---
title: HB 490. Crimes and offenses; required human trafficking training program for hotels; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb490
cite_as: HB 490, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb490
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb490.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb490/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70414
date: 2026-03-06
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 559
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb490.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 490
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-18
last_action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
sponsors:
- Debra Bazemore
- Carolyn Hugley
- Samuel Park
- Tanya Miller
- Stacey Evans
- Inga Willis
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB490/2025
upstream_id: 1974428
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- human trafficking prevention
- hotel regulations
- short-term rentals
- employee training requirements
- tourism industry
---
# HB 490. Crimes and offenses; required human trafficking training program for hotels; provide
## Text
The House Committee on Economic Development and Tourism offers the following
substitute to HB 490:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 21 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to rights, duties, and liabilities of innkeepers, so as to provide for a required human
trafficking training program for inns and short-term rental properties; to provide for
definitions; to provide for training policies and procedures; to provide for the retention of
certain records; to provide for limitations; to provide for penalties; to provide for exemptions;
to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention
Training Act."
SECTION 2.
Article 1 of Chapter 21 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
rights, duties, and liabilities of innkeepers, is amended by adding a new Code section to read
as follows:
"43-21-16.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Hosting platform' means an electronic platform used to advertise or facilitate the
rental of a short-term rental property.
(2) 'Human trafficking' means an offense provided for in Code Section 16-5-46. Such
term shall include the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or
commercial sex act as defined in 22 U.S.C. Section 7102.
(3) 'Human trafficking awareness training' means a course developed or approved by the
office, in consultation with the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, the Criminal
Justice Coordinating Council, and hosting platforms.
(4) 'Office' means the office of the Attorney General.
(5) 'Short-term rental property' means a residential unit used or offered for tourist or
transient use through a hosting platform and managed by a third-party property manager.
(6) 'Third-party property manager' means a property management company, rental
management service, or any other entity or an individual that provides services for a
short-term rental property, such as marketing, guest communications, check-in
procedures, cleaning, or maintenance on behalf of the property owner of such short-term
rental property for compensation. This term shall not include a hosting platform.
(b)(1) All on-site employees of an inn and every third-party property manager of a
short-term rental property in this state shall be required to receive annual human
trafficking awareness training within 60 days of employment and on an annual basis
thereafter, with the training being completed by December 31 during the first full year
of employment.
(2) The training requirements contained in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not
apply to an inn employee or a third-party property manager of a short-term rental
property who has completed human trafficking awareness training that meets the criteria
set forth in this Code section within the 12 month period prior to July 1, 2026, and
provides a record of completion to the owner, operator, or manager of the inn or
short-term rental property.
(c) The office shall, in consultation with the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, the
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and hosting platforms, develop human trafficking
awareness training or identify existing training courses that include, but are not limited to,
the following:
(1) The definition of human trafficking and commercial exploitation of children;
(2) Guidance on how to identify individuals at risk for human trafficking;
(3) Guidance on how to identify the signs of human trafficking and individuals
potentially engaged in the act of human trafficking;
(4) The differences between labor and sex trafficking as such terms relate to the inn
industry;
(5) Guidance on the role of hospitality employees in reporting and responding to this
issue; and
(6) The contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline or local law
enforcement agency.
(d) Every owner, operator, or manager of an inn or short-term rental property in this state
shall implement procedures and adopt policies for the reporting of suspected human
trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or local law enforcement agency.
(e) Every owner, operator, or manager of an inn or a short-term rental property in this state
shall comply with the posting requirements in Code Section 16-5-47, and the sheriff of the
county or the local law enforcement agency where such inn or short-term rental property
is located or the municipal police department having jurisdiction over such location shall
assist in enforcement of such posting requirements.
(f) Any person who operates an inn or short-term rental property in this state shall
maintain records of employee training acknowledgments. Such records shall be retained
by the inn or short-term rental property for the period during which the employee is
employed by such inn or short-term rental property and for one year after such employment
ends. An inn or short-term rental property shall provide records to the office no later than
ten business days after such request is made in writing by such office.
(g) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as creating a private cause of action
against an inn, or its employees, for any act or omission arising out of the requirements of
this Code section or in any way limiting or impairing the rights or remedies which are
otherwise available to a victim of human trafficking under any other law.
(h)(1) The office may impose against any owner, operator, or manager of an inn or a
short-term rental property who willfully and knowingly violates the requirements of this
Code section an administrative penalty of:
(A) For a first violation, $500.00;
(B) For a second violation, $1,000.00; and
(C) For a third or subsequent violation, $2,000.00.
(2) The clear proceeds of administrative penalties assessed pursuant to this subsection
shall be remitted to the office.
(i) This Code section shall not apply to short-term rental properties:
(1) That are managed directly and exclusively by the individual property owner or
owners; provided, however, that this exemption shall apply regardless of whether such
property owner or owners use or does not use a hosting platform for such rental property;
or
(2) That are offered for rent for less than a total of 15 days per calendar year."
SECTION 3.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would require hotel employees and short-term rental managers to complete annual human trafficking awareness training, with fines for owners who willfully ignore the rules.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia law currently has no statewide requirement that hotel staff or short-term rental managers receive training on recognizing human trafficking. This bill, called the Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act, adds a new section to the state's innkeeper law requiring on-site inn employees and third-party managers of short-term rentals (like Airbnb-style properties) to complete annual human trafficking awareness training, developed by the Attorney General's office in consultation with the hotel industry and law enforcement.
Owners, operators, and managers must also adopt reporting procedures, post required human trafficking hotline notices, and keep training records for review. The Attorney General's office can fine owners who willfully violate the rules, with penalties rising from $500 for a first offense to $2,000 for a third. Properties managed solely by their owner, or rented fewer than 15 days a year, are exempt. The law would take effect July 1, 2026.
### What it does
- Requires all on-site inn employees and third-party short-term rental managers in Georgia to complete annual human trafficking awareness training within 60 days of hire and yearly thereafter.
- Directs the Attorney General's office, working with the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association and others, to create or approve the required training curriculum.
- Requires inn and short-term rental owners, operators, and managers to adopt procedures for reporting suspected trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or local police.
- Requires posting of human trafficking hotline information as already required under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-47, with local law enforcement assisting enforcement.
- Requires retention of employee training records for the length of employment plus one year, to be provided to the Attorney General's office within ten business days of a written request.
- Authorizes administrative fines of $500 to $2,000 for owners, operators, or managers who willfully and knowingly violate the training requirements.
### Who it affects
Hotel and inn owners, operators, and on-site employees in Georgia; third-party managers of short-term rental properties such as vacation rentals; hosting platforms that facilitate short-term rentals; and the Attorney General's office and local law enforcement agencies involved in enforcement.
### Why it matters
Hospitality workers would gain formal training to recognize and report signs of human trafficking, potentially improving detection at hotels and short-term rentals. Property owners and managers face new compliance costs and possible fines, though small owner-operated rentals and those rented under 15 days a year are excused from the rules.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 names the law the 'Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act.'
- New Code Section 43-21-16(b) requires annual training for inn employees and short-term rental managers, with a grace period for those already trained before July 1, 2026.
- Subsection (c) lists required training content, including how to identify trafficking victims and perpetrators and hotline contact information.
- Subsection (d) requires owners and managers to adopt reporting procedures for suspected trafficking.
- Subsection (e) requires compliance with existing posting requirements (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-47) with law enforcement assistance.
- Subsection (f) requires retention of training records for the employment period plus one year, producible to the Attorney General's office within ten business days.
- Subsection (g) clarifies the law does not create a private right to sue and does not limit trafficking victims' existing legal remedies.
- Subsection (h) sets escalating administrative penalties ($500, $1,000, $2,000) for willful violations, and subsection (i) exempts owner-managed properties and rentals under 15 days a year.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-02-18)
- Last action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (2026-03-06)
- Sponsors: Debra Bazemore, Carolyn Hugley, Samuel Park, Tanya Miller, Stacey Evans, Inga Willis
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70414
> The history, votes, and amendments (559 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb490.md?full=1