Texas Bill to Ban NDAs in Abuse Cases Advances

Texas lawmakers are advancing House Bill 748, also known as Trey’s Law, to prohibit the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in civil settlements related to sexual abuse and trafficking cases. Named after Trey Carlock, who died by suicide in 2019 after suffering abuse, the bill aims to prevent abusers from using NDAs to silence victims, as highlighted by testimonies like that of Cindy Clemishire. Clemishire claims she was abused by Gateway Church founder Robert Morris and was later offered a settlement contingent on signing an NDA, which she refused. The bill was moved to the House floor after a unanimous committee vote and is supported by other similar legislative efforts. Advocates argue that NDAs enable systemic abuse to remain hidden, allowing perpetrators to avoid consequences. If passed, the law would align with Tennessee's existing legislation against NDAs in child sex assault settlements.