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H1829 • 2025

An Act eliminating the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases

An Act eliminating the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases

Children
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
John J. Lawn, Jr.
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act eliminating the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases

An Act eliminating the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases By Representative Lawn of Watertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act eliminating the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases By Representative Lawn of Watertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1829) of John J.
  • Lawn, Jr., and Natalie M.
  • Blais for legislation to eliminate the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-26 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-10-20 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-06-11 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  4. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  5. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

  6. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act eliminating the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases
By Representative Lawn of Watertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1829) of John J. Lawn, Jr., and Natalie M. Blais for legislation to eliminate the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.1829

SECTION 1. Section 4C of chapter 260 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Actions of tort alleging the defendant sexually abused a minor may be commenced at any time after the acts alleged to have caused an injury or condition.

SECTION 2. Said chapter 260 is hereby amended by striking out section 4C1/2, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 4C½. An action of tort alleging that the defendant negligently supervised a person who sexually abused a minor or that the defendant’s conduct caused or contributed to the sexual abuse of a minor by another person may be commenced at any time after the acts alleged to have caused an injury or condition. For the purposes of this section, “sexual abuse” shall have the same meaning as in section 4C.

SECTION 3. Sections 4C and 4C1/2 shall apply regardless of when acts alleged to have caused an injury or condition to a minor shall have accrued and regardless of whether it may have lapsed or would otherwise be barred by time under any law of the commonwealth. In an action based on sexual abuse against a minor that would have been barred by time under any law of the commonwealth in effect before the effective date of this act, damages may be awarded against an entity that employed or supervised the person who allegedly committed the sexual abuse only if there is a finding of negligence on the part of the entity.

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