HR-5560 — Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act

YourVoice.Now Summary

Civil LibertiesCriminal Justice & Due ProcessCorporate Benefits

Grants would go to states that drop the time limit for suing over child sexual abuse — even on old claims.

Civil Liberties

Survivors' right to sue abusers — even decades after the abuse

States set their own deadlines for suing over childhood sexual abuse. States that take these grants would drop those deadlines, no matter who the abuser was.

Expired abuse claims reopened — at least two years to file

Claims that already ran out of time could be filed again. States would have to allow at least two years, or until the survivor turns 55 — whichever gives more time.

Criminal Justice & Due Process

Deadlines to prosecute child sex crimes — gone in participating states

In these states, there would be no deadline to charge someone with a child sex crime. That covers related charges too, like trying, planning, or helping with the crime.

Corporate Benefits

Protection from old abuse lawsuits — for both public and private groups

A group sued over child sexual abuse can often say the deadline has passed. In states that make these changes, that defense would go away for public and private groups alike.

More about this bill

If you were sexually abused as a child, you could get more time to sue. Criminal charges could also be brought later than state law now allows. Both changes depend on your state acting first. Federal grants would go to states that drop their deadlines for child sexual abuse, exploitation, and sex trafficking cases. States could also reopen claims that already ran out of time. Survivors would get at least two years to file, or until they turn 55, whichever is longer. Congress would put up $20 million a year for these grants from 2026 through 2033. States that make all three changes would get the biggest share. The bill points to one reason for the push: the average survivor does not come forward until after age 52.

Congressional Summary

Authorizes grants to states to eliminate criminal and civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse and revive previously time-barred civil claims.

Legislative Subjects

Child ProtectionCriminal JusticeCivil Remedies

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber
Status: summarized
Action
Action Date: 2025-09-23
Date Added: 2026-04-03
Source: Congress.gov →

Like reading a bill in plain English?

We're building an app that does this for every bill in Congress and lets you tell your reps how you want them to vote. We're a small team getting ready to launch, and we're trying to show investors that real people want this. Be one of them. Help us get it built. Leave your email and we'll tell you the moment the app is ready.