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HD 2352

An Act enhancing remedies for survivors of childhood sexual abuse

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by John Lawn

Massachusetts bill expands civil remedies and extends filing deadlines for childhood sexual abuse survivors, enabling delayed lawsuits and increased institutional accountability for past abuse.

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Bill Summary · HD 2352

Legislative bill overview

HD 2352 expands legal remedies and protections for survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Massachusetts. The bill likely extends statutes of limitations for civil lawsuits, increases damages availability, and may create new avenues for holding institutions accountable for abuse or negligence in preventing abuse.

Why is this important

Childhood sexual abuse survivors often face significant barriers to justice due to trauma-related delays in reporting and traditional legal time constraints. Expanding remedies can provide survivors with greater access to accountability, financial restitution, and institutional reform regardless of when abuse occurred.

Potential points of contention

  • Statute of limitations extension: Defendants (institutions, individuals) argue extended timelines create unfair difficulty proving innocence decades later due to lost evidence and witness unavailability
  • Institutional liability scope: Debate over whether organizations should be liable for abuse by third parties or only their employees, and whether this extends to organizations with minimal oversight connections to abusers
  • Damages and financial impact: Concerns about substantial financial liability on institutions, insurance costs, and whether compensation funds should be capped or unlimited

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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