Bill > HB179

This bill eliminates the statute of limitations for certain sexual offenses committed against children by amending the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Specifically, the bill creates a new section (16.0046) that allows victims to file personal injury lawsuits at any time for offenses including sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child, continuous sexual abuse of a young child under 14, certain child sex trafficking, compelling prostitution of a child, and indecency with a child. The bill modifies existing limitations periods, removing previous time constraints for these specific types of child sexual abuse cases. The changes apply retroactively to causes of action that accrued before, on, or after the bill's effective date, with some exceptions for final judgments. This means victims of childhood sexual abuse will have no time limit to pursue legal action against their abusers, potentially providing greater opportunity for justice for survivors who may have been unable to come forward earlier in their lives. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, giving time for legal systems and potential plaintiffs to prepare for these expanded legal provisions.

Justice

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB179