Thank you very much.

Good afternoon, colleagues and guests.

Today, GOFP, we will consider the legislation before us.

Like the call is to order at 117.

Please call the roll.

Chair Barrels.

Present.

Vice Chair Adams.

President.

Councilmember McGay.

Three members present during roll call.

Thank you very much.

CB40 2026, an act concerning human trafficking awareness notice.

For the purpose of increasing public awareness, support victims and encourage safe reporting of suspected human trafficking and requiring all hotels, motels, and other similar lodging establishments operating within the county.

It's supposed human trafficking awareness notice inside each room.

I'll turn to Ms.

Eubanks for a very brief overview.

Then I'll turn to Ms.

Menagis for a very brief policy analysis.

And then I will turn to Councilman Rolson.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

CB 40 2026 was presented and referred to the government operations and physical policy committee on May 12, 2026 for consideration.

The intent of the signage is to provide information to guests and employees on how to recognize potential indicators of human trafficking and how to report suspected activity to the appropriate authorities.

CB 40 2026 is part of the county's broader effort to support victim identification, encourage timely reporting, and enhance public safety through awareness-based prevention measures.

There's a proposed draft two for the committee's consideration.

Mr.

Maddox, legislative attorney will review the proposed amendments.

It's on page three of your binders.

The Office of Human Rights submitted written comments, and we do have a representative here today to provide additional comments if necessary.

Those comments are on page 12 of your binders.

And lastly, Roger Bannegis, legislative budget, and policy analyst had a policy analysis and physical impact statement on page seven of your binders and will provide a brief overview.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Eubanks, and good afternoon, Mr.

Chair, Mr.

Vice Chair, and members of the committee.

The bill primarily imposes compliance or obligations on private lodging establishments and does not establish a new county program or enforcement division.

According to the Office of Human Rights, this bill uh creates no operational or financial impact for the office.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Officer Law.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Good afternoon to all council members.

The Office of Laws has had the opportunity to review C B 40 and find it to be legally sufficient.

Thank you.

County executive.

The Office of the County Executive is supported of the bill as amended.

Thank you.

Sponsor.

Thank you very much.

I think that the um the summary was uh well done.

Um I came up with this idea.

I saw it in a hotel room I was in in New York, uh, that had information, you know, that victims or employees uh could you know easily read and could get resources um uh reporting.

Obviously, we um are on the I-95 corridor uh on the east coast.

Um unfortunately, human trafficking does happen and across our country.

Um we know it happens here as as well as elsewhere, and um this is something we can do about it to raise awareness and and provide um phone numbers and texts and text numbers and whatnot for those who may be um in need.

So thank you.

I I would yeah, and I support uh draft two.