Missouri legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Missouri SB1140: Modifies provisions relating to civil actions for childhood sexual abuse, including the statute of limitations for such actions
Status: In committee, February 18, 2026
SB 1140 - Currently, a civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse shall be brought within ten years after the victim reaches the age of twenty-one or within three years of the victim discovering that the injury or illness was caused by childhood sexual abuse, whichever is later. This act provides that a civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse or tortious conduct that caused the victim to be a victim of childhood sexual abuse may be commenced at any time. This act is substantially similar to SB 589 (2025), HB 883 (2025), HB 1132 (2025), a provision in SB 1063 (2024), in SB 1092 (2024), SB 416 (2023), and is similar to HB 114 (2025), SB 747 (2025), a provision in HCS/HB 367 (2023), and in HB 1139 (2023). KATIE O'BRIEN
What the bill says
An act committed by an individual if the defendant's tortious conduct causes such act to occur, against the plaintiff which act occurred when the plaintiff was under the age of eighteen years and which act would have been a violation of section 566.030, 566.031, 566.032, 566.034, 566.060, 566.061, 566.062, 566.064, 566.067, 566.068, 566.069, 566.071, 566.083, 566.086, 566.093, 566.095, 566.100, 566.101, 566.209, 566.210, 566.211, 568.020, or 573.200; (2) "Injury" or "illness", either a physical injury or illness or a psychological injury or illness. A psychological injury or illness need not b.
From the introduced text:
an act committed by an individual if the defendant's tortious conduct causes such act to occur, against the plaintiff which act occurred when the plaintiff was under the age of eighteen years and which act would have been a violation of section 566.030, 566.031, 566.032, 566.034, 566.060, 566.061, 566.062, 566.064, 566.067, 566.068, 566.069, 566.071, 566.083, 566.086, 566.093, 566.095, 566.100, 566.101, 566.209, 566.210, 566.211, 568.020, or 573.200; (2) "Injury" or "illness", either a physical injury or illness or a psychological injury or illness. A psychological injury or illness need not be accompanied by physical injury or illness. EXPLANATION-Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in this bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted in the law. SB 1140 2. Any action against any party to recover damages from injury or illness caused by childhood sexual abuse or tortious conduct that causes a victim to be a victim of childhood sexual abuse in an action brought pursuant to this section [shall be commenced within ten years of the plaintiff attaining the age of twenty-one or within three years of the date the plaintiff discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, that the injury or illness was caused by childhood sexual abuse, whichever later occurs] may be commenced at any time. 3. This section shall apply to any action arising on or …