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Rhode IslandS26162026 Regular SessionSenate

AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION .

Sponsored By: Mark P. McKenney (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More time to sue for child abuse

Beginning July 1, 2026, you get more time to sue for child sexual abuse. You can file within 35 years after the act, or within 7 years after you discover the harm, whichever is later. The clock pauses until you turn 18. For repeated abuse in a common plan, you can use the last act as the discovery date and you do not need to pick which act caused the injury. A parent’s or guardian’s knowledge does not count as yours. For this law, a child means under 18, and sexual abuse means acts that would violate the state’s criminal sexual offenses law.

Hold institutions liable for child abuse

Beginning July 1, 2026, you can also sue institutions, employers, or supervisors whose failures helped cause child sexual abuse. Claims can allege bad hiring, training, supervision, or monitoring, failure to report, or concealment. This expands who can be held responsible, beyond only the person who committed the abuse.

Revive expired child-abuse claims by 2028

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law revives cases that were dismissed only because they were filed too late under the old deadline. It also revives other time-barred child sexual abuse claims. You must file revived claims by June 30, 2028. After that date, these revival rights end.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark P. McKenney

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Robert Britto

    Democratic • Senate

  • Alana M. DiMario

    Democratic • Senate

  • Dawn Euer

    Democratic • Senate

  • Melissa A. Murray

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lori Urso

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lammis J. Vargas

    Democratic • Senate

  • Samuel D. Zurier

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 106 • No: 4

House vote • 6/8/2026

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE

Yes: 69 • No: 4

Senate vote • 6/3/2026

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- CAUSES OF ACTION Passage

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor — Chapter 081

    6/11/2026Governor

  2. Transmitted to Governor

    6/8/2026Governor

  3. House passed Sub A in concurrence

    6/8/2026House

  4. Placed on House Calendar (06/08/2026)

    6/4/2026House

  5. Senate passed Sub A

    6/3/2026Senate

  6. Placed on Senate Calendar (06/03/2026)

    6/3/2026Senate

  7. Committee recommends passage of Sub A

    6/3/2026

  8. Proposed Substitute

    6/1/2026

  9. Scheduled for consideration (06/03/2026)

    6/1/2026

  10. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

    4/30/2026

  11. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/30/2026)

    4/24/2026

  12. Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

    2/13/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • S2616 - As Introduced

    2/13/2026

    HTMLPDF

  • S2616 - Substitute

    2/13/2026

    HTMLPDF

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