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Read. Follow. Verify.Rhode Island bill creates Harter's Law to extend child abuse civil statute of limitations to 35 years and cap damages at $500,000
Last action · April 16, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further studySponsors: Casimiro and 7 others
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What This Bill Proposed
Rhode Island legislation creates "Harter's Law" to extend the civil for injuries resulting from first-degree child abuse to thirty-five years while capping recovery at $500,000.
Survivors of first-degree child abuse gain additional decades to file civil lawsuits, while the total financial recovery in such actions becomes strictly limited by a statutory ceiling.
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.
Survivors of first degree child abuse
Individuals are granted an extended timeframe of thirty-five years to file civil lawsuits for injuries resulting from abuse, subject to a damages cap.
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 does Harter's Law change?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Apr 16, 2026Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- Apr 10, 2026Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/16/2026)
- Jan 30, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, referred to House 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
Connected Entities
Sources
status.rilegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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