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Committee advances bill to curb NDAs in child sexual‑abuse cases and expand filing windows
Summary
Lawmakers advanced House Bill 4,227, which would prohibit nondisclosure agreements that conceal child sexual abuse and eliminate a prior 45‑year age cap for filing; sponsor called the change a necessary step to remove legal roadblocks for victims.
The Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 4,227, commonly referenced in testimony as responding to the "Cindy Clemshauer" and "Treys Law" cases. Senator Weaver described the measure as a prohibition on the use of NDAs to conceal child sexual abuse and noted the bill would remove an age cap for filing certain claims.
Weaver told the committee that NDAs are "built to protect trade secrets, not trauma secrets," and sought to underscore the bill’s goal of allowing victims to seek redress without having their allegations legally silenced. The sponsor asked for advancement and recognized a number of advocates and family members in the gallery; the committee advanced the measure unanimously (8 ayes, 0 nays).
Questions during discussion focused on scope and unintended consequences; the sponsor and other senators agreed to refine language off the floor where necessary. The bill now advances to the Senate floor with unanimous committee support.
Reporters should seek the bill text for precise statutory changes, including the language that removes the age cap and the definitions that govern the NDAs the bill would prohibit.
