The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.TREY'S Law: Protecting Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse
Last action · May 20, 2026: Held at the desk.Sponsors: Ted Cruz and 20 others
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What This Bill Would Do
TREY'S Law is a proposed federal bill that would make nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) unenforceable if they prevent victims or witnesses from reporting the sexual abuse of a minor. The bill aims to ensure that private contracts cannot be used to silence survivors or obstruct law enforcement investigations.
If passed, this law would invalidate existing and future contract clauses that currently prevent survivors of child sexual abuse from speaking publicly or reporting their experiences to authorities.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Survivors of child sexual abuse
They would gain the legal right to disclose their abuse regardless of any prior nondisclosure agreements they may have signed.
Legal entities and defendants in abuse cases
They would be unable to enforce contract clauses that require silence regarding the underlying facts of child sexual abuse.
Key Facts
- The bill declares that any contract clause prohibiting the disclosure of child sexual abuse is void and unenforceable as a matter of public policy.
- The law applies to victims, alleged victims, and any other person disclosing facts related to the abuse.
- The bill defines a 'minor person' as anyone under 18 years of age.
- The bill defines 'sexual abuse' to include offenses under chapter 110 of title 18, sex trafficking under section 1591, or any sexual act/contact that is a criminal offense under federal or state law.
Show all 7 facts
- The bill explicitly allows for confidentiality regarding the specific dollar amounts or payment terms of a settlement, provided those terms do not restrict the disclosure of the abuse itself.
- The bill is justified by Congress under the 'Necessary and Proper Clause' and Section 5 of the 14th Amendment to prevent the obstruction of justice and protect constitutional rights.
- The bill asserts that judicial enforcement of such NDAs by state courts constitutes 'State action' that may violate the 14th Amendment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this bill make all settlement agreements illegal?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
10 actions- May 20, 2026HouseHeld at the desk.
- May 20, 2026HouseReceived in the House.
- May 20, 2026SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
- May 20, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2398-2400; text: CR S2399-2400)
- May 20, 2026SenateFloorPassed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- May 19, 2026SenatePlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 413.
Show 4 earlier actions
- May 19, 2026SenateCommittee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
- May 14, 2026SenateCommittee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Mar 3, 2026SenateCommitteeRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Mar 3, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Constitutional Justification
The bill explicitly frames the invalidation of private NDAs as a 14th Amendment issue, arguing that state court enforcement of these contracts constitutes 'State action' that violates due process.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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