Bill · S. 3966· Senate(119-S-3966)
TREY'S Law
- Introduced
- 3/3/2026
- Last activity
- 5/20/2026 — Held at the desk.
- Sponsored by
- Ted Cruz
- Cosponsors
- - 10 - 10
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Awaiting House
What this bill would do
This Act, known as "TREY'S Law," prohibits the enforcement of certain contractual clauses that restrict the disclosure of sexual abuse of minors. It aims to prevent nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements from being used to silence survivors or hide ongoing abuse. The bill declares such clauses void and unenforceable when they prevent victims or others from disclosing facts related to sexual abuse against a minor. This law applies to agreements made before, on, or after the date of its enactment. It also supersedes state laws that would otherwise allow for the enforcement of these restrictive provisions.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would children be better off under this?+8
The law specifically protects minors by ensuring their abuse can be disclosed and prosecuted.
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?+7
It protects the right of survivors to speak about their experiences without contractual fear.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+6
The bill explicitly aims to protect the due process rights of survivors in seeking redress.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-5
The bill limits state authority by superseding state laws that allow for the enforcement of such clauses.
Would business owners be better off under this?-4
It restricts the ability of entities to use nondisclosure agreements to control information.
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?-3
It limits the ability of parties to maintain private confidentiality regarding certain disclosures.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection for Survivors and Witnesses: The Act ensures that victims or alleged victims of sexual abuse against a minor can disclose the abuse or related facts without being stopped by a contract (Section 4(a)(1)). It also protects other people from being prevented from disclosing facts related to the abuse (Section 4(a)(2)).
-
Freedom from Civil Liability: The purpose of the Act is to ensure survivors and people with knowledge of such abuse can disclose the information freely without fear of civil liability (Section 2(b)(4)).
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Obstruction of Justice Prevention: By making these clauses void, the Act aims to prevent private agreements from being used to obstruct the investigation or prosecution of Federal crimes involving the sexual abuse or trafficking of minors (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Preservation of Constitutional Rights: The Act seeks to protect the rights of survivors to petition the government for redress and maintain access to the courts (Section 2(b)(1) and Section 2(b)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Negative Impacts Identified: The provided text does not list any specific negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups; it focuses on the prohibition of enforcing restrictive clauses and allows for the continued restriction of other information, such as settlement payment terms (Section 4(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Freedom Of Speech+7Improves Due Process+6Improves Government Transparency+5Increases Federal Power+5Increase States Rights-5Improves Privacy Rights-3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+8Good For Women+5Good For Business Owners-4
- 5/20/2026
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2398-2400; text: CR S2399-2400)
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 5/19/2026
- Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 413.
- 5/18/2026
- 11 Cosponsors added.
- 5/14/2026
- Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 5/11/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/3/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Lindsey GrahamRepublican · South Carolina
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Josh HawleyRepublican · Missouri
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
John KennedyRepublican · Louisiana
Ashley MoodyRepublican · Florida
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont