Makes all causes of action based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child not subject to any statute of limitations whether the claim has lapsed or was previously time-barred.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would eliminate any time limit for filing civil lawsuits related to the sexual abuse or exploitation of a child in Rhode Island. Under current law, there are "statutes of limitations" — legal deadlines by which a person must file a lawsuit or lose the right to do so. This bill would remove those deadlines entirely for child sexual abuse cases, meaning a survivor could file a civil lawsuit at any point in their life, no matter how much time has passed since the abuse occurred.

Importantly, the bill also applies retroactively, meaning it would revive cases that were previously blocked because the deadline had already passed. In other words, even if a survivor tried to sue in the past and was told it was "too late," or never filed because they believed their time had run out, this bill would reopen that legal door for them.

This bill directly affects survivors of childhood sexual abuse or exploitation who want to pursue civil claims — such as seeking financial compensation — against the individuals or institutions responsible. It also affects those who may be named as defendants in such lawsuits, including individuals, organizations, schools, religious institutions, or other entities. Defendants could potentially face lawsuits for events that occurred many decades ago.

The bill has moved forward in the Rhode Island House, with the relevant committee recommending its passage as of early April 2026. It is now placed on the House Calendar for a full vote.