Progress in the Fight to Prevent Sex Trafficking: Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee Votes toApprove Sex Buyer Accountability Bill
March 30, 2026
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee of Rhode Island’s state legislature voted to support legislation that would increase fines for arrested sex buyers and use most of that revenue to support sex trade survivors. Senate Bill 2145 would also require sex buyers to complete an education program designed to deter this behavior by teaching them about the wide range of risks they take and harms they cause by financing sex trafficking and prostitution. The program would be free to taxpayers, funded entirely by arrested buyers.
We at Street Grace have reached out to Rhode Island legislators in support of S2145, and we urge you to do the same (contact information is provided below). The bill is scheduled for consideration by the full State Senate tomorrow, March 31.
At a hearing at the State House in Providence on March 26, Street Grace and ally organizations (the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Rights for Girls, World Without Exploitation, My Life My Choice) appeared in person and testified in favor of this bill alongside sex trade survivors and other residents of Rhode Island. In our testimony, we focused on research and historical precedent showing that demand reduction is the most crucial element in successful approaches to combat sex trafficking and prostitution. There have been approximately 100 sex buyer education programs in the U.S., all supported by offender fees, and the majority generating revenue for victims services.
Unlike most criminal justice and social programs, there is very solid research evidence from prior applications elsewhere that sex buyer education programs are effective, without offsetting risks or unintended consequences.
For example, sex buyer education to other sanctions has resulted in, e.g.:
45% reduction in recidivism in San Francisco’s First Offender Prostitution Program.
40% reduction in calls for service in Buffalo, NY when adding john school for arrested sex buyers.
75% reduction in prostitution in Bolton, UK.
We also pointed out that there is precedent for S2145: Texas passed similar legislation in 2011 (HB1994). In addition, the Attorney General’s Office of Ohio has taken a strong stand against sex trafficking and prostitution, supporting sting operations to arrest sex buyers and establishing a state-wide grant program with guidelines to encourage buyer education programs.
There are those opposing bills like this, and all efforts to reduce or abolish prostitution. “Sex work” advocates are industry representatives asking to take the most dangerous form of commerce that exists, and to abolish laws against it.
We urged the Judiciary Committee members not to be distracted by a tiny but vocal special interest group, and listen instead to the residents, businesses, and survivors of the sex trade who all want prostitution to end. Sex trafficking cannot exist without prostitution, so ending prostitution ends trafficking. S2145 assumes that abolition is the objective, and offers a cost-effective, proven method of working toward that goal.
Please join us in contacting the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Mathew LaMountain, and voicing your support for S2145. If you know residents of Rhode Island, it would be particularly helpful to have them contact their state Representatives and Senators.
Matthew L. LaMountain
District 31
Warwick, Cranston
(401) 206-0822
sen-lamountain@rilegislature.gov
You may also offer support by contacting State Representatives who co-sponsored H7201, the identical House version of S2145.
Rep. Justine Caldwell
D - District 30
East Greenwich, West Greenwich
(401) 222-4263
rep-caldwell@rilegislature.gov
State House, Room 205,
82 Smith Street
Providence, RI 02903
Rep. Julie Casimiro
D - District 31
North Kingstown, Exeter
(401) 222-4263
rep-casimiro@rilegislature.gov
State House, Room 205,
82 Smith Street,
Providence, RI 02903
Rep. Robert Craven
D - District 32
North Kingstown
(401) 222-2258
rep-craven@rilegislature.gov
State House, Room 205,
82 Smith Street,
Providence, RI 02903
Rep. Leonela Felix
D - District 61
Pawtucket
(401) 222-2447
rep-felix@rilegislature.gov
State House, Room 323,
82 Smith Street,
Providence, RI 02903
Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee
D - District 33
Narragansett, South Kingstown
(401) 222-4435
rep-mcentee@rilegislature.gov
State House, Room 205,
82 Smith Street,
Providence, RI 02903
Rep. William O’Brien
D - District 54
North Providence
(401) 222-1882
rep-obrien@rilegislature.gov
State House, Room 136
82 Smith Street,
Providence, RI 02903
Rep. Tina Spears
D - District 36
Charlestown, South Kingstown,
New Shoreham, Westerly
(401) 222-1162
rep-spears@rilegislature.gov
State House, Room 07A,
82 Smith Street,
Providence, RI 02903