Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who filed for personal bankruptcy a year ago, has submitted a proposal to settle the defamation claims brought against him by the families of the Sandy Hook school shooting victims. In a filing made to a Texas bankruptcy court on Friday, Jones outlined a settlement plan that would provide a minimum of $5.5 million per year to the families for a period of 10 years, with the potential for additional compensation based on Jones' income. The proposal also includes a provision for the families to receive 70% of the proceeds from the sale of Jones' non-exempt personal property. In exchange, the families would relinquish all legal claims against Jones and any related parties.

The bankruptcy filing by Jones came as a result of his loss in two civil cases related to his false claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six adults tragically lost their lives. Jones repeatedly propagated baseless conspiracy theories that alleged the attack was staged and the families and first responders were crisis actors.

Attorney Jarrod B. Martin, representing some of the Sandy Hook families, described the bankruptcy plan as the first time that Jones has taken responsibility for the harm caused. Martin stated that the families are carefully reviewing the proposal and will provide their assessment in due course.

Jones' company, Free Speech Systems, which operates the Infowars website, also filed for bankruptcy last July. The court had set a Friday deadline for all parties to submit a plan to settle Jones' debts.

Friday's bankruptcy filing occurred on the 11th anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting, a painful reminder of the tragedy for the grieving families. Throughout the trials, family members shared the emotional toll that Jones' false claims had inflicted upon them, leading to relentless harassment and further exacerbating their grief.

Previous filings by the families' attorneys highlighted Jones' alleged failure to curb his extravagant spending in order to pay the damages awarded to them. The families contended that Jones continued to enjoy an opulent lifestyle, having spent approximately $900,000 since the commencement of the case.

Despite Jones' bankruptcy filing, a federal judge ruled in October that he remains legally obligated to pay the majority of the damages awarded to the Sandy Hook families.

Last month, the families put forth a proposal that would require Jones to pay them at least $8.5 million per year, in addition to half of any annual income he earns above $9 million. The families would also receive ownership shares in Free Speech Systems. Should Jones fulfill the terms of the proposal for a decade, he would regain full ownership of his company and be relieved of further liability.

The families' attorneys warned that failing to accept the proposed settlement would result in the full liquidation of Jones' non-bankruptcy-protected assets, potentially subjecting him to a lifetime of litigation and enforcement proceedings.

A hearing to consider Jones' latest proposal is scheduled for the end of February. In the Connecticut case brought by the family members of shooting victims and a first responder, Jones was originally ordered to pay over $1.1 billion, excluding the common-law punitive damages of over $322.5 million.

Correction: The previous version of this story incorrectly stated the month of the federal judge's ruling in the bankruptcy proceedings. The ruling was made in October.