The New York Junior League’s State Advocates for Public Policy (APP) committee sent a formal Memo of Support to Governor Kathy Hochul, urging New York State to prioritize the Speak Your Truth Act A687 (Assembly) / S2419 (Senate), a critical piece of legislation designed to protect sexual assault survivors from retaliatory defamation lawsuits when they factually share their experiences. In advance of the Governor’s State of the State address on January 13, 2026, where she outlines the annual fiscal and legislative priorities, the NYJL has been advocating for the inclusion of “Speak Your Truth.” 

Advocacy has been central to the NYJL’s mission since the days of Eleanor Roosevelt, whose work as an NYJL member brought awareness to injustices facing immigrant families and underserved communities. That same legacy continues today as the NYJL confronts modern issues that silence survivors through intimidation and legal threat.

A Legacy of Advocacy, A Modern Need for Protection

The Speak Your Truth Act responds to a growing national trend in which individuals who disclose sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination are met with defamation lawsuits filed in retaliation – a tactic often intended not to seek truth but to suppress it. While high-profile cases have raised public awareness, most survivors lack the financial or legal resources to defend themselves if weaponized lawsuits are used to intimidate them into silence. Even the threat of defamation countersuits has been noted by judges as having a “chilling effect” on survivors that might otherwise report, causing crime to be unreported and abuse to continue. 

Developed by Professor Victoria Burke, a former Junior League of Los Angeles member and privacy litigation attorney, based on her personal experiences, the bill provides survivors’ privilege protections for communications made in good faith and legal cost safeguards for those unfairly targeted. Versions of the legislation have already passed in California, Oregon, Connecticut, and Maine, reflecting a growing national movement to restore safety and dignity to survivor speech. The New York legislation addresses a critical gap in the current anti-SLAPP statutes (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) by expanding the protections to include incidents of sexual assault, harrasment or discrimination. 

In November, the NYJL’s SAPP committee hosted Professor Burke for a committee discussion on the bill development and advocacy process, deepening the NYJL’s engagement and understanding at a pivotal moment in the advocacy cycle. The SAPP committee continues to work closely with Victoria and other non-profits, such as The New York Alliance Against Sexual Assault to advance the bill with the executive and legislative branches. 

Speak Your Truth Advocacy in Albany

This past April, APP members traveled to Albany to meet with 25 legislators and statewide partners to build bipartisan support for Speak Your Truth and ensure survivor protections remain a priority in New York. Their work builds on a long line of NYJL advocacy on gender equality, domestic violence, mental health, and public safety; including recent efforts to support coercive control legislation, the SAFE for Kids Act, and the Michelle Alyssa Go Act.

The Memo of Support submitted on behalf of the NYJL by President Jeri Powell underscores the urgency: New York must ensure that survivors can safely speak without fear of legal retaliation. Including the Speak Your Truth Act in the 2026 budget would be a significant step toward achieving that goal.

A Call to Our Membership Before the Budget Deadline

As the executive branch prepares for budget negotiations after the State of the State, the NYJL encourages all members to review the Memo of Support and contact Governor Hochul to express their support for including Speak Your Truth in the 2026 State Budget. Collectively raised member voices can help ensure that New York adopts protections that allow survivors to come forward without intimidation.

By taking action now, NYJL members carry forward a 125-year legacy of civic leadership and reaffirm the League’s commitment to advancing human rights, public safety, and the dignity of every survivor.

Read the Memo of Support here.

Call Governor Hochul to express your support for protecting survivors’ right to tell their story by including Speak Your Truth in the State of the State. 

Albany number: 518-474-8390

Manhattan number: 212-681-4580

For more info please reach out to advocates@nyjl.org.