Sponsors (13)
The bill strengthens survivors' ability to speak and seek justice by invalidating nondisclosure protections for child sexual abuse, but it also risks increased litigation, financial exposure for parties and organizations, and federal‑state legal conflicts as courts sort out preemption and scope.
Children and survivors of child sexual abuse can disclose abuse and pursue legal remedies (speak to police, sue, access courts) because nondisclosure clauses that would silence them are unenforceable.
Federal and state law enforcement and prosecutors have fewer private legal barriers (NDAs, confidentiality terms) when investigating and prosecuting trafficking and cross‑jurisdictional sexual‑abuse crimes.
Friends, family members, and witnesses can speak to support a victim or describe a minor's abuse without fear of NDA enforcement, improving support networks and evidence-gathering.
Parties who relied on confidentiality agreements (defendants, insurers, private settling parties) face the risk of renewed litigation and financial exposure because prior NDAs may be unenforceable or subject to challenge.
Broad federal limits on enforcing nondisclosure clauses may create federal‑state conflicts and legal uncertainty as states, courts, and litigants dispute preemption and separation‑of‑powers issues.
Organizations and alleged perpetrators risk increased reputational and financial exposure if past abuse information becomes public, which may raise insurance and litigation costs that can be passed to employees, customers, or taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Makes nondisclosure clauses unenforceable when they bar disclosure of sexual abuse or trafficking of anyone under 18 and applies that rule retroactively.
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
Makes nondisclosure and confidentiality clauses unenforceable when they bar disclosure of sexual abuse or trafficking of anyone under 18. The law defines covered conduct, allows parties to keep confidentiality about settlement terms so long as they do not stop abuse disclosures, and applies retroactively to agreements made before, on, or after enactment.