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S1200 • 2025

An Act extending the civil statute of limitations for child abuse

An Act extending the civil statute of limitations for child abuse

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

Sponsor
Michael O. Moore
Last action
2026-03-23
Official status
Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means
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 extending the civil statute of limitations for child abuse

An Act extending the civil statute of limitations for child abuse By Mr.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act extending the civil statute of limitations for child abuse By Mr.
  • Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.
  • 1200) of Michael O.
  • Moore for legislation to extend the civil statute of limitations for child abuse.

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. 2026-03-23 Senate

    Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means

  2. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Reporting date extended to Thursday April 2, 2026

  3. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Reporting date extended to Monday March 2, 2026

  4. 2025-10-20 Joint

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

  5. 2025-06-11 Joint

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

  6. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  7. 2025-02-27 House

    House concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act extending the civil statute of limitations for child abuse
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1200) of Michael O. Moore for legislation to extend the civil statute of limitations for child abuse. The Judiciary.
Status:
Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill S.1200

SECTION 1. Chapter 260 of the General Laws, as appearing it the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 4E, the following new sections:-

Section 4F. Abuse of minors

Actions of tort alleging the defendant abused a minor shall be commenced within 35 years of the acts alleged to have caused an injury or condition or within 7 years of the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that an emotional or psychological injury or condition was caused by said act, whichever period expires later; provided, however, that the time limit for commencement of an action under this section is tolled for a child until the child reaches eighteen years of age.

For purposes of this section, “abuse” shall mean the commission of any act against a minor as set forth in section 13J, 13L, 26, 44 of chapter 265 or section 28 of chapter 272.

Section 4E1/2. Negligent supervision or conduct causing or contributing to the abuse of a minor by another person

Section 4E/2. An action of tort alleging that the defendant negligently supervised a person who abused a minor or that the defendant's conduct caused or contributed to the abuse of a minor by another person shall be commenced within the later to expire of: (i) 35 years of the acts alleged to have caused an injury or condition to such minor; or (ii) 7 years of the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that an emotional or psychological injury or condition was caused by such act; provided, however, that the time limit for commencement of such an action under this section shall be tolled for a child until the child reaches 18 years of age. For purposes of this section, “abuse'' shall have the same meaning as in section 4E.

SECTION 2. This act shall apply regardless of when any such action or claim shall have accrued or been filed and regardless of whether it may have lapsed or otherwise been barred by time under the law of the commonwealth.

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