In a significant meeting of the Arkansas Senate Judiciary Committee on March 31, 2025, lawmakers discussed and adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 442, aimed at enhancing the state's response to human trafficking. The amendment, proposed by Senator McKee, seeks to align asset forfeiture laws specifically for human trafficking with existing regulations used for drug-related offenses. This move is intended to streamline the legal framework and avoid unnecessary complications in enforcement.

Senate Bill 442 expands current asset forfeiture laws to include properties involved in human trafficking crimes. It prohibits the transfer of forfeited assets to federal agencies without a court order and mandates that a portion of the proceeds from asset sales be directed to the newly established Arkansas Human Trafficking Council Support Fund. This fund is designed to support various initiatives, including housing advocacy, legal services, and grants for nonprofits assisting trafficking victims.

The bill also introduces stricter penalties for harboring endangered runaways, categorizing the offense as a class A misdemeanor for first-time offenders and escalating to a class D felony for subsequent offenses. Additionally, it increases financial penalties for human trafficking-related crimes, ensuring that fines contribute to the support fund.

A key feature of the legislation is the establishment of a dedicated human trafficking operations unit within the Arkansas State Police. This unit will focus on investigating human trafficking cases and high-risk missing children, thereby enhancing the state's capacity to combat these crimes effectively.

Overall, the committee's discussions highlighted a concerted effort to strengthen law enforcement's ability to address human trafficking in Arkansas. By centralizing resources and increasing penalties, the state aims to improve victim support and coordination among agencies involved in combating trafficking. The next steps will involve further legislative processes to finalize the bill and implement its provisions.