PROVIDENCE (RI)
WPRI-TV, CBS-12 [Providence RI]
June 8, 2026
By Sarah Bawden
State lawmakers have officially sent legislation designed to deliver accountability for victims of childhood sexual abuse to Gov. Dan McKee’s desk.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee and Sen. Mark McKenney, extends the window in which victims of childhood sexual abuse can sue institutions, organizations and individuals for damages.RELATED: Senate advances amended clergy sex abuse legislation
“It’s been a long and difficult journey to get to this vote,” said Hagan McEntee, whose sister is a survivor of clergy sex abuse. “Too many victims have been denied justice for far too long, and powerful organizations that enabled and covered up this horrific abuse have escaped accountability and reckoning for decades.”
“It’s often said that justice delayed is justice denied,” she continued. “This was true for many years in Rhode Island for childhood victims of sexual assault, but today, these brave survivors were finally given the opportunity to secure justice for themselves, and I could not be any more grateful.”
The General Assembly passed an amended version of the original proposal Monday, which addresses concerns raised by lawmakers about its constitutionality.
The revised legislation preserves prior judgements of the courts, meaning allegations dismissed as a result of the prior statute of limitations can no longer be revived.
MORE: Attorney General’s report details generations of clergy abuse in RI
It also establishes a process for calculating prejudgment interest in revived claims, similar to that which already exists in law for medical malpractice claims.
The legislation would still be retroactive up to 35 years, with a two-year revival window of action beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2028.
The proposal itself was first introduced after Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha released a sweeping report on clergy sex abuse earlier this year. The 370-page report identified 72 “credibly accused” priests dating back to 1950.
“Child sexual abuse is a uniquely terrible crime; one that victims consistently grapple with for years, often decades, before coming forward with their stories,” Neronha said. “It is imperative that we pass this bill to allow victims a reasonable window of opportunity to seek justice on their own behalf.”
SEE ALSO: Lawmaker continues pushing for reforms after clergy sex abuse report
This also comes a few weeks after Sen. Matthew LaMountain put forth a resolution that sought an opinion from the Rhode Island Supreme Court on whether it’s constitutional to revive previously expired sexual abuse claims. That resolution was held for further study.
The Diocese of Providence has repeatedly expressed concern about the proposal, claiming that other states who have implemented similar laws have forced dozens of other institutions into bankruptcy.