ATLANTA – State Representative Soo Hong (R-Lawrenceville), vice chair of the House Majority Caucus, announces that House Bill 1187, known as “Trey’s Law,” has been signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp. Sponsored by Vice Chair Hong and a priority of Gov. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, the legislation prohibits the use of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) in childhood sexual abuse cases.
“I was honored to sponsor ‘Trey’s Law’ as a priority of Governor Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp’s this session,” said Vice Chair Hong. “This legislation reflects Georgia’s commitment to protecting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and ensuring that they are never silenced when seeking justice. It was a privilege to work alongside the Carlock family and advocates who courageously shared their stories and pushed for meaningful legislative change. I am especially grateful to Elizabeth Carlock Phillips for her tireless advocacy to raise awareness across the country and help prevent other families from experiencing the tragedy her family endured. With the signing of HB 1187, Georgia has taken an important step toward empowering survivors, increasing accountability and strengthening protections for victims, and I remain committed to continuing this work in future legislative sessions.”
HB 1187 prohibits the enforcement of any NDAs or confidentiality agreements that seek to silence victims of childhood sexual abuse. The bill voids NDAs in situations where these agreements prevent someone from discussing an act of childhood sexual abuse. However, this legislation still allows settlement amounts and other non-abuse-related terms to remain confidential in order to ensure that victim privacy is maintained. Versions of Trey’s Law have been enacted in other states following the story of Trey Carlock, who experienced childhood sexual abuse and was later forced to enter into an NDA during civil litigation against his perpetrator.
The full text of HB 1187 may be found here.
Representative Soo Hong represents the citizens of District 103, which includes portions of Gwinnett and Hall counties. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves as vice chair of the House Majority Caucus and vice chair of the Reapportionment & Redistricting Committee, as well as secretary of the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. She also serves on the Judiciary and Ways & Means committees.
###