Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 250 into law, and it took effect January 1, 2026. For adult survivors of sexual assault in California whose civil claims had previously expired under the statute of limitations, AB 250 opens a two-year revival window running through December 31, 2027. If you experienced sexual assault as an adult in California and were told -- or assumed -- that it was too late to file a civil claim, it may not be. Here is what the law does and what to do next.
Reviewed by Abuse Justice Center · Updated 2026-07-05
Sources: Shubin Law, Updates to Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitation Laws in 2026; Helping Survivors, Lookback Windows FAQ (2026).
Assembly Bill 250, signed by Governor Newsom and effective January 1, 2026, establishes a two-year lookback period for adult survivors of sexual assault to bring civil claims that had previously been barred by the expiration of the statute of limitations. The window runs through December 31, 2027. During this period, the fact that the original filing deadline has passed cannot be used as a defense to dismiss the claim. What the legislature has done, in practical terms, is temporarily remove the procedural barrier that has prevented many survivors from having their claims heard on the merits.
California has a history of expanding survivor access to civil courts through lookback and revival legislation. Prior statutes addressed childhood sexual abuse, and courts applying those statutes have produced some of the largest institutional abuse settlements in United States history. AB 250 extends that framework to adult survivors -- people who were 18 or older at the time of the assault -- recognizing that the barriers to timely disclosure apply to adult survivors as well as childhood survivors. Shame, power imbalances, institutional retaliation, and fear of not being believed affect adult survivors at comparable rates, and the legislature has acted accordingly.
California also maintains an open three-year window for adult sexual assault claims under prior legislation, running through December 31, 2026. The interaction between the prior window and AB 250's new window means that California currently provides multiple pathways for adult survivors to access civil courts, depending on the specific date of the assault and the prior limitation period that would have applied. An attorney familiar with California's layered lookback framework can assess which provision, or combination of provisions, applies to a specific situation.
AB 250 applies to adult survivors -- those who were 18 years of age or older at the time the sexual assault occurred. This is a meaningful distinction from earlier California revival statutes that focused on childhood abuse. Many adult survivors of institutional sexual assault -- assault by employers, supervisors, healthcare providers, coaches, or others in positions of authority -- have assumed that civil claims were permanently unavailable to them because of their age at the time. AB 250 directly addresses that assumption.
Qualifying claimants are those whose civil claims previously expired under an applicable statute of limitations before January 1, 2026. If your claim was still timely under existing law, the lookback window is not necessary to pursue it -- normal civil processes remain available. But if the deadline has passed, AB 250 may revive the claim during the window period. The assault does not need to have occurred in a specific institutional setting; AB 250 covers adult sexual assault more broadly, including claims against institutions, employers, and individuals whose role or relationship to the survivor is relevant to civil liability.
Survivors who believe their claim may have expired should not assume the window does not apply without first consulting an attorney. The interaction between AB 250, prior California lookback statutes, tolling doctrines, and the specific limitation period that applied to a given claim is a legal question that requires analysis of the specific facts. The good news for survivors is that consultation is free and confidential -- the purpose of the consultation is precisely to make that legal assessment without any cost or obligation to the survivor.
Abuse Justice Center exists to connect survivors with attorneys who are experienced in the specific type of claim the survivor may have. For California adult survivors seeking to use the AB 250 window, that means attorneys who understand California's layered revival framework, have experience building civil claims for older sexual assault cases, and know how to work with the evidence challenges that arise when the assault occurred years or decades ago. The matching is free, the consultation is confidential, and there is no obligation to retain anyone after speaking with an attorney.
The process works on contingency, which means the attorneys in the Abuse Justice Center network do not charge out-of-pocket fees. Their compensation comes from the recovery they obtain for you, which means their financial interest is aligned with yours. If they do not recover for you, you do not pay attorney fees. This structure is especially important for survivors who are uncertain about the financial aspects of pursuing a civil claim -- the absence of upfront costs removes a barrier that might otherwise discourage people from exploring their legal options.
The AB 250 window closes on December 31, 2027. That is approximately 18 months from now. While that may seem like adequate time, civil litigation preparation -- locating records, interviewing witnesses, identifying the appropriate defendants, and building the legal framework for a claim -- takes months. Cases prepared with adequate lead time are stronger than cases rushed to filing near a deadline. Survivors who are considering whether AB 250 applies to their situation should begin the consultation process now rather than waiting. The consultation itself involves no commitment and no cost, and it is the only way to get a professional assessment of whether and how the window applies to a specific situation.
AB 250 creates a real legal opportunity for adult survivors of sexual assault in California. Here are the five most important steps to take while the window is open.
Abuse Justice Center is a lawyer-matching and advocacy service, not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice. Matching and consultations are free, and network attorneys work on contingency. Need support now? The RAINN hotline is 800-656-4673, 24/7.
AB 250 applies to civil claims for adult sexual assault broadly -- it is not limited to institutional defendants. That said, cases involving employers, supervisors, healthcare providers, coaches, or others whose role or institutional affiliation is relevant to the claim often involve institutional liability theories in addition to individual liability. An attorney can assess whether one or multiple defendants may be appropriate given your specific facts.
AB 250 is California law and applies to claims under California's civil jurisdiction. Whether it applies to an assault that occurred outside California depends on factors including where you live, where the defendant is located, and what law governs the claim. This is a specific legal question that an attorney familiar with California's jurisdictional rules can address. Do not assume the window does or does not apply based on geography alone.
No. A civil claim does not require public disclosure of your identity or the details of the assault in ways that are available to the general public. California courts have mechanisms to protect survivor privacy, including use of pseudonyms in filings and sealing of certain records. An attorney can explain the specific options and limitations in your case. Many civil sexual assault cases settle without trial, which limits the extent of any public proceeding.