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In a major win for survivors, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 250 (AB 250) into law on October 13, 2025, creating a new look-back window that reopens the doors of justice for many adult survivors of sexual assault in California.

This law allows survivors who were previously barred from filing civil lawsuits due to expired statutes of limitations to bring claims through December 31, 2027, against individuals and private entities. AB 250 represents a powerful tool for accountability and healing, especially for survivors whose voices have long been silenced by procedural time limits.

What Does AB 250 Do?

AB 250 builds on California’s trend of expanding civil justice options for sexual assault survivors.

Specifically, the law:

• Creates a new revival window (open until December 31, 2027) for adult survivors of sexual assault whose claims were previously time-barred under the statute of limitations;
• Applies only to cases involving private individuals, entities and institutions (such as spas, private employers, property and business owners, management companies, churches, clubs, or other private organizations);
• Allows claims to proceed when the assault involved a “cover-up,” or when a private entity attempted to conceal prior misconduct;
• Does not extend to lawsuits against public entities, including schools, police departments, or government agencies.

In practical terms, this means that survivors who may have thought their chance at civil justice had passed now have a renewed opportunity to seek accountability.

Why This Matters

Statutes of limitations often fail to reflect the realities of trauma. Many survivors need years—or even decades—before they are ready to come forward. By the time they do, legal deadlines may already have passed.

AB 250 recognizes this imbalance and gives survivors another chance. Like the Child Victims Act and previous bills such as AB 2777, this law acknowledges that healing takes time, and so should justice.

However, the exclusion of public entities from AB 250 leaves many survivors without legal recourse if their abuser was affiliated with a government institution. At Singleton Schreiber, we remain committed to advocating for broader reforms that ensure equal access to justice, no matter where the abuse occurred or who is responsible.

What Survivors Need to Know

If you are an adult survivor of sexual assault in California, here are key things to consider:

• You may now have the legal right to file a civil claim even if the statute of limitations had previously expired.
• The look-back window is open until December 31, 2027, but it’s important to act as early as possible, while evidence is still accessible.
• This law applies only to private individuals and entities, but each case is unique, and legal advice is essential to understanding your options.
• Even if your case involves a public institution, other legal avenues might still be available under existing state or federal laws.

How Singleton Schreiber Can Help

At Singleton Schreiber, our Sexual Assault practice group is dedicated to representing survivors with the care, discretion, and tenacity they deserve.

We’ve helped clients pursue justice against powerful institutions, religious organizations, employers, and other entities that failed to protect victims. We understand that coming forward is never easy, and we are here to walk beside you every step of the way.

If you believe AB 250 may apply to your case, or you simply want to understand your legal rights, we offer confidential, no-cost consultations.