HAUPPAUGE – Resolution 1111-2025, also introduced as I.R. 1838-2025, officially became a new local law in Suffolk County as of Monday, February 2.
The initiative, led by Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point), is designed to strengthen oversight of hotels and motels across Suffolk County in an effort to combat human trafficking, an issue that has unfortunately become more prevalent in recent years.
Lennon was joined by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), who signed the bill into law, along with several officials, including Suffolk Legislators Sal Formica (R-Commack), Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), and Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters). Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) and Deputy Presiding Officer Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches) were on hand, as well as County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow), and community members who played a role in advancing the measure.
The measure passed unanimously at the December 2025 Suffolk County Legislature meeting. When it passed, The Messenger spoke with Lennon, and he described the trafficking issue as one of the most severe and rapidly growing public safety threats facing Suffolk County, which has driven his motivation behind this.
The concerns surrounding hotels and motels go beyond the continued availability of hourly room rates. Another issue has been the limited guest information collected for short-term rentals, a gap that traffickers have used to their advantage. Lennon said that there have been reports of minors and women being cycled in and out of rooms “for a few hours at a time over several days,” a pattern that law enforcement has observed for years.
The new law is intended to close those gaps. Under the measure, hotels and motels must maintain detailed guest records for up to five years and retain security footage for at least 90 days. Any records or footage must be made available to authorized emergency responders upon request. The law also prohibits rentals of less than six hours, requires operators to provide human trafficking recognition training for employees, and mandates that training records be reported quarterly to county officials.
At the bill signing, Lennon thanked the many individuals and organizations who helped make the measure possible. He said that shortly after beginning his tenure as a Legislator, he became increasingly aware of the rise in human trafficking cases in Suffolk County and felt compelled to take action. He worked collaboratively with the Suffolk County Anti-Trafficking Initiative and the New York State Assembly Task Force to address the growing number of cases.
“Everywhere that these traffickers want to go and exploit our most vulnerable, I will make sure, as well as every level of government, that we will stop them,” Lennon noted.
“I am happy to support Legislator Lennon with his legislation to combat human trafficking in Suffolk County,” Presiding Officer Piccirillo told The Messenger. “When there is trouble anywhere in the world, we send in the Marines, and in the Legislature, we have our very own Marine, Legislator Lennon. He is the man to tackle this serious issue.”
Freshman Legislator Formica echoed Piccirillo’s message, expressing full support for both the bill and Lennon’s efforts. Formica said the measure is meant to strengthen accountability not only for traffickers, but also for hotels and motels, and to help eliminate what he described as a revolving door of activity.
With the law now in effect, Suffolk County officials say the measure represents a step toward greater oversight and prevention, while sending a clear message that human trafficking will not be tolerated. Leaders expressed hope that the new requirements will help protect vulnerable individuals, support law enforcement efforts, and encourage greater accountability within the hospitality industry as the county continues working to address and reduce trafficking cases.
