Unheard Child

STATE REFORM

Closing the clergy loophole, state by state

Most states still let clergy keep child abuse secret. We track where the law stands in all fifty, and we work to change it.

Every state's law is different. Some name clergy as mandated reporters and close the confessional exemption. Many do neither. The map below shows where each state stands today, and where a bill is moving right now.

Where every state stands

Alabama — Action neededAlaska — Action neededArizona — Active pushArkansas — Action neededCalifornia — Action neededColorado — Action neededConnecticut — Action neededDelaware — Recent attemptFlorida — Action neededGeorgia — Recent attemptHawaii — Recent attemptIdaho — Action neededIllinois — Action neededIndiana — Action neededIowa — Action neededKansas — Recent attemptKentucky — Action neededLouisiana — Action neededMaine — Action neededMaryland — Action neededMassachusetts — Action neededMichigan — Action neededMinnesota — Recent attemptMississippi — Action neededMissouri — Active pushMontana — Recent attemptNebraska — Action neededNevada — Action neededNew Hampshire — No clergy loopholeNew Jersey — Action neededNew Mexico — Action neededNew York — Active pushNorth Carolina — Action neededNorth Dakota — Recent attemptOhio — Action neededOklahoma — Action neededOregon — Action neededPennsylvania — Action neededRhode Island — Active pushSouth Carolina — Action neededSouth Dakota — Recent attemptTennessee — Action neededTexas — No clergy loopholeUtah — Recent attemptVermont — Active pushVirginia — Action neededWashington — Recent attemptWest Virginia — No clergy loopholeWisconsin — Recent attemptWyoming — Action needed

50 states tracked · 20 bills in motion · 47 cases

AlabamaAction needed
AlaskaAction needed
ArizonaActive push
ArkansasAction needed
CaliforniaAction needed
ColoradoAction needed
ConnecticutAction needed
DelawareRecent attempt
FloridaAction needed
GeorgiaRecent attempt
HawaiiRecent attempt
IdahoAction needed
IllinoisAction needed
IndianaAction needed
IowaAction needed
KansasRecent attempt
KentuckyAction needed
LouisianaAction needed
MaineAction needed
MarylandAction needed
MassachusettsAction needed
MichiganAction needed
MinnesotaRecent attempt
MississippiAction needed
MissouriActive push
MontanaRecent attempt
NebraskaAction needed
NevadaAction needed
New HampshireNo clergy loophole
New JerseyAction needed
New MexicoAction needed
New YorkActive push
North CarolinaAction needed
North DakotaRecent attempt
OhioAction needed
OklahomaAction needed
OregonAction needed
PennsylvaniaAction needed
Rhode IslandActive push
South CarolinaAction needed
South DakotaRecent attempt
TennesseeAction needed
TexasNo clergy loophole
UtahRecent attempt
VermontActive push
VirginiaAction needed
WashingtonRecent attempt
West VirginiaNo clergy loophole
WisconsinRecent attempt
WyomingAction needed

How we research this

If you need help right now:

  • RAINN1-800-656-HOPENational Sexual Assault Hotline. 24/7, free, confidential.
  • 988Dial 988Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 24/7, free, confidential.
  • Childhelp1-800-422-4453National Child Abuse Hotline. 24/7, free, multilingual.

The Quick exit button opens a neutral page, but it does not erase your browser history. For safer browsing, use a private window or a trusted device, and clear your history when it is safe to do so.

Donate