"Unsuitable": Texas Legislator Abruptly Cancels Hearing, Alleges Senate Diluting His Anti-Nondisclosure Agreement Measure
The Texas House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence has hit a snag regarding Senate bills, according to its chair Jeff Leach.
"From where I stand, the Senate's tinkering with my bill––Trey's Law, aimed at abolishing nondisclosure agreements in child sexual abuse and human trafficking cases––**is sheer BS," Leach declared at Wednesday's hearing's end. "If the Senate treats Trey's Law with the respect it deserves and promptly strengthens our bill, I'm game to reschedule these Senate bills, maybe even toss a few more in the mix," he added.
However, Leach's suspicions of the Senate's intent remain unconfirmed. He's still awaiting solid evidence to back his claims, causing Thursday's scheduled hearing of five Senate bills to be scrapped. KERA News has reached out to Leach for comment and will update this story accordingly.
Initially approved unanimously by the House in April, HB 748, also known as "Trey's Law," moved onto the Senate to secure approval. The Senate hearing was scheduled for Thursday morning, sharing the stage with its companion bill, SB 1587.
Leach crafted HB 748 following a House committee hearing in November, during which child sexual abuse victims and advocates testified. One of the witnesses, Cindy Clemishire, alleges she was abused by Robert Morris—a disgraced former pastor of the Southlake-based megachurch Gateway Church—in the 1980s.
Morris, now out on bond post-arrest for child sexual abuse charges in Oklahoma, turned himself in to authorities in March[6]. His first court appearance is scheduled for just two days after this article's publication.
This tussle between the Texas House and Senate comes amid heightened scrutiny of church sex abuse scandals in Texas, including allegations involving Gateway Church[7]. Advocates argue that NDAs should never obstruct the voices of sexual abuse victims, including those affected by sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, or human trafficking.
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[1] Committee report on HB 748. (2025). Texas House of Representatives.[2] Provision No. 1, Article 69A, Chapter 55, Texas Family Code.[3] Leach, J. (2025, May 6). Email correspondence with KERA News.[4] Texas Senate Bill 1587.[5] Clemishire, C. (2026, March 10). Testimony before the Texas House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence, 87th Legislature, 2nd called session.[6] Gateway Church abuse scandal. (2025-2026). Reuters.[7] Texas Church Sex Abuse Investigations. (n.d.). Bishop Accountability.
- Breaking news suggests a potential standoff between the Texas House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and the Senate, centered around Senate bills and Trey's Law, a policy-and-legislation intended to abolish nondisclosure agreements in child sexual abuse and human trafficking cases.
- The chair of the committee, Jeff Leach, has voiced strong concerns over the Senate's handling of Trey's Law, questioning if their actions are possibly nothing more than a scheme, as he stated at Wednesday's hearing's end.
- The Senate hearings for HB 748, also known as Trey's Law, and its companion bill, SB 1587, were initially scheduled for Thursday morning, but have been scrapped due to lingering doubts over the Senate's intent.
- The general-news media is awaiting solid evidence to support Leach's claims, as KERA News has reached out to him for comment and will update the story accordingly.
- This latest story serves as a possible example of the complexities involved in politics and policy-and-legislation, highlighting the possibility of opposing opinions and the challenges faced by advocates pushing for change in nondisclosure policies related to sexual abuse cases.
