Students from Florida State University College of Law played an essential role in the enactment of a recent law that came into effect last week — part of over 100 new laws across Florida. Aimed at tackling human trafficking in public educational institutions, House Bill 1237 requires yearly training for school personnel to aid them in identifying and addressing indicators of trafficking.

The initiative was spearheaded by FSU law scholars Lauren Evans and Tazara Fields, who operated under the guidance of Glass Professor of Public Interest Law Paolo Annino and Clinical Professor Emmalyn Dalton. Their collaboration was instrumental in steering the bill from inception to approval during the 2025 legislative session, concluding with its recent endorsement by Governor Ron DeSantis.

“We are immensely proud of our law students and Professors Annino and Dalton for advocating a law that will assist in safeguarding at-risk children throughout Florida,” remarked Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law. “This accomplishment highlights not only the impact of experiential learning through our clinical programs but also the remarkable opportunity our students have to effect real change in public policy within Florida’s Capitol.”

Florida ranks among the leading states in the nation for incidents of human trafficking, with school-aged children being especially susceptible. While Florida law has long mandated student education on human trafficking, this new legislation addresses a vital gap by ensuring educators and school staff — who are most likely to detect warning signs — are also trained to identify the indicators and take appropriate actions.

This legislative triumph embodies years of committed effort by students at the FSU Public Interest Law Center, guided by Professor Annino, a nationally esteemed authority in child advocacy law. Under his stewardship, students not only contributed to drafting the proposal but also testified before committees, fostered bipartisan support, and maintained close engagement with lawmakers throughout the journey.

“I’m profoundly honored to collaborate with these determined, dedicated, and brilliant FSU law students and their peers, recognizing in them the promise of a bright future for the crucial element of our legal system that we require — public interest law,” Annino stated.

“I’m profoundly honored to collaborate with these determined, dedicated, and brilliant FSU law students and their peers, recognizing in them the promise of a bright future for the crucial element of our legal system that we require — public interest law.”

– Paolo Annino, Glass Professor of Public Interest Law

Evans and Fields, now graduates from the FSU College of Law in 2025, were instrumental in presenting the proposal to lawmakers and driving it to completion. They dedicated months to preparing testimonies, collaborating with advocacy groups and conveying to decision-makers why this bill was not only essential but long overdue.

“This experience educated me immensely about the legislative process, but more crucially, the power of enthusiastic advocacy and utilizing your voice,” Evans expressed. “By enacting this law, Florida is affirming its commitment to protecting our children. I hope future law students recognize the constructive influence they can exert on their communities, even while still in school.”

Beyond successful policy enactment, the experience provided students insightful understanding of how advocacy interacts with legislation.

“Advancing the human trafficking training bill for Florida’s educators and school personnel represents more than just a new policy; it symbolizes our collective dedication to justice, especially for our most vulnerable,” Fields commented. “This experience illuminated the strength found in many voices united for a cause. Witnessing the human trafficking training bill become law was an enlightening experience, granting a front-row view of the legislative process and a powerful lesson in how determined effort can genuinely impact Florida’s children.

For additional information about the Public Interest Law Center and the ways FSU law students are making a difference, visit law.fsu.edu.

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