Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1187: Trey's Law; enact
Last action May 11, 2026 · Effective Date
Georgia's HB 1187, known as Trey's Law, voids nondisclosure agreements that try to silence disclosures of childhood sexual abuse, affecting survivors, employers, and anyone who has signed a settlement or employment contract containing such clauses.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Currently, some settlement, employment, or other agreements in Georgia include nondisclosure or confidentiality clauses that can stop a person from talking about childhood sexual abuse they experienced or know about. This bill adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 9-11-63, declaring that any part of such an agreement is void and unenforceable if it tries to stop someone from disclosing an act of childhood sexual abuse or facts related to it. It does not touch other confidential terms of a settlement, such as the dollar amount or how payments are made, which parties can still agree to keep private. The change applies to agreements signed before, on, or after the law takes effect, meaning it can reach older contracts as well as new ones. No one can enforce a nondisclosure clause covering childhood sexual abuse unless a court issues a final, unappealable declaratory judgment saying the clause is enforceable. The law is named Trey's Law and takes effect immediately once the Governor signs it or it becomes law without a signature.
What the bill does
- Voids any provision in a nondisclosure, confidentiality, employment, or settlement agreement that stops a person from disclosing an act of childhood sexual abuse or related facts.
- Protects the confidentiality of other settlement terms, such as payment amounts, which parties may still agree to keep private.
- Applies retroactively, covering agreements entered into before, on, or after the law's effective date, not just new ones.
- Requires anyone who wants to enforce a nondisclosure clause covering childhood sexual abuse to first win a final, unappealable court declaratory judgment.
- Gives the new law the short title 'Trey's Law' and sets it to take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it becomes law without signature.
Who it affects
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse who signed or may sign nondisclosure agreements, employers and institutions that use such agreements in settlements or employment contracts, attorneys handling abuse claims, and Georgia courts that would rule on enforceability disputes.
Why it matters
People who experienced childhood sexual abuse could speak about it publicly or to others even if they previously signed an agreement meant to silence them, unless a court specifically rules the silencing clause enforceable. Employers and institutions could no longer rely on nondisclosure clauses to prevent disclosure of such abuse.
Key provisions
- Section 1 gives the Act its short title, 'Trey's Law.'
- Section 2 adds new Code Section 9-11-63(a), voiding nondisclosure or confidentiality provisions that prohibit disclosure of childhood sexual abuse or related facts, while still allowing other settlement terms like payment amounts to remain confidential.
- Section 2 also adds subsection (b), applying the change to agreements made before, on, or after the law's effective date.
- Section 2 adds subsection (c), barring enforcement of such nondisclosure provisions unless a final, non-appealable declaratory judgment confirms the provision is enforceable.
- Section 3 sets the effective date as immediate upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval.
- Section 4 repeals conflicting laws.
From the bill
“Any provision of a nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement or nondisclosure or confidentiality provision of an employment agreement, settlement agreement, or any other agreement is void and unenforceable as against the public policy of this state to the extent the provision prohibits a person, including a party, from disclosing an act of childhood sexual abuse”
“A person, including a party, may not enforce or attempt to enforce an agreement or a provision of an agreement that prevents disclosure of an act of childhood sexual abuse or facts related to an act of childhood sexual abuse to any other person unless the person obtains a declaratory judgment that is final and not subject to appeal”
Discussed in meetings (12)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Judiciary Committee, February 9, 2026
From 0:47:34 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1187 would prohibit settlement confidentiality provisions concealing child sexual abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking, while protecting victims’ identities. The sponsor said these provisions prevent survivors from discussing trauma and obtaining support. A witness whose sibling died by suicide after an abuse settlement described the agreement’s chilling effect on therapy. Responding to concerns about discouraging settlements, that witness cited a California study finding no reduction in settlement values. A university abuse survivor described lasting harm; a clergy-abuse advocate described institutional concealment; a former camp participant described friends silenced by agreements. Two whistleblowers separately described employment consequences for challenging abuse or refusing confidentiality terms. Another survivor said refusing an agreement allowed continued disclosure and eventual prosecution. A trauma therapist, a Georgia Protective Parents witness and a Tabitha’s House witness supported the bill, citing healing, accountability and prevention. Members questioned confidentiality of settlement amounts and whether existing agreements could be affected. The sponsor initially said the bill was prospective and requested more time to review retroactive language. A member nevertheless offered an amendment modeled on Texas law, addressing existing agreements through public-policy language and a court-order requirement for enforcement, with childhood-abuse definitions added. The committee adopted the amendment and approved the amended bill by voice vote.
House Rules Committee, February 17, 2026
From 0:28:53 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: Presenting the bill on behalf of the governor, the sponsor said it would prohibit nondisclosure agreements in civil settlements involving child sexual abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking. The sponsor said the purpose was to let survivors speak openly, expose abusers and negligent institutions, and prevent secrecy in future cases. No questions or decision followed.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
From 1:54:39 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 1187 on the day's floor calendar under modified rules without opposition. Its provisions were not discussed.
House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, AM)
From 1:44:06 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1800
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1187 would prohibit nondisclosure agreements in civil settlements involving child sexual abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking. The sponsor argued that such agreements force survivors to choose between compensation and speaking about abuse, and that removing them would support access to mental health care, expose institutional failures and deter abuse. The sponsor described a survivor who was abused at summer camp, signed a settlement agreement restricting disclosure and later died by suicide. A member thanked the governor's spouse for work against human trafficking and expressed support. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill, 174 to 0.
Senate Judiciary Committee, March 23, 2026
From 0:24:54 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1187 would free survivors to discuss childhood abuse and obtain mental health support. A witness for the No More Victims Alliance explained that it would invalidate agreements barring discussion of childhood sexual abuse or trafficking. The witness supported a House-added provision applying the change to existing agreements while leaving the rest of each settlement intact. The sponsor acknowledged concerns that invalidating an entire settlement could lead to demands for repayment. A survivor described abuse at Kanakuk Kamps and said confidentiality agreements protect institutions and leave families unaware of risks. The alliance witness described another survivor's restrictive settlement and subsequent suicide, arguing that enforced silence harms recovery and public safety. A Georgia Baptist Mission Board witness supported exposing abuse and centering survivors' needs. Another witness supported the bill but urged broader protections in a future session. No committee questions followed the testimony. The committee unanimously approved the substitute.
Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026
From 0:37:21 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1187, presented on behalf of the governor, would make settlement nondisclosure agreements void in child sexual abuse cases. No substantive questions followed. A member selected it, and the committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.
Senate floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, part 1)
From 7:12:56 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Taken from Table)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1187 would prohibit nondisclosure agreements in civil settlements involving childhood sexual abuse and child trafficking. The sponsor described the experience of a childhood-abuse survivor whose settlement restricted discussing the abuse and who later died by suicide. The sponsor said such agreements force survivors to choose between compensation and speaking openly, and argued that the bill would support access to mental-health care, expose abusers and institutional failures, and help prevent future abuse. The sponsor said the proposal came from the governor's office, the first lady and the GRACE Commission. No questions or opposition followed. The Senate passed the bill 50 to 0.
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13), 0:39:43
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 6, 2026 (legislative day 14), 0:50:58
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 10, 2026 (legislative day 16), 0:48:33
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1), 0:39:45
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 25, 2026 (legislative day 37), 0:34:49
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 448
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
Show full history (17 actions)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
- Matthew Gambill (R, HD-15)
- Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-34)
- Will Wade (R, HD-9)
- Stan Gunter (R, HD-8)
- Katie Dempsey (R, HD-13)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
Votes
- House voteMarch 4, 2026
174 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 1 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2026
39 yea, 10 nay (2 not voting, 3 excused)
- Senate voteApril 2, 2026
50 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 excused)
Topics
- childhood sexual abuse
- nondisclosure agreements
- settlement agreements
- survivor rights
- Georgia law