California AB 250 Is in Effect: Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault Have a New Window to File

Reviewed by Abuse Justice Center · Updated 2026-06-25

What California AB 250 Does

California Assembly Bill 250, enacted in October 2025 and effective January 1, 2026, creates a limited revival window for adult survivors of sexual assault in California to file civil lawsuits against abusers and, where applicable, the institutions or employers that enabled the abuse. The law is designed to give previously time-barred survivors a defined opportunity to pursue civil accountability.

California has been at the forefront of survivor legislation reform, having previously expanded lookback protections for childhood sexual abuse. AB 250 extends similar protections to adult survivors of sexual assault whose civil claims had already expired. This page is general information only and is not legal advice. Abuse Justice Center is a free matching service, not a law firm.

Who the Law Covers

AB 250 applies to adult survivors of sexual assault in California whose civil statute of limitations had expired before the law took effect. Unlike earlier California lookback legislation that focused on childhood sexual abuse, this law is specifically designed for survivors who were adults at the time of the assault and whose prior filing window has since closed.

Survivors in institutional settings, including healthcare, education, the workplace, and religious organizations, may also have viable claims against the institution itself if it had supervisory responsibility over the abuser and failed to take adequate action.

What You Do Not Need to File a Civil Claim

A civil claim under AB 250 does not require a prior police report, an arrest, or a criminal conviction. Civil and criminal proceedings are entirely separate legal tracks. Many survivors who never reported to law enforcement, or whose reports did not lead to charges, are still fully eligible to pursue a civil claim.

You also do not need to have existing documentation or physical evidence. An experienced attorney can assess what is available and advise on the viability of a claim during a free, confidential initial consultation.

Why Acting Sooner Matters

Revival windows are time-limited by nature. The closer the deadline gets, the more compressed the time to build a strong claim. Starting a consultation early gives your attorney more time to locate supporting records, identify corroborating witnesses or institutional documentation, and prepare the most complete case possible.

Abuse Justice Center will match you with a vetted civil attorney who handles sexual assault claims in California at no cost and with no obligation. Attorneys in our network work on contingency, meaning there is no fee unless your case recovers compensation.

6 Situations Where AB 250 May Allow a Civil Claim

The law applies to adult survivors whose civil window previously closed. These are common situations where survivors may now have a viable path to file.

1. Workplace sexual assault: Assault by a supervisor, coworker, or employer-affiliated person may give rise to claims against both the individual and the employing institution if the employer failed to act on complaints.
2. Healthcare or medical setting: Abuse by a physician, therapist, or other healthcare professional in a clinical or treatment context may support claims against the individual and the facility.
3. Religious organization setting: Adult survivors abused by clergy or other religious personnel may pursue institutional claims if the organization had supervisory responsibility and failed to respond to known complaints.
4. Educational setting: Abuse by faculty, staff, or administrators at a college or university may give rise to Title IX or common-law negligence claims against the institution.
5. Assault by a public figure or person in authority: Survivors of assault by someone who used a position of power may have claims against institutions that enabled or failed to act on known misconduct.
6. Previously filed claims that were dismissed as time-barred: If a California court previously dismissed your claim because the statute of limitations had run, AB 250 may reopen that opportunity. An attorney can advise on next steps.

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