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A Georgia bill designed to protect the voices of childhood sexual abuse survivors is moving forward at the State Capitol. The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to approve House Bill 1187, known as “Trey’s Law,” which would prohibit the use of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence survivors as a condition of settling abuse-related lawsuits, PBS/NPR affiliate WABE.org reported yesterday.
The legislation is named after Trey Carlock, who was sexually abused as a child at Kanakuk Kamps in Missouri. Although Carlock later reached a legal settlement, an NDA prevented him from speaking publicly about the abuse. His sister, Elizabeth Phillips, delivered emotional testimony to lawmakers, stating that the inability to share his story contributed to his long-term suffering. Carlock died by suicide in 2019.
Bill sponsor Rep. Soo Hong (R–Lawrenceville) said the measure aims to eliminate what many survivors describe as a painful tradeoff: compensation in exchange for silence. “These NDAs force victims to choose between compensation and their voice,” Hong said. “This law ensures survivors can speak openly, expose abusers, and help prevent future harm.”
If enacted, Trey’s Law would render settlement provisions that conceal details of childhood sexual abuse claims unenforceable. Importantly, the bill preserves survivor privacy by keeping identifying information confidential.
Georgia would join California, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas, which have passed similar laws. Gov. Brian Kemp recently identified Trey’s Law as a legislative priority, citing the advocacy efforts of First Lady Marty Kemp and the state’s anti-trafficking commission.
The bill now advances toward a vote before the full Georgia House.
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