Survivors, advocates urge committee to advance 'Trey's law' to void NDAs in childhood-abuse settlements

Survivors and advocates told a legislative committee that HB 11-87, known in testimony as "Trey's law," would prevent institutions from using nondisclosure agreements to hide childhood abuse and would help survivors access support.

"This bill does not force anyone to speak. It simply ensures that survivors cannot be legally silenced," survivor Chuck Wills told the committee, describing abuse he said began when he was 6 at a camp and continued despite institutional protections for the perpetrator.

Todd Gladiolis, director of policy and advocacy for the No More Victims Alliance, said the bill — which the Georgia House passed unanimously three weeks earlier — includes a retroactivity provision amended in the House to nullify only clauses that bar survivors from speaking. "A contract that violates public policy and endangers children should never have been enforceable," he said.

Mike Griffin, public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, urged passage as well, describing the denomination's victim-centered training and prior support for laws exposing predators.

Public commenter Brooke Mills called the bill "common sense, clean and simple," and urged the committee to accept it and consider future expansions.

After public testimony, a senator moved and another seconded a motion to pass HB 11-87 (version LC 620369S). The chair called for a show of hands and announced the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Supporters said HB 11-87 would remove legal tools that, in their view, have been used to protect institutions and abusers rather than survivors. Advocates highlighted the bill's retroactivity carveout and emphasized survivor access to mental-health services and truth-telling as central goals.

Next steps: The committee reported the bill favorably and identified a Senate sponsor to carry it to the floor.