Provides that the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault shall be 10 years from the date of the offense, or, in the case of a victim who is under the age of 18, ten years from the victim’s eighteenth birthday, whichever is later.

Rhode Island Bill Summary: Extending the Time Limit to Prosecute Second-Degree Sexual Assault

This bill would change how long prosecutors in Rhode Island have to bring criminal charges in cases of second-degree sexual assault. Under the proposed law, the statute of limitations — the legal deadline for filing charges — would be set at 10 years from the date the assault occurred. A statute of limitations exists to ensure cases are handled while evidence and memories are still reasonably fresh, but critics of short deadlines argue they can prevent justice in sensitive cases.

The bill includes a special protection for victims who were children at the time of the assault. For anyone who was under 18 when the offense occurred, the 10-year clock would not start until their 18th birthday. This means a victim assaulted at age 10, for example, would have until age 28 to see charges brought. The law would apply whichever deadline comes later — the standard 10 years from the offense, or 10 years from the victim turning 18.

This bill would primarily affect sexual assault survivors, prosecutors, and defendants in Rhode Island. Survivors would have more time to come forward and report crimes, which supporters of similar laws often note is important given that trauma can delay reporting. Prosecutors would have a longer window to bring cases to court. Defendants, on the other hand, could potentially face charges further into the future than current law allows.

The bill has been moving through the Rhode Island House, with a committee recommending passage of a substitute version. It was placed on the House Calendar in April 2026, meaning the full House may vote on it soon.