Bills · HR 5560
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 5560Families
Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act
INTRO SEP 23· LAST ACTION SEP 23
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
9BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenMany child sexual abuse victims do not disclose their abuse until adulthood, often long after traditional legal time limits have expired. This bill directly addresses that issue by pushing states to eliminate these time limits. If this bill becomes law, it could provide a pathway for thousands of survivors to seek justice through the courts, potentially leading to accountability for abusers and institutions and offering some form of closure or compensation for victims.
Without this bill, many victims would continue to be barred from legal action due to existing statutes of limitations, even if they are only just now able to come forward. It matters because it could fundamentally shift how the legal system responds to child sexual abuse, prioritizing victim access to justice over strict adherence to time limits, potentially preventing future abuse by holding perpetrators and complicit organizations accountable.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to make it a condition for states to eliminate civil and criminal statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse and to revive time-barred civil claims to receive certain federal funding.
This links federal funding to states adopting specific reforms to improve justice for child abuse victims.
PROVISION 02
Authorizes new federal grants for states that eliminate all civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking claims against perpetrators, other individuals, and public and private entities.
This provides a financial incentive for states to allow victims to file civil lawsuits at any point in their lives.
PROVISION 03
Authorizes new federal grants for states that eliminate all criminal statutes of limitations for child sex crimes, including related offenses like attempt or conspiracy.
This encourages states to ensure that perpetrators of child sex crimes can always be prosecuted, regardless of when the crime occurred.
PROVISION 04
Authorizes new federal grants for states that allow previously expired civil claims related to child sexual abuse to be reopened for at least a two-year period, or until the victim reaches age 55, whichever is longer.
This directly addresses the problem of victims being unable to sue because their cases were too old under previous laws, offering a new window for justice.
PROVISION 05
Specifies that a greater share of the grant funds will be awarded to states that achieve more of the described reforms (e.g., eliminating both civil and criminal statutes and reviving old claims).
This encourages states to adopt comprehensive reforms rather than just partial ones.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 9
D· Virginia
YRS IN OFFICE
1
BILLS LED
44
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 89%
DEM 5 REP 4 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSSEP 23
Introduced in House
SEP 23
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 5560
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedSep 23, 2025
Last actionSep 23, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED SEP 23, 2025
House BillHR 5560Families
Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act
INTRODUCED SEP 23, 2025· LAST ACTION SEP 23, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
9
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
