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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio House Bill 659 Extends Statutes of Limitations for Childhood and Student Sexual Abuse Claims and Lifts Damages Caps
Last action · February 4, 2026: Referred to JudiciarySponsors: Allison Russo and 9 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio House Bill 659 allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to bring civil actions up to 37 years after turning the and allows student sexual abuse claims until the victim turns 55. The measure also removes caps on noneconomic damages in these cases and permits claims against entities that negligently facilitated the abuse.
Survivors gain expanded time windows to file civil lawsuits and face no statutory limits on noneconomic damages for pain and suffering, while institutions and perpetrators face extended legal exposure.
- Ohio's civil statutes of limitations historically limited the timeframe in which survivors of childhood sexual abuse could file lawsuits against perpetrators or institutions. context
- House Bill 659 was introduced in the 136th General Assembly of Ohio with sponsorship from Representatives Russo and Synenberg. 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 childhood and student sexual abuse
Victims gain extended timeframes to bring civil lawsuits and are not subject to caps on noneconomic damages.
Perpetrators and negligently facilitating entities
Defendants face longer exposure periods to civil litigation and uncapped noneconomic damages liability.
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
How long does a survivor of childhood sexual abuse have to file a civil lawsuit under this bill?
Are there caps on noneconomic damages for sexual abuse lawsuits?
Does a perpetrator need to be criminally convicted for a victim to file a civil claim?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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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- Feb 4, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to Judiciary
- Jan 27, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced
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.
Extension of Civil Liability Windows
The legislation extends the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse to 37 years post-majority and student abuse until age 55 while completely lifting noneconomic damages caps.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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