House votes to shorten personal-injury statute of limitations for future claims, adopts extension for child-abuse filing window

The Missouri House on Tuesday voted to shorten the statute of limitations for personal-injury suits filed after the bill’s effective date and adopted an amendment that extends the window for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse to bring civil claims.

Representative from Douglas, the bill sponsor, said House Bill 68 reduces the limitations period for new personal-injury claims from five years to two years and emphasized that 45 other states use shorter limitations periods. He said the bill will prompt quicker resolution while preserving discovery standards that allow claims to accrue only after an injury is, or should reasonably be, discoverable.

During floor consideration the House adopted a separate amendment introduced by Representative from Taney that changes the filing rule for adult survivors of child sexual abuse: the amendment extends the statutory window so victims can sue until age 41 (20 years after the current age-21 cutoff). Representative from Taney said the change will provide additional time while he prepares a more comprehensive bill on non-disclosure agreements and other barriers faced by survivors.

Opponents cautioned that cutting general personal-injury deadlines from five to two years will not reduce litigation but instead could drive earlier filings by plaintiffs or create rushed claims filed before injuries are…