Relates to the statute of limitations for certain assault offenses committed against a member of the same family or household

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Palumbo

Alters the statute of limitations for assaults on family/household members, changing when charges may be filed and impacting victims, defendants, and law enforcement.

REFERRED TO CODES

Bill Summary: S 5610

Overview

S 5610 is a Senate bill that relates to the statute of limitations for certain assault offenses committed against a member of the same family or household. The bill’s aim is to modify the time limits within which prosecutors may bring charges for these offenses when the victim is a family or household member. The specific text of the bill would define which assault offenses are affected and how the limitations period would change.

What the bill would change

Purpose: To adjust the statutory time frame for prosecuting certain assaults involving family or household members, aligning the statute of limitations with policy goals around domestic or family violence reporting and accountability.

Scope: Applies to offenses of assault where the victim is a member of the defendant’s family or household. The exact offenses covered (e.g., degrees of assault, related offenses) would be detailed in the enacted text.

Mechanism: The bill would set or modify the time period within which charges must be filed, and may include related provisions such as tolling (pausing) during certain conditions or exceptions (e.g., when the victim is unable to report promptly).

Note: The available information does not include the bill’s exact numerical limitations, tolling rules, or retroactivity provisions. The precise changes would be found in the full text of the bill.

Who would be affected

Primary: Defendants charged with the specified family/household assault offenses.

Secondary: Victims of domestic or family violence, who could benefit from a longer (or differently structured) window to pursue charges, depending on the final text.

Law enforcement and prosecutors, which would operate under the updated limitations framework.

Legislative status and process

Introduced: February 25, 2025

Status: REFERRED TO CODES (Senate Codes Committee), indicating the bill is moving through the committee process.

Legislative actions recorded for the date: Referred to Codes (listed twice in the provided material).

Sponsor: Anthony H. Palumbo (primary sponsor)

Timeline and next steps

As the bill is currently in the Codes committee, the next steps typically include committee consideration, potential amendments, and votes before advancing to the full chamber for debate. Tracking updates would require the official bill text and committee meeting records.

Additional notes

The exact provisions, including the new limitations period, any tolling rules, retroactivity, and applicable offenses, are not included in the provided materials. For a precise understanding, the final bill text and committee analyses should be consulted. If you can share the full text, I can provide a detailed, line-by-line summary.