H.R. 5560: Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act

HR5560, introduced on 2025-09-23, takes aim at one core problem: survivors of child sexual abuse often do not come forward until decades later. The bill’s findings say 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys in the U.S. are affected by child sexual abuse, that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received more than 19,000 reports of child sex trafficking in 2022, that nearly 90% of child victims never report to authorities, and that the average age of disclosure is over 52 years old. The bill argues that legal deadlines built around quick reporting do not match how abuse is actually disclosed.

To change that, the bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, specifically section 107(e)(1) at 42 U.S.C. 5106c(e)(1), to require states to eliminate both civil and criminal statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, exploitation, and sex trafficking. It also requires states to adopt laws reviving previously time-barred civil claims. The bill also updates the federal definition of "child sexual abuse and exploitation" in section 111(b), 42 U.S.C. 5106g(b), to mean "an act or a failure to act on the part of a parent, caretaker, or any other person," making clear the conduct can involve action or inaction and is not limited to parents alone.

The bill also creates a new grant incentive through the Secretary of Health and Human Services for states already eligible under CAPTA section 107. A state can qualify by adopting one, two, or all three listed reforms: ending all state civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, exploitation, and sex trafficking; ending all state criminal statutes of limitations for all felony and misdemeanor sex crimes against children, including inchoate crimes like attempt, conspiracy, solicitation, and aiding and abetting; and reviving previously time-barred civil claims. States that reopen old claims must allow at least a 2-year revival window or allow claims until the victim reaches age 55, whichever is longer.

The money is real but limited: the bill authorizes $20,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2033. Those funds would be split by how far a state goes, with 25% for states achieving one reform, 35% for states achieving two reforms, and 40% for states achieving all three reforms. In practice, that means the bill uses both pressure and incentives: states that want federal support would need to rethink old time limits, while survivors could get new paths to sue even if their claims were previously blocked by the clock.