Bill > AB250

This bill extends the statute of limitations for sexual assault civil claims in California, allowing victims to file lawsuits for damages related to sexual assaults that occurred on or after their 18th birthday. Specifically, the bill revives claims that would have been previously barred by expired statutes of limitations, creating a new window for legal action between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2027. The bill introduces important provisions for claims against both entities and perpetrators, requiring that for entity-related claims, the plaintiff must allege not only the sexual assault but also that the entity engaged in a "cover up" - defined as a concerted effort to hide evidence, use of non-disclosure agreements, or preventing information about the assault from becoming public. The bill explicitly defines "cover up" and "legally responsible" and allows related claims such as wrongful termination or sexual harassment. Importantly, the bill exempts public entities from these provisions and specifies that public entities cannot be required to indemnify sexual assault perpetrators. The legislation aims to provide survivors with expanded opportunities to seek justice and hold both individual perpetrators and organizations accountable for sexual assault, recognizing that many survivors may need additional time to come forward with their claims.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB250