The U.S. Senate passed a bill by unanimous consent to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that silence victims of child sexual abuse and trafficking in civil settlements.
The legislation, known as the Terminating Restrictive Enforcement of Youth Settlements (TREY’S Law), renders contractual clauses that prevent a survivor or witness from speaking about minor sexual abuse legally unenforceable. It also prevents private settlements from blocking cooperation with law enforcement or federal investigations, protects survivors’ ability to speak out regardless of prior agreements, applies retroactively, and overrides weaker state laws.
The bill is named in honor of Trey Carlock, who died by suicide at age 28 after being silenced by an NDA following civil litigation against Kanakuk Ministries. The legislation is designed to prevent institutions and individuals from using confidentiality agreements to hide abuse allegations or shield wrongdoing from public scrutiny.
Senator Ashley Moody, a cosponsor of the legislation and former Florida Attorney General, advocated for its passage.
“No survivor of child sexual abuse should ever be silenced by a legal agreement designed to protect abusers or institutions from accountability,” Moody said. “As Florida’s Attorney General, I put the protection of children first, stood up for victims, and have carried that mission to the United States Senate. I’m extremely encouraged to see this legislation advance, but the work is not finished. Survivors should be able to speak the truth freely, cooperate with law enforcement, and seek justice without intimidation.”
Moody previously worked on childhood sexual abuse awareness campaigns, including teaming up with sexual assault survivor Lauren Book for the “Walk in my Shoes” statewide initiative.
Following its passage in the Senate, TREY’S Law now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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