Sponsors (16)
The bill strengthens survivors' ability to speak and seek justice by invalidating nondisclosure clauses that would silence child sexual-abuse victims, at the cost of increased litigation, reputational and financial exposure for parties to past settlements, and potential federal–state legal conflicts.
Survivors and minors (children-youth) can disclose past sexual abuse and pursue reports or lawsuits without being silenced by nondisclosure agreements, preserving access to courts and law enforcement.
Federal prosecutors and investigators face fewer private legal barriers when investigating and prosecuting trafficking and child sexual-abuse crimes across state lines, aiding public safety and enforcement.
Friends, family members, and other witnesses can speak in support of victims or about a minor's abuse without fear of NDA enforcement, improving victims' ability to gather support and evidence.
Parties who relied on confidentiality agreements and survivors who agreed to prior NDAs may face renewed litigation or exposure of past settlement terms, increasing legal costs and unpredictability for defendants, insurers, and potentially taxpayers.
Broad federal preemption of state enforcement and retroactive invalidation of NDAs could trigger federal–state tensions, constitutional challenges, and conflicts with existing state contract law, complicating ongoing cases until courts resolve supremacy disputes.
Organizations, alleged perpetrators, and other defendants may face increased reputational and financial exposure as past abuse information becomes public, which can raise litigation and insurance costs that may be passed on to customers, employees, or taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Makes nondisclosure clauses unenforceable when they bar disclosure of sexual abuse or sex trafficking of minors, applies retroactively, and preempts contrary state law.
Official title: To prohibit the enforcement of certain contractual clauses that restrict disclosure of sexual abuse of minors, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 29, 2026 by Brandon Gill · Last progress April 29, 2026
Prohibits enforcement of nondisclosure or confidentiality provisions that bar victims, witnesses, or others from disclosing sexual abuse or sex trafficking involving minors. The law defines key terms, allows confidentiality about settlement mechanics (like payment amounts) so long as they do not block disclosure of the abuse, and applies retroactively to agreements made before, on, or after enactment while preempting contrary state law. The measure aims to protect survivors and witnesses, preserve access to courts and federal investigation/prosecution of crimes against minors, and make clear that State action to enforce such secrecy clauses can be remedied by Congress under its constitutional powers.