DALLAS (TX)
Dallas Morning News [Dallas TX]
May 25, 2025
By Adrian Ashford and Karen Brooks Harper
Legislation won unanimous final approval in the House on Monday.
Texas is on the verge of banning the use of nondisclosure agreements to silence sexual abuse survivors.
The ban will prevent NDAs from being used to prevent a survivor of sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, human trafficking or child sexual abuse from disclosing their abuse to others.
It will go into effect on Sept. 1.
The proposal — known as Trey’s Law — gained support after victims of church sex abuse went public with their experiences. Texas House members voted 144-0 on Monday to give final approval to the ban, which has been spearheaded by two North Texas lawmakers.
The vote sends Senate Bill 835, authored by Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
“I believe very strongly that this bill that we’re about to vote on is one of the, if not the strongest, bill for sexual abuse survivors and victims anywhere in this country,” Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen, who spearheaded the effort in the House, said on the House floor. “It’s been a collective, collaborative effort both sides of the aisle.”
House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, who usually remains neutral on legislation, cast a rare vote in favor of the bill to punctuate the strong House support.
“This is a critical step forward for justice, transparency, and the protection of future victims,” Paxton said after the House vote. “For too long, powerful institutions and individuals have used NDAs as a tool to cover up abuse and silence the voices of those they’ve harmed. Trey’s Law ensures that survivors can speak their truth – and abusers and those who enable them can no longer hide behind legal loopholes.”
Related:Woman who accused Gateway Church founder of sexual abuse says recovery has been ‘lifelong’
Robert Morris’ accuser Cindy Clemishire previously testified in support of a ban during public hearings at the Capitol. She alleged that Morris, who founded Gateway Church, offered her a settlement if she signed an NDA.
Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, sister of the bill’s namesake — Trey Carlock — also testified in support of the bill. The Highland Park resident alleged in March testimony that her brother, who died by suicide in 2019, was abused by a camp counselor and signed a settlement he called “blood money” that included a nondisclosure agreement.
Related:In unanimous vote, Texas House advances bill to ban use of NDAs to silence abuse survivors
Related: Ending use of NDAs to silence abuse survivors passes Texas Senate after fast-track
“Elizabeth is an inspiration for using our trauma, tragedy and pain to make a difference in future generations!” Clemishire texted The Dallas Morning News shortly after the Sunday vote. “I am so thankful I could share my story of abuse and be the voice of other survivors to help get Trey’s Law passed!”
“I’ve never been prouder to be a Texan,” Phillips said after the vote. “I was just thinking of my brother Trey, and how grateful I am for his legacy.”
Leach carried an identical version of the bill, which passed the House unanimously in early April.
Last week, the Senate took up Paxton’s bill instead of Leach’s, meaning the legislation needed House approval once more.
“It does not matter if this is a House bill or a Senate Bill; doesn’t matter if we have to vote on it 100 times,” Leach said before Sunday’s vote. “It’s critical that we pass this legislation, and that’s what we’re about to do.”
Related:Fight for strong NDA ban for sex abuse cases prompts North Texas lawmaker to block bills
A spokesman for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who decides which bills the Senate debates, told The News last week that passing Paxton’s bill was Leach’s idea.
”Rep. Leach thought a bill with his name on it might be vetoed by the governor,” said Steven Aranyi, communications director for Patrick. He did not elaborate as to why.
Asked last week about his reaction to the Senate passing its version of the measure, Leach — visibly frustrated on the House floor after the vote — declined to comment.
Leach’s bill initially applied only to child sexual abuse cases. He then expanded it to prohibit using such NDAs to stop adult survivors of sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault or human trafficking from disclosing their abuse to others.
Adrian Ashford covers faith and religion in North Texas for The Dallas Morning News through a partnership with Report for America.