The Oklahoma House of Representatives voted unanimously on March 17 to pass House Bill 4227, a sexual abuse measure known as the "Cindy Clemishire Act."
Cindy Clemishire, an Oklahoma native, was sexually abused as a child by Gateway Church founder Robert Morris in the 1980s. She brought public allegations against Morris in 2025 over the abuse. In October, Morris pleaded guilty to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, as Premier Christian News previously reported. He is currently serving a six-month prison sentence.
According to Baptist News, the legislation includes a version of the Terminating Restrictive Enforcement of Youth Settlements Law, or "Trey's Law," which makes nondisclosure agreements in both past and future settlement agreements related to sexual abuse cases void and unenforceable.
In addition to Trey's Law, the Cindy Clemishire Act proposes changes to mandatory reporting requirements, specifically in cases involving minors. The bill also seeks to remove time limits on how long individuals have to report abuse and aims to strengthen legal measures to protect victim anonymity.
The bill’s approval by the Oklahoma House of Representatives is part of a broader effort to reform laws related to sexual abuse cases and make it easier for victims to seek justice. Versions of Trey's Law have been introduced in several states, including Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Following its passage in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the bill now moves to the Oklahoma State Senate.