LINCOLN -- Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Governor Jim Pillen, and Colonel Bryan Waugh gathered Tuesday at the Nebraska State Capitol to recognize January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

They were joined by state senators, members from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, child advocacy centers, government agency leaders, and advocates. 

Governor Jim Pillen signed an official Proclamation designating January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Nebraska. During the gathering, Attorney General Hilgers released the 2025 Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force (NHTTF) Report. 

“The hundreds of people who attended the Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force Summit this year prove our state is taking a bold, public stand against trafficking. Our office is committed to pursuing justice for survivors and preventing future harm through education,” stated Attorney General Mike Hilgers. 

"By working together, we can disrupt human trafficking networks, hold offenders accountable, and uphold the value of human life across our state," said Governor Pillen. "If you see something, say something. Call the hotline, contact your local authorities, do whatever it takes to make sure criminals are held accountable and that no one is victimized in our state.”   

Key highlights from the report include reflections on the Second Annual Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force Summit, a case spotlight from Doniphan, Nebraska, and updates on human trafficking hotline call data. 

HTI Labs, an Omaha-based research and technology organization partnering with the Task Force, has identified 34 trafficking cases pending prosecution from the last three years. 

Two new pieces of legislation passed last year now protect victims from online exploitation and provide additional funding to support trafficking survivors. 

The public is encouraged to learn the signs of human trafficking by visiting AGO.Nebraska.gov or scanning the QR code at the end of the report. Free educational presentations are available to the public by emailing the Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force Operations Lead at Jennifer.Retchless@Nebraska.gov.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers will host the Third Annual Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force Summit on September 15, 2026, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Registration opens on June 15, 2026, at AGO.Nebraska.gov.