Human Trafficking - Reports to Regional Navigators and Prosecutions - Authorization
Summary
HB1348 makes two main changes to Maryland law related to human trafficking. First, it amends the child abuse reporting statute to allow certain mandated reporters—health practitioners, police officers, educators, and human service workers—to notify a regional navigator when they suspect a child is being subjected to sex trafficking or labor trafficking, if in their professional judgment that notification is needed to prevent serious harm to the child or other children. The bill also specifies that this notification may not be made without the child’s consent or over the child’s express objection.
Second, the bill adds a new criminal law provision authorizing either a State’s Attorney or the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute violations of the human trafficking subtitle, as well as any related crime based on the same conduct. If the Attorney General exercises that authority, the Attorney General would have the same investigative and prosecutorial powers and duties as a State’s Attorney for that case. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill expands the reporting options available under Maryland’s child abuse and neglect framework by expressly permitting, but not requiring, certain professionals to contact regional navigators about suspected child sex trafficking or labor trafficking. It also broadens enforcement authority by allowing the Attorney General to step in alongside local prosecutors in human trafficking cases, which could increase statewide coordination and prosecution capacity. The affected statutes are in the Family Law Article and the Criminal Law Article, and the bill creates a new section governing prosecutorial authority.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests the bill was received favorably. It received a favorable committee report, was adopted by the House, and passed third reading unanimously in the House with 128 yeas and 0 nays. No committee transcript excerpts are provided, but the vote pattern indicates broad support and little visible opposition at the House stage.
Contention
The main policy issues appear to be the scope of mandatory reporter discretion and the role of regional navigators versus traditional child welfare or law enforcement channels. The bill allows, rather than requires, notification to a regional navigator, and it limits that option by prohibiting notification without the child’s consent or over the child’s express objection. Another possible point of discussion is the expansion of prosecutorial authority to the Attorney General, which may raise questions about state-local coordination, but no recorded opposition is included in the provided materials.