Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill aimed at combating human trafficking, sending it to Governor Bill Lee for approval. If signed into law, the legislation will require tattoo artists to undergo training to recognize signs that may indicate a customer is a victim of trafficking.
Data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) shows a decline in human trafficking-related calls and tips over the past five years. However, law enforcement officials emphasize that trafficking remains a significant issue across the state, particularly affecting minors. According to TBI’s 2024 data, most trafficking victims in Tennessee are underage.
Jeremy Lofquest, Assistant Special Agent with the TBI’s human trafficking unit, highlighted the manipulative tactics traffickers use to exploit vulnerable individuals. “Traffickers can be master manipulators who prey on the vulnerabilities of adolescents,” Lofquest explained. “They often promise to provide what these young individuals feel they need, drawing them deeper into exploitation.”
Organizations like Street Hope TN, an East Tennessee-based nonprofit focused on combating child sex trafficking, report that victims are frequently tattooed or branded as a means of control. “It’s one of the ways traffickers make victims feel trapped and in a permanent situation,” a spokesperson for the organization stated.
The proposed legislation, known as the ‘Ink of Hope Act,’ also includes provisions to protect tattoo artists from legal liability when reporting suspected trafficking cases. Seth Jordan, a tattoo artist at Main Line Tattoo, supports the measure. “It definitely helps to have someone else looking out for us, making sure we’re doing the right thing,” Jordan said.
If Governor Lee signs the bill into law, the ‘Ink of Hope Act’ will take effect on January 1, 2026.
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