This year, we saw tangible progress in the decades-long struggle to dismantle arbitrary deadlines that have shut survivors of childhood sexual abuse out of justice. But 2025 also underscored just how far we still have to go in statehouses, in the halls of Congress, and in communities around the country.
At its core, SOL reform is about justice delayed, not being justice denied. For survivors of childhood sexual abuse, “waiting” isn’t a choice; it’s survival. Research shows that more than half of survivors don’t disclose their abuse until well into adulthood, often decades later, because trauma impacts memory, safety, shame, fear, and readiness to face the legal system. Arbitrary time limits, written without regard to this reality, have shut millions out of courts and accountability.
In 2025, we moved the dial, but survivors still need our voices, our pressure, and our advocacy.
What Happened in 2025: New Laws & Legislative Action
Across the United States, six states passed SOL reform laws this year, and many more are fighting bills that would meaningfully expand access to justice. Thanks to data from the Child USA 2025 SOL Tracker, here’s a clear snapshot of progress:
States With New Statue of Limitation Reforms in 2025
- Arkansas — Opened a revival window for claims tied to bankruptcy-related abuse.
- Maryland — Passed a law allowing child sexual abuse claims to be filed at any time (with some caps), now effective in 2025.
- Oregon — Eliminated the civil SOL for sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse claims occurring on or after June 26, 2025.
- Texas — Extended civil filing deadlines and eliminated criminal SOLs for many offenses.
- Tennessee & Oklahoma — Made incremental extensions to SOLs, including extending prosecution timelines or requiring corroborative evidence for delayed prosecutions.
These victories matter especially for survivors whose lifetimes of silence are met by lifetime opportunities for justice. But not all reforms are perfect. Some include caps on damages or limitations on claims against public entities.
Bills Still Moving (or Stalled)
Several states introduced meaningful reform bills that remain in legislative committees, including:
- Delaware, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, and others with proposals ranging from the elimination of civil SOLs to the creation of revival windows and broader retroactivity.
Federal Movement
At the federal level, the Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act was introduced in Congress. This bill would amend CAPTA (the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act) to incentivize states to eliminate both civil and criminal SOLs entirely, and to revive time-barred claims. It received bipartisan support and praise from survivor advocates.
This is historic but it still requires public pressure, constituent voices, and sustained advocacy to push it over the finish line. It is currenlty sitting in the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Contact your local Representative today and ask them to move this bill forward.
Why SOL Reform Matters Beyond Deadlines
Let’s be clear: statutes of limitations are not protecting anyone but those who offend upon children and the institutions who cover it up. They are life-altering legal barriers that prevent survivors from seeking compensation, accountability, and closure.
Here’s the reality courts, lawmakers, and the public must reckon with:
- Delayed disclosure is the norm, not the exception. Studies show many survivors first disclose in their 40s, 50s, or later long after arbitrary deadlines have passed.
- SOLs don’t prevent abuse they protect abusers and institutions. By shielding perpetrators and institutions decades later, old SOLs grant de facto immunity for systemic harm that’s only revealed through careful recovery and memory work.
- Justice is a human need. Accountability for harm isn’t just about compensation, it’s about truth, healing, and prevention.
Why 2025 Is Still an Inflection Point and Not the Finish Line
Even with progress, most states still have barriers that block survivors:
- Many SOL reforms apply only prospectively meaning survivors whose claims expired before the new law still can’t file. This arbitrary cutoff leaves countless people behind.
- Caps on damages or protections for governments and institutions often dilute the accountability survivors deserve.
- Some states extend SOLs without eliminating them, still imposing a ticking clock that fails to respect trauma timelines.
How You Can Help in 2026. A Survivor-Centered Call to Action
This next year isn’t a time to pause it’s a time to amplify.
1. Contact Your Legislators
Ask them to:
- Support elimination of both civil and criminal SOLs for child sexual abuse.
- Demand retroactivity so survivors with expired claims can seek justice.
- Oppose caps on damages and protections that shield institutions at survivors’ expense.
2. Support National Statute of Limitation Reform Bills
Reach out to your U.S. Representatives and Senators to champion the Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act and urge bipartisan passage.
3. Amplify Survivor Voices
Share stories, support survivor advocacy organizations like CHILD USA and RAINN, and educate your community on why delayed reporting is common not rare.
4. Don’t Let “Too Late” Win
Every legislative session brings new battles. Pressure matters. Persistent, informed advocacy has propelled these reforms forward and it will continue to demand justice for every survivor.
Justice Isn’t a Race Against Time. It’s a Right
2025 brought hope, momentum, and real legislative wins. It also reminded us how entrenched time limits have been in our legal system and how entrenched they remain. But progress isn’t linear; it’s built on every conversation, every call to an elected official, every survivor supported.
Sol reform isn’t charity it’s correction. It’s acknowledging that childhood sexual abuse doesn’t come with a statute of limitations, and neither should justice.
Let’s carry forward the victories of 2025 into transformative justice in 2026. Contact us today.