House Judiciary Committee approves legislation to help survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Southeast Delegation    May 6, 2025 | 10:51 AM

HARRISBURG, May 6 – State Rep. Tim Briggs, Majority, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, announced that today the committee voted to approve critical legislation introduced by state Rep. Nathan Davidson that would open a long-awaited path to justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

“These bills are about fairness, healing and restoring the rights of people who were silenced for far too long,” Briggs said. “We owe survivors the chance to be heard in a court of law, no matter how much time has passed.”

The committee’s action followed a productive hearing held on Monday, where advocates and legal experts offered powerful testimony in support of the legislation. Their voices helped reinforce the urgent need for these long-overdue reforms.

Both bills now advance to the full House for further consideration.

H.B. 462: This legislation would provide a statutory two-year window during which survivors of childhood sexual abuse could file previously time-barred civil claims. It also would waive sovereign and governmental immunity retroactively, allowing survivors to pursue justice against state and local agencies.

H.B. 464: This joint resolution would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to establish a two-year window for survivors to bring forward civil claims that were previously blocked due to expired statutes of limitations.

These proposals follow years of legislative efforts that began more than a decade ago and have seen bipartisan approval in the General Assembly in 2019, 2021, and 2023. In 2019, Act 87 eliminated the criminal statute of limitations for future cases and extended the civil statute until a victim turns 55. However, a class of survivors whose claims expired before this change remains without access to justice. These bills aim to close that gap once and for all.

“The Judiciary Committee’s action is a powerful statement that justice delayed does not have to mean justice denied,” Briggs said. “We are finally moving toward a day when all survivors have the chance to seek accountability and healing.”

###rjb/2025/mjh
l:\print\releases\

Recent News

Pielli bill to help seniors stay in their homes approved by House (14 minutes ago)

House passes Sappey’s Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit bill (22 hours ago)

House passes Ciresi bill to expand EV charging infrastructure in PA (22 hours ago)

Hanbidge and Briggs legislation streamlining child custody determination factors passes House (22 hours ago)

Pielli’s bill to protect children unanimously approved by PA House (22 hours ago)