar lodging establishments (excluding those exempt from room tax) to mandate human trafficking recognition training for all employees. The training, approved by the Attorney General, must cover trafficking definitions, victim identification, and include the national hotline number. Establishments must also post a standard notice in visible areas like lobbies and restrooms. This bill directly affects hospitality businesses and aims to equip staff with tools to recognize and report trafficking, with implementation overseen by the Attorney General. The bill passed the House unanimously (158-0) on July 30, 2025, and now awaits action in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.