Permits courts to award punitive damages against an estate for sexual abuse

This bill allows courts to award punitive damages against the estate of someone who committed sexual abuse, assault, misconduct, or sex trafficking of a minor or adult. It applies to cases where the abuser is deceased, enabling claims to continue against the estate’s personal representative (e.g., executor) rather than the individual. Punitive damages may be sought using a lower standard of proof (preponderance of evidence) and cannot be blocked by the abuser’s death. The law takes immediate effect for all ongoing and future cases.