The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Alabama HB 120 Extends Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse Civil Claims and Permits Suits Against Negligent Organizations
Last action · January 13, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of OriginSponsor: Donna Givens
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
Alabama HB 120 extends the civil for child sexual abuse claims to 20 years after an individual turns 19 or two years after a criminal conviction, whichever is greater, and eliminates notice-of-claim requirements, damages caps, and immunity defenses for such actions effective October 1, 2026. The bill also authorizes civil actions against organizations that allegedly negligently prevented or responded to abuse, and, contingent upon constitutional amendment ratification, revives certain previously time-barred claims until January 1, 2029.
Survivors of child sexual abuse gain an extended legal window to file civil lawsuits against perpetrators and responsible institutions, while public and charitable entities lose sovereign and statutory immunity protections against these specific claims.
- Under prior Alabama law, civil actions based on sex offenses against individuals under 19 were required to be brought within six years of the individual's 19th birthday. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
survivors of child sexual abuse
Survivors receive an extended timeframe to file civil claims, the ability to sue negligent organizations, and the removal of damages caps and immunity barriers.
public entities and local governments
charitable and religious organizations
Charitable, religious, and educational institutions lose statutory and common-law immunities that previously barred child sexual abuse claims.
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
What is the new time limit for filing a civil lawsuit regarding child sexual abuse?
Can lawsuits be brought against organizations as well as individual perpetrators?
Do government immunity rules protect public agencies from these lawsuits?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 13, 2026HouseCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary
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.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Comprehensive Waiver of Immunities
The bill explicitly overrides multiple distinct types of legal immunity—including sovereign, governmental, state-agent, discretionary-function, qualified, and charitable immunities—specifically for child sexual abuse claims.
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance90How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz75Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools