Senate Joint Resolution 15, sponsored by Johnson, aims to recognize January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Tennessee. The resolution highlights the serious issue of human trafficking, which involves the recruitment and exploitation of individuals for commercial sex acts or forced labor through coercive means. It emphasizes that victims can come from diverse backgrounds, with particular vulnerability among children, survivors of abuse, and those affected by poverty or systemic failures. The resolution also acknowledges the various forms of human trafficking, including prostitution and online exploitation, and stresses the importance of understanding that many individuals may feel compelled to engage in such activities due to a lack of viable alternatives.

The resolution further notes the efforts made in Tennessee to combat human trafficking, including the establishment of the Tennessee Businesses Against Trafficking Program, which educates business owners on recognizing signs of trafficking, and the requirement for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to report on trafficking trends. By declaring January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the resolution aims to promote education, awareness, and community initiatives that empower Tennesseans to identify and address human trafficking, support survivors, and hold offenders accountable, ultimately working towards the eradication of this crime that undermines the safety and dignity of individuals and communities.