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HB 595KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState Billdead

Did Not Advance

Kentucky HB 595 eliminates statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault civil lawsuits and requires initial complaint sealing

Original title: AN ACT relating to childhood sexual assault or abuse.

Last action · February 17, 2026: to Judiciary (H)Sponsor: Chad Aull

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Proposed

Kentucky HB 595 removes the time limit for filing civil lawsuits seeking damages for childhood sexual assault or abuse against individuals or responsible entities. The measure requires initial complaints to be sealed by the court clerk until specific motions or dismissals are addressed, and revives previously expired claims under certain conditions.

Why it matters

Survivors of childhood sexual assault or abuse gain the legal right to file civil damage claims at any time rather than being restricted by a deadline, while entities such as public and private organizations face extended liability for negligence linked to such abuse.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Survivors of childhood sexual assault or abuse

Survivors gain the ability to file civil lawsuits at any time without a statute of limitations and have certain expired claims revived.

Directly affected

Public and private entities

Entities face extended civil liability for damages when employee or agent negligence is a legal cause of childhood sexual assault or abuse.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a criminal conviction need to happen before a civil lawsuit is filed?

No, prior criminal prosecution or conviction of the civil defendant is not required to bring a civil action for childhood sexual assault or abuse.

What happens to the court complaint when it is initially filed?

The complaint must be accompanied by a motion to seal the record, and the clerk of the court must immediately seal the complaint until the court rules on the motion to seal, dismissal motions, or requests.

Can previously expired claims be filed under this legislation?

Yes, any claim that was barred as of March 23, 2021, because the had expired is revived and may be brought if commenced within five years of that expiration date.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

2 actions

Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee
to Judiciary (H)
Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroduced
introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift99% confidence

Elimination of Statutes of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Abuse

The bill shifts Kentucky law from a ten-year post-majority limit to an unlimited timeframe for filing civil suits related to childhood sexual assault or abuse.

General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Connected Entities

General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Chad Aull

OrganizationGeneral Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky“Legislative body enacting the bill”Map →

PersonChad Aull“Bill sponsor in the lower house”Map →

Sources

Open source document

apps.legislature.ky.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
Controversy60
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz40
Current news / social attention level

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