---
title: SB 570. "Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act"; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb570
cite_as: SB 570, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb570
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb570.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb570/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73569
date: 2026-05-11
status: passed
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: 1317
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb570.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 570
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-05-11
last_action: Effective Date 2026-07-01
sponsors:
- Shawn Still
- Jason Anavitarte
- John Albers
- Kay Kirkpatrick
- Clint Dixon
- Deborah Silcox
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB570/2025
upstream_id: 2123568
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- human trafficking prevention
- hotel regulations
- short-term rentals
- employee training requirements
---
# SB 570. "Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act"; enact
## Text
Senate Bill 570
By: Senators Still of the 48th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Albers of the 56th, Kirkpatrick of the
32nd and Dixon of the 45th
AS PASSED
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.
Senate Bill 570 would require hotel employees and short-term rental managers in Georgia to complete annual human trafficking awareness training, with fines for owners who willfully ignore the rules.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia law currently has no requirement that hotel staff or short-term rental managers learn to recognize signs of human trafficking. This bill, called the Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act, changes that by adding a new section to the state's innkeeper laws (O.C.G.A. § 43-21-16).
Starting July 1, 2026, on-site inn employees and third-party managers of short-term rentals (like those booked through Airbnb-style platforms) must complete annual training within 60 days of being hired and every year after. The Attorney General's office, working with the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association and others, will develop or approve the training. Owners must also adopt reporting procedures, post required anti-trafficking notices, and keep training records for review. The office can fine owners who willfully violate the rules, with penalties rising for repeat violations. Owner-managed rentals and those rented fewer than 15 days a year are exempt.
### What it does
- Requires all on-site inn employees and third-party short-term rental managers to complete annual human trafficking awareness training starting within 60 days of employment.
- Directs the Attorney General's office to develop or approve training covering how to spot trafficking victims and report suspected cases.
- Requires inn and short-term rental owners to adopt reporting procedures and post the anti-trafficking notices already required under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-47.
- Requires owners to keep employee training records for the length of employment plus one year and produce them to the state within ten business days if requested.
- Creates administrative fines of $500 for a first willful violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for a third or later violation.
- Exempts short-term rentals managed solely by the owner and rentals offered for less than 15 days a year.
### Who it affects
Hotel and inn employees, third-party property managers who run short-term rentals, individual short-term rental property owners, hosting platforms like booking websites, the Attorney General's office, and local law enforcement agencies responsible for enforcing posting requirements.
### Why it matters
Hospitality workers would be trained to notice signs of trafficking and know how to report it, potentially helping identify victims who pass through hotels and rentals. Owners face new paperwork and training duties, though small owner-managed rentals and short-term listings are exempt from the requirement.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 names the law the 'Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act.'
- Section 2 adds new Code Section 43-21-16, defining terms like 'hosting platform,' 'human trafficking,' and 'third-party property manager.'
- Subsection (b) sets the annual training deadline of December 31 in an employee's first full year, with an exemption for those already trained within 12 months before July 1, 2026.
- Subsection (c) lists required training topics, including identifying trafficking victims and providing the National Human Trafficking Hotline contact information.
- Subsection (d) requires owners to adopt procedures for reporting suspected trafficking to the hotline or local law enforcement.
- Subsection (f) requires training records to be kept during employment plus one year and turned over to the Attorney General's office within ten business days of a written request.
- Subsection (h) sets escalating fines of $500, $1,000, and $2,000 for repeated willful violations, with proceeds going to the office.
- Subsection (i) exempts owner-managed properties and rentals offered for fewer than 15 days per year.
## Status
- Status: Passed (2026-05-11)
- Last action: Effective Date 2026-07-01 (2026-05-11)
- Sponsors: Shawn Still, Jason Anavitarte, John Albers, Kay Kirkpatrick, Clint Dixon, Deborah Silcox
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73569
> The history, votes, and amendments (1,317 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb570.md?full=1