Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island S2616: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION (Amends what is considered sexual abuse
Status: Signed into law, June 11, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION (Amends what is considered sexual abuse for purposes of limitations on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child and would amend the provisions for when a cause of action may be brought.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 13, 2026:
2026 -- S 2616 ======== LC003649 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION Introduced By: Senators McKenney, DiMario, Britto, Murray, Vargas, Urso, Zurier, and Euer Date Introduced: February 13, 2026 Referred To: Senate Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 9-1-51 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-1 entitled "Causes of Action" is hereby amended to read as follows: 9-1-51. Limitation on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child. (a)(1) All claims or causes of action brought against a perpetrator defendant party by any person for recovery of damages for injury suffered as a result of sexual abuse, including alleging negligent supervision of a person that sexually abused a minor, or that the defendant's conduct caused or contributed to the childhood sexual abuse by another person to include, but not be limited to, wrongful conduct, negligence or default in supervision, hiring, employment, training, monitoring, or failure to report and/or the concealment of sexual abuse of a child shall be commenced within the later to expire or (ii) Seven (7) years from the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the injury or condition was caused by the act. Provided, however, that …
Sponsors
- Mark McKenney (D, SD-030) · primary sponsor
- DiMario, Alana (D, SD-036)
- Robert Britto (D, SD-018)
- Melissa Murray (D, SD-024)
- Lammis Vargas (D, SD-028)
- Lori Urso (D, SD-008)
- Samuel Zurier (D, SD-003)
- Dawn Euer (D, SD-013)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : House passed Sub A in concurrence
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Senate passed Sub A
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Votes
- House Seq #321: PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE (June 8, 2026): 69 yea, 4 nay, passed
- Senate Seq #361: (June 3, 2026): 37 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A (June 3, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (June 3, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (April 30, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE
Common questions
- What is S2616?
- S2616 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION (Amends what is considered sexual abuse.
- What does S2616 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION (Amends what is considered sexual abuse for purposes of limitations on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child and would amend the provisions for when a cause of action may be brought.)
- What is the status of S2616?
- Signed into law as of June 11, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 11, 2026).
- Who sponsored S2616?
- Mark McKenney (D, SD-030), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S2616?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2616A.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.