CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

HB 73 eliminates the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits seeking damages related to childhood sexual abuse in New Mexico, allowing survivors to file claims at any time regardless of when the abuse occurred. It directly affects survivors of childhood sexual abuse - defined as acts violating specific New Mexico criminal laws (e.g., criminal sexual penetration of a minor) - by removing the previous time limits (like the 24th birthday deadline or 3-year window after disclosure to a healthcare provider). The bill applies retroactively, meaning it enables lawsuits for past cases where time limits had already expired. Currently, the bill passed the House but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 3, 2025, and remains pending.