State of Missouri

Bill 709: Modifies Provisions Relating to Nondisclosure Agreements in Childhood Sexual Abuse Cases

Overview

Missouri House Bill 709 (HB 709) is a legislative effort to prohibit the use of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases of child sexual abuse. Introduced in January 2025 by Representative Brian Seitz, the bill seeks to prevent NDAs from being weaponized to silence survivors and protect abusers.

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HB 709 was directly influenced by the Kanakuk Kamps scandal, one of the most notorious cases of child sexual abuse in the state’s history. Survivors and their families have long called for reforms, arguing that NDAs were used to cover up abuse and allow perpetrators to avoid accountability.

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The Kanakuk Kamps Scandal and Its Influence on HB 709

For decades, Kanakuk Kamps, a Christian summer camp in Missouri, was considered a prestigious destination for children. However, the camp was rocked by scandal when Peter Newman, a former director, was convicted in 2010 for sexually abusing multiple campers.

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What made the case even more disturbing was the camp's use of NDAs to prevent survivors and their families from speaking out. Many victims and their parents were reportedly pressured into signing legal agreements that prohibited them from discussing the abuse, effectively silencing them while Kanakuk continued operating without public scrutiny.

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The exposure of Kanakuk’s handling of the abuse cases sparked outrage and led to calls for legislative reform. Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, whose brother Trey was a survivor of child sexual abuse, became one of the leading voices pushing for change, arguing that no child should be bound to secrecy about the harm they endured.

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HB 709 was drafted in direct response to these concerns. Representative Seitz, whose district includes Branson, where Kanakuk Kamps is located, introduced the bill to ensure that NDAs could no longer be used to cover up child sexual abuse.

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Key Provisions of HB 709

• Bans NDAs in Child Sexual Abuse Cases: The bill makes it illegal to enforce NDAs in any civil settlement involving child sexual abuse, ensuring survivors retain the right to speak about their experiences.

• Protects Future Victims: By preventing secrecy, the law aims to expose patterns of abuse and hold organizations accountable, rather than allowing them to quietly settle cases behind closed doors.

• Empowers Survivors: If passed, the bill would ensure that no survivor is legally forced into silence about their own abuse, providing them with the opportunity to seek justice and healing.

Why This Matters

Elizabeth Carlock Phillips has been one of the most outspoken advocates for this bill. After the loss of her brother Trey, who suffered abuse and later took his own life, she committed herself to eliminating the legal barriers that prevent survivors from speaking out.

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“No child crime victim should be silenced about the harm they endured. The public needs to know who and where the bad actors are—and survivors hold that truth.”

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The Kanakuk Kamps case was not just about one predator; it was about an institutional failure that allowed abuse to happen and then actively silenced those who tried to speak out. HB 709 is a direct response to these failures, ensuring that NDAs can never again be used to protect predators at the expense of victims.

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Current Status

As of March 2025, HB 709 has moved through the following legislative stages:

• Prefiled: January 2, 2025

• First Reading: January 8, 2025

• Second Reading: January 9, 2025

• Referred to Judiciary Committee: February 6, 2025

• Public Hearing Completed: February 26, 2025

• Executive Session Completed: March 5, 2025, with a unanimous "Do Pass" vote (10 AYES, 0 NOES)

• On March 7, 2025, the Missouri House Judiciary Committee voted 10-to-0 to advance HB 709, moving it closer to a full House vote. ​ksmu.org+3ksmu.org+3KCUR+3

• By March 28, 2025, both HB 709 and a companion bill in the Senate were approaching the governor's desk. These bills aim to eliminate NDAs in child sexual abuse cases and remove the statute of limitations for survivors to file lawsuits

• As of April 16, 2025, Missouri House Bill 709, known as "Trey's Law," was ordered perfected and printed in the Missouri House of Representatives. This action signifies that the bill has passed the perfection stage, where it is reviewed and amended before being printed in its final form for further consideration. The next step is for the bill to be third read and passed in the House before moving to the Senate for consideration.

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A Call for Change

HB 709 represents a turning point in Missouri’s legal landscape, challenging the systemic secrecy that has protected abusers for far too long. It is a direct response to real cases of injustice, including Kanakuk Kamps, and aims to ensure that no child is ever again forced into silence through legal agreements.

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For survivors like Trey Carlock and the many others who were unable to share their truth, this bill is not just about legislation—it is about justice, accountability, and breaking the cycle of silence.