Georgia Bill Aims to Give Childhood Sexual Abuse Victims a Voice

Proposed legislation would prohibit nondisclosure agreements that silence victims after legal settlements.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The Georgia House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill that would prevent nondisclosure agreements from being used as a condition of settling lawsuits against childhood sexual abusers. The bill, called Trey's Law, is named after a victim who died by suicide after being unable to speak openly about the abuse he suffered due to a nondisclosure agreement. The proposed law aims to ensure survivors can expose abusers and negligent institutions without being silenced.

Why it matters

Nondisclosure agreements have often been used to conceal details of childhood sexual abuse cases, allowing abusers to avoid true accountability. This bill seeks to empower victims to speak out and help prevent future abuse by lifting the veil of secrecy around these cases.

The details

Under House Bill 1187, any settlement agreements that conceal the details of a claim of childhood sexual abuse would become unenforceable. Identifying information about victims would remain confidential. Four other states have passed similar 'Trey's Law' legislation to give victims more freedom to share their stories.

  • The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to approve the bill on Monday.
  • The bill could soon advance to a vote in the full state House of Representatives.

The players

Trey Carlock

A victim of childhood sexual abuse at Kanakuk Kamps in Missouri who settled a lawsuit but was prevented from speaking about it due to a nondisclosure agreement. He died by suicide in 2019.

Elizabeth Phillips

Trey Carlock's sister, who testified before the House Judiciary Committee about the lack of justice and accountability for her brother's abuse.

Soo Hong

A Republican state representative from Lawrenceville, Georgia, who said the purpose of the bill is to ensure survivors can speak openly about the abuse they suffered.

Brian Kemp

The governor of Georgia, who stated that Trey's Law is a priority for the First Lady and the state's anti-human trafficking commission.

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What they’re saying

“There was never justice or true accountability. Nobody was fired or held accountable as a result of this abuse.”

— Elizabeth Phillips, Trey Carlock's sister (valdostadailytimes.com)

“These NDAs … force victims to choose between compensation and their voice.”

— Soo Hong, State Representative (valdostadailytimes.com)

What’s next

The bill could soon advance to a vote in the full state House of Representatives.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to empower survivors of childhood sexual abuse by allowing them to speak openly about their experiences, hold abusers accountable, and prevent future cases from being silenced through nondisclosure agreements.