Georgia lawmakers took a major step toward banning non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases of child sexual abuse with the advancement of Trey’s Law. Abuse survivors and advocates testified Monday at the state Capitol in support of the bill, which seeks to prevent institutions from silencing victims through legal settlements. Among them was Hayle Swinson, a survivor of abuse at Truett McConnell University, a top-ranked Southern Baptist–affiliated school.
Swinson recounted how spiritual manipulation and fear were used to exploit her. She emphasized that such abuse thrives on silence and power imbalances. Trey’s Law, already enacted in four states, would make Georgia the fifth state to enact it if it passes.
Survivors Demand Accountability and Action
The bill is named after Trey Carlock, who died by suicide after being silenced about his abuse. His sister, Elizabeth Phillips, called the law “a matter of life and death.” Survivors from different institutions, including churches and ministries, spoke about systemic failures and urged immediate legislative action.
Christopher Eppling, a former TMU vice president, testified that he lost his job after refusing to sign an NDA. He described such agreements as tools of institutional control, especially harmful when used by faith-based organizations. Supporters say the law would prevent similar silencing in the future.
Whistleblowers Describe High Personal Costs
Other testimonies came from whistleblowers like Ruth Malhotra and Afton Phillips, who exposed sexual misconduct within evangelical ministries. Both said they were pressured to remain silent and denied severance after refusing to sign NDAs. Their stories revealed a pattern of organizational cover-ups, financial settlements, and victim-blaming, especially when reputations were at stake.
Malhotra noted that victims were often met with “containment, not investigation.” Phillips criticized ministry leaders for minimizing abuse, saying survivors deserve support, not silence.
Lawmakers Strengthen Bill with Retroactive Clause
During the hearing, Rep. Stacey Evans proposed an amendment to apply the bill retroactively. Drawing from Texas’s version of Trey’s Law, Evans argued that Georgia’s legal framework could support similar protections. After the discussion, the committee unanimously passed the stronger version.
Phillips later applauded the decision, calling it a significant victory for survivors across the state.
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Abuse victims, advocates ask Georgia legislators to limit NDAs
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