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Senate advances statute-of-limitations changes amid heated floor exchanges
Summary
Senate File 512 and related amendments addressed updates to civil statutes of limitations, including an amendment aiming to expand survivors' ability to seek justice for historic child-abuse claims; the chair ruled a germaneness point of order and the Senate ultimately passed the bill as amended.
Senator Bussello (Polk) explained that Senate File 512 changes dates and clarifications regarding statutes of limitations and reaffirmed that only the General Assembly may update the statute of limitations. The floor took up House Amendment 5179 and an amendment to that amendment (5182) offered by Senator Petersen that sought to address child-abuse civil limitations and expand survivors' access to legal remedies.
Senator Petersen described the amendment in personal terms and urged colleagues to open doors to justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. A point of order on germaneness was raised by Senator Bussello; the chair ruled the amendment not germane to the underlying amendment in one instance but the Senate proceeded with votes on the permitted motions and adopted the amendment(s) and passed SF 512 by recorded vote (47–0). The floor debate included emotional appeals from senators and references to past work on the issue.
