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H7431 2026 -- H 7431 ======== LC004480 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, McEntee, Alzate, Read, Fellela, DeSimone, Cotter, and Craven Date Introduced: January 30, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 9-1-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-1 entitled Causes of 2 Action is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 9-1-14. Limitation of actions for words spoken or personal injuries. 4 (a) Actions for words spoken shall be commenced and sued within one year next after the 5 words spoken, and not after. 6 (b) Actions for injuries to the person shall be commenced and sued within three (3) years 7 next after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after, except as provided for otherwise in 8 subsection (c) herein. Notwithstanding anything herein, any claim based on sexual abuse or 9 exploitation of a child shall be governed by § 9-1-51 and any claim based on conduct consisting of 10 first degree child abuse in violation of § 11-9-5.3(b)(1), shall be commenced within the statute of 11 limitations contained in § 9-1-55 and any damages recovered therein shall not exceed the sum of 12 five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) . 13 (c) As to an action for personal injuries wherein an injured party is entitled to proceed 14 against an insurer pursuant to § 27-7-2, where an action is otherwise properly filed against an 15 insured within the time limitations provided for by this section, and process against the insured 16 tortfeasor has been returned “non estinventus” and filed with the court, then the statutory limitation 17 for filing an action under § 27-7-2 directly against an insurer shall be extended an additional one 18 hundred twenty (120) days after the expiration of the time limitation provided for in subsection (b) 1 herein. 2 SECTION 2. Chapter 9-1 of the General Laws entitled Causes of Action is hereby 3 amended by adding thereto the following section: 4 9-1-55. Limitation on actions based on child abuse -- Harter s Law. 5 (a) This section shall be known and may be referred to as Harter s Law . 6 (b) Any civil action brought pursuant to the provisions of § 9-1-2, for injury as a result of 7 conduct, in violation of § 11-9-5.3(b)(1), shall be commenced and sued within thirty-five (35) years 8 next, after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after; provided, however, that the time limit or 9 commencement of an action under this section, shall be tolled for a child, until the child reaches 10 eighteen (18) years of age. 11 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC004480 ======== LC004480 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION *** 1 This act would create Harter s Law to extend the civil statute of limitations, for injuries 2 resulting from first degree child abuse, to thirty-five (35) years and cap civil damages recovery at 3 five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC004480 ======== LC004480 - Page 3 of 3
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