A Detailed Update on Pennsylvania’s Stalled Lookback Window Legislation
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Pennsylvania have been fighting for something important. Many other states already recognize its significance. A chance to seek justice regardless of how long it took them to come forward. The Senate has stalled HB 462 and HB 464 bills again, and no vote has been scheduled.
More than 20 states have changed their civil statutes of limitations (SOLs) in the last decade. Many have set up “lookback windows.” These allow sexual assault survivors to file civil lawsuits, even if their claims expired years ago. Others, like our home state of Maryland in 2023, have removed their civil statute of limitations altogether.
Pennsylvania has not.
The 2018 grand jury report revealed years of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Despite this, the Pennsylvania Senate has not passed reform for the statute of limitations (SOL). Survivors who were molested watched as the same bills passed the House. They stalled in the Senate, expired, and then started over again.
Today, that cycle continues.
As of November 2025, House Bills 462 (HB 462) and 464 (HB 464) remain stalled. They both passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in June 2025. Both bills are now stuck in a Senate Committee. There is no scheduled vote, no public timeline, and no sign of progress.
Here at The Yost Legal Group, we believe CSA survivors deserve transparency. There is no new progress on the law to share. We want to make sure that child rape survivors and their families stay informed and supported.
Our sexual assault lawyers are actively monitoring these bills. We will continue to do so without making promises lawmakers have not earned.
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Pennsylvania have until their 55th birthday under the current law to file a civil lawsuit against their abuser. The experienced sexual abuse attorneys at The Yost Legal Group will help you understand your rights.
As a survivor, it is important to seek the justice you deserve. Call for a free consultation today. We will answer any questions you have.
What the Two Pennsylvania Bills Would Do
House Bill 462: A Lookback Window Through Statutory Law
HB 462 would create a civil “lookback window.” This would allow survivors whose claims are currently blocked by the statute of limitations to file lawsuits. They could sue their abusers and the institutions that helped them. This is the same type of legislation survivors’ groups have championed for years.
When HB 462 passed the House, it did so with a vote of 122–80.
House Bill 464: Moving a Constitutional Amendment Toward a Future Ballot Vote
HB 464 passed with even wider support at 138 to 64. It would advance the process of placing a constitutional amendment before Pennsylvania voters. This option requires three additional legislative votes before any proposal could actually appear on a statewide ballot.
Both bills take different paths to reach the same goal. They aim to give survivors a fair chance to seek justice, no matter when they decide to come forward.
This distinction matters because one route, statutory change, can be accomplished quickly if lawmakers agree. It is also less ironclad as it is open to constitutional challenges. That is why it is important for lawmakers to amend the Constitution itself. That route, however, can take years.
Why These Bills Stalled: A Pattern of Inaction in the Pennsylvania Senate
This is not the first time these proposals have passed the House only to die in the Senate.
Over two years ago, the same combination passed with strong support from both parties. This included a statutory lookback window and a constitutional amendment. Still, the amendments did not make it to the ballot in 2023.
Today, we are watching history repeat itself. The Senate Judiciary Committee has not scheduled hearings or votes. There is no public commitment to debate. There is no timeline, and no indication that action is coming soon.
Meanwhile, Governor Josh Shapiro, who served as Attorney General during the 2018 grand jury investigation, has been publicly critical of the Senate’s repeated refusal to act. As he said recently:
Survivors of sexual abuse deserve far better than political stalemates. That said, our child abuse lawyers will continue to monitor both bills.
If you are a victim of sexual abuse in Pennsylvania or Maryland, contact an experienced sexual assault attorney. The Yost Legal Group provides a free and confidential consultation. Call 1-800-967-8529 for guidance.
Why SOL Reform Matters: The 2018 Grand Jury Report Still Echoes Today
The push for SOL reform in Pennsylvania did not come out of nowhere. Its momentum grew directly from the 2018 statewide grand jury report. That exposed one of the largest institutional cover-ups of child sexual abuse in American history.
- More than 1,000 children were abused by over 300 Catholic priests across six dioceses.
- The “real number” was likely in the thousands, due to lost records and survivors who feared coming forward.
- Senior church officials, including individuals who later rose to national leadership, covered up the abuse.
- Police and prosecutors, at times, deferred to church leaders instead of investigating abuse.
The grand jury’s message was unflinching: “We are sick over all the crimes that will go unpunished and uncompensated.”
Because most of these cases were decades old, the criminal and civil statutes of limitations had expired. The church’s cover-up worked. Sexually exploited survivors could not sue. And the public outcry that followed led to the renewed push for SOL reform.
That movement continues to this day. The state needs its lawmakers to meet the moment.
Understanding Why Survivors Need More Time: The Reality of Delayed Disclosure
Some Pennsylvanians still argue that giving survivors until age 55 is “long enough.” But research shows this belief is deeply disconnected from the lived experience of surviving childhood sexual abuse.
According to Child USA, the national think tank for child protection:
- The average age at which a survivor first reports childhood sexual abuse is 52 years old.
- 51% of survivors first disclose between ages 50 and 69.
- Nearly half of sexual victimization survivors need more time than Pennsylvania currently provides.
Trauma, shame, fear, grooming, institutional pressure, and decades of silence can delay disclosure for a lifetime. When survivors are finally ready to speak, the law should meet them with dignity. Instead, they have been met with a figurative locked courthouse door.
This is why lookback windows have been enacted across the country. This is why survivors continue advocating. And this is why Pennsylvania’s ongoing inaction remains deeply painful for so many families.
Where Things Stand Now and Why We Are Still Watching Closely
As of today:
- HB 462 and HB 464 have passed the Pennsylvania House.
- Both bills are now in a Senate Committee, stalled without action.
- There is no vote scheduled.
- The Senate leadership has not announced debate or hearings.
- There is no certainty that the legislature will move forward.
We are watching. We are waiting. And we are prepared to do our job to help survivors the moment lawmakers do theirs.
Your Rights Today And How We Can Help
Under current Pennsylvania law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse may file civil lawsuits until age 55. That remains true today. If these laws change in the future, we will move immediately to help survivors understand their expanded rights.
But you do not need to wait for a lookback window to explore your legal options now. Our trauma-informed team is here to:
- Listen to your story safely.
- Explain your current legal rights.
- Help you understand potential claims against institutions like the church, schools, hospitals, and government agencies that are supposed to protect children in their care.
- Guide you through each step at your own pace.
Call The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-967-8529 for a free, confidential consultation with a compassionate survivor-advocacy attorney.
Our sexual abuse lawyers will explain the legal process. This is for cases involving sexual offenses that occurred when you were a minor.
Sexual Abuse Definition – Child Sexual Coercion Claims
Statutory Rape Claims – Lawyers For Sexual Abuse
