On January 1, 2026, California once again proved that justice for survivors is not only possible it is a choice lawmakers can make. With the enactment of AB 250, California reopened a critical civil pathway for adult survivors of sexual assault whose claims were previously barred by outdated statute of limitations laws.
This new law creates a two-year look-back window, running from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, allowing some adult survivors to file civil lawsuits that the legal system once denied them. California has led the way before on survivor-centered reforms, and once again, the state is setting an example other legislatures should follow.
What AB 250 Does and Why It Matters
AB 250 allows adult survivors of sexual assault to bring civil claims that were previously time-barred when the abuse was concealed or covered up. The law applies to private defendants and focuses squarely on cases where institutions or individuals actively hid misconduct, silenced survivors, or protected perpetrators.
This matters because concealment is not incidental; it is central to how sexual violence persists. Survivors are often gaslit, threatened, disbelieved, or pressured into silence. Institutions frequently prioritize reputation over safety, creating exactly the conditions that delay disclosure.
By reopening this window, California acknowledges a truth survivors have long known: trauma and truth-telling do not operate on a legal clock.
California Continues to Lead on Survivor Justice
California has consistently stood at the forefront of statute of limitations reform. From child sexual abuse look-back windows to institutional accountability laws, the state has recognized that civil justice is not about revenge; it is about truth, accountability, and healing.
AB 250, signed into law by Gavin Newsom, reflects a growing understanding that survivors deserve meaningful access to the courts, especially when wrongdoing was deliberately hidden from them.
This law sends a clear message: institutions do not get rewarded for concealment.
Why Look-Back Windows Are Trauma-Informed
Survivors of sexual violence often need years, sometimes decades, to fully understand what happened to them, name it as abuse, or feel safe enough to come forward. Shame, fear, power dynamics, and psychological trauma all delay disclosure. That delay is not a failure by survivors; it is a predictable response to trauma.
Look-back windows recognize this reality. They restore what trauma took away: choice.
Through AB 250, California gives survivors the opportunity to decide whether civil action is part of their healing. Some will pursue litigation. Some will not. What matters is that the law no longer shuts the courthouse doors before survivors ever get the chance to knock.
Prosecution Alone Is Not Enough
Criminal prosecution plays an important role in holding perpetrators accountable, but it is not the only path to justice, and for many survivors, it is not the most accessible one.
Civil litigation allows survivors to:
- Expose patterns of abuse
- Hold institutions accountable for enabling harm
- Demand transparency and reform
- Seek compensation for lifelong impacts
When institutions conceal abuse, civil accountability becomes essential. AB 250 recognizes that justice must reach beyond individual perpetrators to the systems that protected them.
Other States Should Take Note and Take Action
California’s leadership should challenge lawmakers across the country to ask a hard question: Why are we still protecting institutions instead of survivors?
Too many states continue to enforce restrictive statutes of limitations that shield powerful entities while survivors carry the consequences. California has shown that reform is possible and that it strengthens, rather than undermines, the integrity of the justice system.
Survivors everywhere deserve the same opportunity to be heard.
Survivors Are in Control Always
At Andreozzi + Foote, we understand that reopening a statute of limitations window does not create an obligation. Survivors do not owe the legal system their stories. They do not owe institutions forgiveness. And they do not owe anyone an explanation for when or if they choose to seek justice.
What AB 250 does is restore agency.
If you or someone you love is an adult survivor of sexual assault in California, this new law may provide an opportunity that did not previously exist. Our team is here to help you understand your options, protect your autonomy, and pursue accountability on your terms.
You deserved protection then and justice now. Contact Andreozzi + Foote today. 1-866-753-5458