WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 120

Child sexual abuse; statute of limitations extended and further provided for, certain time-barred civil claims revived

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Donna Givens

HB 120 extends Alabama's statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits and revives previously time-barred civil claims, allowing survivors expanded access to court remedies.

Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary
#civilprocedure
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 120

Legislative bill overview

HB 120 extends Alabama's statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases and revives certain civil claims that were previously time-barred. The bill allows survivors to file lawsuits within an expanded timeframe and may permit reopening of cases that had already exceeded earlier limitation periods.

Why is this important

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often take decades to come forward due to psychological trauma, shame, and delayed disclosure patterns. By extending these limitations and reviving past claims, the bill provides legal recourse to survivors who were previously denied access to courts solely due to procedural timing rather than the merits of their cases.

Potential points of contention

  • Institutional liability concerns: Extending liability windows—particularly through claim revival—may expose schools, churches, youth organizations, and other institutions to significant legal and financial exposure for decades-old incidents, potentially affecting their insurance costs and operational capacity
  • Defendant fairness issues: Extending or reviving time-barred claims allows defendants to face lawsuits for events far in the past when witnesses may be deceased, memories unreliable, and evidence lost, raising questions about due process and fair trial standards
  • Fiscal impact on defendants: Reviving previously settled or dismissed cases could create unanticipated liability for individuals, institutions, and insurers who believed their legal exposure had ended

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

Sign in to ask a question.