Committee Approves Weaver Bill Strengthening Protections for Child Sexual Abuse Victims

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, secured unanimous approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee for House Bill 4227. The measure provides that any settlement agreement that conceals the details relating to a claim of child sexual abuse or child sexual exploitation is void and unenforceable. The provisions of HB 4227 maintain confidentiality for victims’ identifying information.

“Current laws put roadblocks up for justice to be served for victims of child sexual abuse,” Weaver said. “Prohibiting the use of NDAs to conceal details of such crimes will ensure that abusers and the institutions protecting them cannot silence victims and avoid the consequences of their vile actions.”

HB 4227 also provides that prosecutions for sexual crimes against children may be commenced at any time after the commission of the offense. Weaver’s bill removes an age cap in existing law that states prosecution for sexual crimes against children must commence by the time the victim turns 45.

“You cannot put time limits on sexual trauma, especially when such crimes are committed against an innocent child,” Weaver said. “This bill ensures that justice for these heinous crimes can be served at any point, and justice is not withheld from those who were unable or not ready to come forward at a prior point in time. I appreciate my colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee for their overwhelming support of this bill, putting it one step closer to becoming law and providing these necessary protections to victims.”

The bill is known as the Cindy Clemishire Act, named for an Oklahoma native whose abuse by Gateway Church founder Robert Morris took place in Osage County in the 1980s when she was just 12 years old. Clemishire attempted to seek justice decades ago, but she refused to sign an NDA which would have prohibited her from speaking out about the criminal acts. Her objection to signing the agreement allowed justice to be delivered over 40 years later. Her abuser pleaded guilty to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child in 2025.

Section 3 of the bill, which contains the language prohibiting use of NDAs in cases related to child sexual crimes, is known as “Trey’s Law”. Trey’s Law is named for Trey Carlock, a Texan who lost his life to suicide after experiencing sexual abuse and being subjected to restrictive NDAs that silenced Trey and other victims. Trey’s sister, Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, continues to advocate for the nationwide expansion of Trey’s Law in honor of her late brother. The measure has been filed federally and adopted by six states. Carlock Phillips joined Weaver for the committee’s deliberation and approval of HB 4227.  

House Bill 4227 is now eligible for consideration by the full Senate.

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For more information, contact: communications@oksenate.gov.