CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Former NC House Rep Kevin Crutchfield is seeking to represent Cabarrus County in NC Senate District 34, and his legislative record includes a significant bipartisan measure targeting human trafficking.
Crutchfield was a primary sponsor of House Bill 971, which became Session Law 2024-26 in June 2024. The legislation expanded North Carolina’s efforts to identify trafficking, protect victims and strengthen penalties associated with commercial sexual exploitation.
The law directs the state to develop human-trafficking awareness training and requires certain hotel, lodging and vacation-rental workers to complete that training. Those employees can be in positions to recognize signs of trafficking that might otherwise remain hidden.
The measure also increased the penalty for a first offense of soliciting prostitution, created a process allowing trafficking victims and alleged victims to seek confidentiality in criminal proceedings, expanded trafficking-awareness training through the Division of Social Services and protected certain housing records involving victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault.
Crutchfield’s original legislation focused specifically on trafficking awareness in lodging establishments. As the bill moved through the General Assembly, lawmakers expanded it into a broader package of human-trafficking reforms.
The final legislation received broad bipartisan support. The House voted 114-0 to concur with the Senate version before the measure became law on June 28, 2024.
Crutchfield is now running for North Carolina Senate District 34, giving voters a documented example of legislation he helped advance from proposal to state law.
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