Survivors describe lasting financial and privacy harms, urge legislative action

Three people who identified themselves as survivors described long-term financial, housing and privacy harms from abuse and urged lawmakers to pursue legislative solutions.

One survivor (Speaker 1) opened by saying the harm extends beyond immediate safety and “the innocence in your dreams,” and that survivors also "are forced to carry the financial burden of abuse," listing "lost wages, housing instability, medical expenses, legal fees, [and] security costs," as well as trauma that affects daily life.

The witnesses said those burdens compound when records or documents are released publicly. Speaker 2 said survivors “have put our face to the public when we should have never had to,” and that the exposure can carry a professional cost: “Now every job that we apply for, they Google us. They know our most personal information of things that happen to us as children. That is forever, forever going to follow us.” Speaker 3 echoed that point, saying the release of documents changed how people see them and that they are "trying to look like I'm okay, but I'm not okay."

Speaker 1 said there is no dollar amount that could fully account for what was stolen, but that survivors deserve more than sympathy and that she is "committed to doing alongside of you, legislatively," signaling a push for statutory or policy remedies. The speakers did not specify particular bills, funding levels or the legislative body they intended to engage.

The session focused on personal testimony of harms rather than on formal motions or votes. No formal actions, motions or citations of statutes were recorded in the transcript. The remarks conclude with Speaker 1 thanking the group.