Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
05/06/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/06/2026 13:39
Scheuren Bill to Strengthen Human Trafficking Penalties Earns Committee Approval
May. 06, 2026
HARRISBURG - Legislation sponsored by Rep. Donna Scheuren (R-Montgomery) that would increase penalties for individuals found guilty of trafficking infants has earned approval by the House Judiciary Committee and now goes to the full House for consideration.
Scheuren, a member of the bipartisan, bicameral Pennsylvania Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus in the General Assembly, introduced House Bill 910 to improve Pennsylvania's commitment to respond to the human tragedy that is brought about by human trafficking.
"I introduced this bill because I understand the importance of holding accountable the vile, disgusting individuals who prey on others for financial gain and/or sexual perversion," Scheuren said. "But when infants, who have no voice and no ability to protect themselves, are trafficked, it exposes the deepest cruelty of this crime and reminds us of our moral responsibility to defend the most vulnerable."
Under current law, an individual who engages in human trafficking by recruiting, harboring, transporting, or providing someone under the age of 18 to engage in "forced labor or services" can be charged with a felony of the first degree. Scheuren's bill, if passed into law, would specifically state that those who traffic infants will be subject to that same felony of the first-degree grading, rather than the current first-degree misdemeanor offense.
"Human trafficking is a profound violation of human rights, regardless of age, because it strips people of their freedom and dignity," Scheuren added. "I'm grateful to the members of the House Judiciary Committee for their 25-1 vote in support of this bill."
The mission of the Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus in the General Assembly is to coordinate efforts, strengthen laws, support victims and crack down on trafficking across the Commonwealth.
Representative Donna Scheuren
147th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Melissa Fox
[email protected]
RepScheuren.com / Facebook.com/RepScheuren/
Scheuren, a member of the bipartisan, bicameral Pennsylvania Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus in the General Assembly, introduced House Bill 910 to improve Pennsylvania's commitment to respond to the human tragedy that is brought about by human trafficking.
"I introduced this bill because I understand the importance of holding accountable the vile, disgusting individuals who prey on others for financial gain and/or sexual perversion," Scheuren said. "But when infants, who have no voice and no ability to protect themselves, are trafficked, it exposes the deepest cruelty of this crime and reminds us of our moral responsibility to defend the most vulnerable."
Under current law, an individual who engages in human trafficking by recruiting, harboring, transporting, or providing someone under the age of 18 to engage in "forced labor or services" can be charged with a felony of the first degree. Scheuren's bill, if passed into law, would specifically state that those who traffic infants will be subject to that same felony of the first-degree grading, rather than the current first-degree misdemeanor offense.
"Human trafficking is a profound violation of human rights, regardless of age, because it strips people of their freedom and dignity," Scheuren added. "I'm grateful to the members of the House Judiciary Committee for their 25-1 vote in support of this bill."
The mission of the Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus in the General Assembly is to coordinate efforts, strengthen laws, support victims and crack down on trafficking across the Commonwealth.
Representative Donna Scheuren
147th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Melissa Fox
[email protected]
RepScheuren.com / Facebook.com/RepScheuren/
Share
Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus published this content on May 06, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 06, 2026 at 19:39 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]