Bill > SB2318

This bill revises the statute of limitations for personal actions related to child sexual abuse in Mississippi, significantly expanding the timeframe in which survivors can file civil claims. Under the new law, victims will have until 10 years after their 21st birthday to initiate legal proceedings for specific sexual abuse and trafficking offenses, which include crimes such as sexual battery, child exploitation, and promoting prostitution involving minors. Additionally, the bill includes a unique temporary provision (effective July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027) that allows survivors to file civil actions regardless of when the abuse occurred or their current age, essentially creating a comprehensive "lookback window" that removes traditional time restrictions. This temporary provision is designed to provide an unprecedented opportunity for survivors of historical child sexual abuse to seek legal recourse, potentially allowing older claims that would have previously been time-barred to be heard in court. The bill does not change criminal prosecution timelines for these offenses, which already have no statute of limitations for most serious child sexual abuse crimes.

Justice

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/SB/SB2318.xml