YourVoice.Now Summary
Civil LibertiesChild sex abuse survivors could speak about the abuse even if they signed a nondisclosure agreement — old deals included.
Civil Liberties
A contract clause could no longer stop a victim of child sex abuse from telling what happened. Others could share facts that back up the victim's story. No one could enforce such a clause or try to.
The rule covers deals signed before the bill became law, not just new ones. Someone who signed a settlement years ago could speak about the abuse without being held to that clause.
More about this bill
If you were sexually abused as a child and signed a nondisclosure agreement, you could still talk about the abuse. Any part of a contract that stops a victim, or alleged victim, from telling what happened would be void. Other people could also share facts that back up a victim's account. The rule covers abuse of anyone under 18 that is a crime under federal or state law. The rule would reach deals signed before or after the bill becomes law. No one could enforce such a clause or even try to. State laws that allow it would be overridden, but states could pass stronger protections. Other secrecy terms would still stand. For example, a deal could still require the other side, including the accused, to keep the settlement amount private.
Congressional Summary
Terminating Restrictive Enforcement of Youth Settlements Law or TREY'S Law This bill limits the enforceability of nondisclosure clauses that prohibit the disclosure of sexual abuse against a minor. Specifically, the bill makes a nondisclosure clause in a contract void and unenforceable to the extent that it prohibits (1) a victim or alleged victim of sexual abuse against a minor from disclosing the sexual abuse or facts related to it, or (2) any other person from disclosing facts related to the sexual abuse of a minor. These changes apply to any nondisclosure clause in a contract entered into before, on, or after this bill's date of enactment. Further, the changes made by this bill supersede any state law to the extent the state law permits enforcement of a nondisclosure clause that prohibits the disclosure of sexual abuse against a minor.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Passed Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-05-20
- Date Added
- 2026-09-30
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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